The number one complaint I get about natural perfumes is: why don’t they last longer? Natural perfumes, made with non-synthetic actual plant essences, do not contain phthalates, parabens, or petroleum. Phthalates are plasticizers used to soften vinyl plastic. They are added to synthetic fragrance to help extend the scent. Besides being hard to pronounce, phthalates are also suspected carcinogens and hormone disrupters. A recent study linked them to early onset of menses in young girls. The amount of phthalates we are exposed to on a daily basis is staggering; from soft vinyl toys, food packaging, industrial lubricants, flooring, carpeting, and every product that contains fragrance like dishwasher detergent and shampoo.
Then we have the parabens, a class of chemicals used as preservatives. Parabens are also suspected endocrine disruptors. Synthetic perfumes require a preservative to prevent rancidity. Natural perfumes do not require preservatives, as most plant essences actually improve with age.
In addition to the phthalates, 95% of chemicals used in fragrances are synthetic derivatives of petroleum, including toxins known to cause cancer, birth defects, and central nervous system disorders and allergies. The perfume industry is self-regulating, meaning perfume manufacturers are not required to provide formulations or safety information to the FDA.
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| A tiny snapshot of our natural perfume "lab". |
With so much icky stuff in synthetic perfumes, a better question to ask is why one would continue to use them on one's skin? Natural perfumes don't last as long as synthetics precisely because they don't have these chemicals. Plus, with natural perfumes, you get to smell the real thing, not some synthetic imitation. Bbefore the advent of synthetics, natural perfumes were the norm. It’s nice to get back to our roots – and leaves and flowers, if you will – even if that means a less persistent aroma.
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