If you go around always sneezing and are the sensitive type as well as break out in rashes when using certain creams and fragrances, then you have probably been warned to avoid perfumes. Not many people know much about perfumes, like many other things in the personal care industry. Bear in mind that there are fragrances in your deodorant, shampoo, face creams, makeup, body creams, soap and other. You will never know what was used in any of those scented products as fragrances under the trade secret law are protected, which means the beauty industry is not under any obligation to reveal what fragrances are used.

Any aromatic ingredients used in beauty products may be termed as €fragrance€ which is passed by the FDA and a fragrance can average around ten to twenty secret ingredients, and the laws are merely a deterrent for women's fragrances and perfumes, although if taken to a lab for analysis one would be able to obtain the list of ingredients used. As mentioned above most beauty products contain fragrances f which the ingredient have not been tested. However, recent lab studies have revealed the majority of chemicals discovered during the tests have never been tested for safety by the cosmetic industry or any reputable public agencies review panels. There is now a debate as to whether these fragrances are having an effect on the hormones. Studies have revealed that the products they tested contained four hormone disrupting chemicals. Some of the perfumes were found to have seven hormone disrupting chemicals such as the phthalates group which is known to cause deformity male babies genitals. In spite of this evidence, the beauty industry still maintains that fragrances and perfumes are safe to use. Studies also revealed the presence of myrcene, which has carcinogenic activity and was detected in around seventeen beauty products. These lab results also revealed that there were around 24 common allergens detected in beauty products including perfume. Perfumes and fragrances are meant to linger in the air as well as on the body, which in turn means that everyone around is exposed to the fumes.

Perfume and fragrance fumes can cause allergic reactions to those exposed to the fumes, and some have even gone as far as stating that perfume fumes are similar to second hand cigarette smoke. Mothers with new born babies should avoid direct contact with perfumes and any beauty products that contain fragrances. A much safer fragrance to use is pure essential oils, as the companies list the fragrance sources. If you are wearing perfume that comprises of synthetic fragrances, limit your exposure or use the perfume less often.