Why Phthalates in Perfumes are Dangerous?

Phthalates in Perfumes are Dangerous?

You may think that figuring out what’s in your fragrance would be as easy as reading the composition label. But due to laws that protect perfume manufacturers from sharing “trade secrets”, most perfumes sold commercially are packed with harmful chemicals that aren’t listed individually on the ingredient label.

Instead, these fatal chemicals are simply covered by the term “fragrance” – an umbrella word that could mean a variety of different ingredients and hide the actual one.

Phthalate is one of the most studied and reviewed chemicals that’s widely found in perfumes. Let’s dive into deep this chemical substance.

What are phthalates?
What are phthalates used for?
Phthalates in perfumes
Why phthalates in perfumes are dangerous?
How can consumers limit the risks of perfumery phthalates?
Final words

What are Phthalates?

Phthalates, also known as phthalate esters or plasticizers, are a category of chemicals commonly used to make plastic flexible and harder to break. They also act as a solvent or a binding agent.

In the 1920s, phthalates were first introduced as an additive in PVC (polyvinyl chloride). They are used in a wide range of products such as health care products and perfumes.

What are Phthalates Used for?

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exposure to phthalates is widely spread and the majority of the population somehow bother this chemical, especially children and women of childbearing age.

Here’re some product categories that usually contain phthalates –

Personal care and cosmetic products

Perfume
Shampoo
Nail polish
Sanitary pads
Hairspray
Eye shadow
Liquid soap
Moisturizer

Medical equipment and devices

IV tubes
Blood storage bags
Enteric coatings of tablets and capsules
Films
Dispersing agents
Binders
Gelling agents
Suspending agents
Emulsifying agents
Viscosity controlling agents
Stabilizing agents
Catheters

Household applications

Vinyl flooring
Mini blinds
Wallpapers
Plastic pipes
Shower curtains
Adhesives and glues
Food wrap films
Cleaning materials
Paints
Printing inks

Food products

Milk and spices packaging
Eggs of certain birds
Fast foods
Processed food packaging

Agricultural products

Pesticides
Insecticides
Herbicides
Fungicides

Phthalates in Perfumes

Phthalates in perfumes have been widely used since their inception. They’re especially used in fragrance oils. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), about 75% of perfumery products that list “fragrance” on their ingredient label contain phthalates.

Phthalates are commonly used in perfumery to make scents last longer. There’re different types of phthalates used in perfumery products, majorly Diethyl phthalates (DEP) and Di(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalates (DEHP) are widely found in perfumes.

Why Phthalates in Perfumes are Dangerous?

Phthalates are well-known as an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) that can disrupt hormonal balance and may cause developmental, reproductive, and other serious health issues.

Phthalates, which are present in perfumes, can enter the human body through the skin or by inhaling. Researchers found that these chemicals are persistent and can intensify inside the body.

Surprisingly, phthalates that are found in perfumes don’t show any acute poisoning symptoms immediately, they stay inside the body and very slowly accumulate within the fatty tissues, which tends to long-term serious chronic illness in the future.

Here’re some harmful effects of phthalates

Several studies found clear links between phthalates and reproductive and genital defects. Phthalates may cause disrupted hormones, lower sperm count, and infertility.

As per Harvard studies, exposure to phthalates may increase the risk of gestational diabetes and miscarriage in pregnant women.

In infants and children, phthalates can cause allergies, premature puberty, male genital deformities, asthma, eczema, lowered IQ, and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Certain phthalate compounds may also cause several neuro-disorders in children.

According to a Harvard-led research in 2008, certain phthalates have been found linked to sperm DNA damage among men.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission reported in 2014 that phthalates can induce adverse effects on the liver, kidneys, thyroid, and immune system.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) listed some phthalates such as DEHP, one of the most widely used phthalates, as a probable carcinogens.

How Can Consumers Limit the Risks of Perfumery Phthalates?

Phthalates can be inhaled through vapors or absorbed via the skin from perfumes that contain these chemicals. As phthalates are present in almost all fashion perfumery products, avoiding these chemicals is quite tricky.

The easiest and most trusted option to limit the risk of phthalates present in perfumery products is to choose only natural perfumes that don’t contain any synthetic chemicals like phthalates.

Natural niche perfumers such as AbdesSalam Attar use only natural ingredients such as botanical extracts to produce high-quality natural perfumes and never use any harmful chemical substances like phthalates.

When it comes to health and safety, you should definitely consider double-checking your perfume’s ingredient label and obviously avoid perfumes that are listed as “fragrance” or “phthalates”.

Here’re some tips you can follow to avoid the risks of phthalates in perfumes –

Choose only natural perfumes.
Avoid perfumes that are in plastic containers, instead select glass bottles.
Don’t inhale perfume oils directly, instead rub in clothes or palms gently before inhaling.
Thoroughly check your perfume’s ingredients label, avoid them if “fragrance” or “phthalates” are listed.
It’s a great idea to check out your natural perfume brand’s ingredients list and their manufacturing ethics if they’re using any types of phthalates in their products or hiding anything from customers.

Final words

Although it’s very hard to avoid exposure to phthalates completely nowadays, you can easily prevent yourself, your family, and your friends from higher levels of phthalates exposure that can cause serious health issues by only choosing the right products wisely.

Most exposures to phthalates that are present in perfumes come from synthetic fragrances that contain chemicals. You’ll need to shift your perfume habits from synthetic to natural perfumes that don’t contain any harmful chemicals including phthalates.

Besides, natural ingredients have remarkable healing powers in several physical and mental conditions. Therefore, by choosing natural perfumes in your daily habits, not only you can avoid the risks of harmful chemicals but also get the tremendous health benefits of natural ingredients that are used in natural perfumes.

La Via del Profumo by AbdesSalam Attar is one of the most trusted natural perfumery brands that produce only high-quality natural fragrances without using any harmful chemicals.

You can check our Guaranty of naturality