Everyone likes to smell nice. Human have used fragrance for millinia. Starting with natural things like flowers, woods, spices, pine needles, resins, etc. Some of those things are harmless, even medicinal. Also, some of these things are rare and expensive. As a result, many indigence that are used today are sensitized. My question is: are the ingredients in todays fragrances safe? Do any makers use only natural, safe things in their products? I would like to know that any thing I put on my body won't harm me. What do you think?
Nice Fragrance, or chemical bomb
- Thread starter bones59
- Start date
I believe today's fragrances are safe to use. I've used them daily literally since I was a kid and haven't had any skin problems or anything. There are a few perfumers who make all natural fragrances- Ayala Moriel fragrances are one example that comes to mind.
When you go out every day and get in your car, that is the single most dangerous thing you do that day. Are you going to give up your car?
As far as "dangerous" ingredients, I would be much more worried about what was in my food and water.
A world that is entirely safe would be entirely bland, and I hope that doesn't happen.
As far as "dangerous" ingredients, I would be much more worried about what was in my food and water.
A world that is entirely safe would be entirely bland, and I hope that doesn't happen.
One more thing I neglected to mention, with potentially dangerous ingredients the calculation is (risk x exposure). How many times do you expose yourself to the risk over a given period of time.
So, I do believe in proper labeling. As an adult, I should generally be permitted to decide what goes on my body, and use my common sense to limit my exposure.
Let's say a product is labeled "X ingredient may be dangerous". Then it should be MY decision whether I want to wear that product, but perhaps to limit my exposure by only wearing it three times a year, for example.
Of course, some ingredients could potentially do harm with one exposure, or a few exposures over a lifetime, and of course, those substances should be banned, and I believe such products are banned today.
So, I do believe in proper labeling. As an adult, I should generally be permitted to decide what goes on my body, and use my common sense to limit my exposure.
Let's say a product is labeled "X ingredient may be dangerous". Then it should be MY decision whether I want to wear that product, but perhaps to limit my exposure by only wearing it three times a year, for example.
Of course, some ingredients could potentially do harm with one exposure, or a few exposures over a lifetime, and of course, those substances should be banned, and I believe such products are banned today.
I've been using fragrance near daily for 30+ years. I doubt there's anything in them in any concentration that would be harmful.
That being said, there are those that certainly have allergies or negative reactions to some scents.
If you are the kind of person who is concerned about the chemicals in men's fragrance, you may be better off passing on them.
There are arguments back and forth about which scents contain more or less natural ingredients. Creed pushes that their scents are all natural, but much bigger experts than me feel that's malarky. All mainstream perfumers make use of synthetics of necessity- both cost of natural ingredients and often now, legislation.
Many of the "natural" ingredients (e.g. oakmoss) have been banned as potential allergens.
There are likely some all natural scents or oils available, but they would not be mainstream. They would be in holistic type stores; maybe Whole Foods?
That being said, there are those that certainly have allergies or negative reactions to some scents.
If you are the kind of person who is concerned about the chemicals in men's fragrance, you may be better off passing on them.
There are arguments back and forth about which scents contain more or less natural ingredients. Creed pushes that their scents are all natural, but much bigger experts than me feel that's malarky. All mainstream perfumers make use of synthetics of necessity- both cost of natural ingredients and often now, legislation.
Many of the "natural" ingredients (e.g. oakmoss) have been banned as potential allergens.
There are likely some all natural scents or oils available, but they would not be mainstream. They would be in holistic type stores; maybe Whole Foods?
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I expect you could find traces of something that has been shown to be carcinogenic or somehow toxic in most of them, just as you can in wine, bacon, organic lettuce, drinking water and gasoline. It's a matter of trading off risk against reward. I wouldn't choose to smoke, but I have no problem using colognes, pumping gas, drinking wine or eating a few rashers of bacon once in a while.
If it really worries you, forgo the pleasure of wearing cologne.
If it really worries you, forgo the pleasure of wearing cologne.
- Thread starter
- #7
No, The car is not going away. Yes, I know the risks involved. I'm an informed driver.
I don't know the risks, if any, for wearing a fragrance, thus my OP.
Its not that I'm not willing to take risk, I do that daily, I just want to know the risks I take are acceptable to me. Informed consumer, and all that.
Thank you Gents, please keep the comments comming.
^^^^^ Do some creative Googling. I think you'll find a fair amount of commentary on allergies and bad reactions.
If you look hard enough, I'm sure you'll find commentary that implies all frags are bad. But that can be said of anything. One of the most popular shaving soaps in here is Tabac, and awhile back a guy started a thread that seemed to indicate that Tabac shaving soap was death in a plastic tub.
If you look hard enough, I'm sure you'll find commentary that implies all frags are bad. But that can be said of anything. One of the most popular shaving soaps in here is Tabac, and awhile back a guy started a thread that seemed to indicate that Tabac shaving soap was death in a plastic tub.
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- Thread starter
- #9
Thank you for the tip.
Please say it's not so about Tabac
My daily soap
In todays world, were probably all doomed.
Thank you for the tip.
Please say it's not so about Tabac
In todays world, were probably all doomed.
LOL. Sort of illustrates the point.
Sorry. No one really bought into the tone of the thread as I recall.
Bones, I think your question is a good one. But I'm in the "not worried" camp. Somes pleasures in life I don't want to give up.
As long as you are not filling a bathtub full of fragrance and soaking in it like a Roman emporer, you'll probably be ok! Most applications are fairly light.
It's true that some people have allergies to certain products when applied to the skin, and of course they have to avoid certain products as they come across them (or see an allergist and pin it down). However, in my opinion, just because SOME people have allergies, the entire public should not be made to suffer for it.
As long as you are not filling a bathtub full of fragrance and soaking in it like a Roman emporer, you'll probably be ok! Most applications are fairly light.
It's true that some people have allergies to certain products when applied to the skin, and of course they have to avoid certain products as they come across them (or see an allergist and pin it down). However, in my opinion, just because SOME people have allergies, the entire public should not be made to suffer for it.
For every study that indicates that a certain chemical ("natural" or synthetic) is safe, there is another study that seems to indicate the opposite (I'm sure the RJ Reynolds company could show you an entire lexicon of clinical studies proving that tobacco smoke is beneficial to your health). Fortunately, the regulatory bodies in most countries - particularly in the US - are set up very conservatively, so most of the stuff out there is probably safe... (in fact, I think there's a lot of cool stuff that we as consumers can't get our hands because the apron strings of the powers-that-be are rather short).
There has been a lot of conversation about natural soaps, natural creams, colognes etc. lately on this board. i find it really interesting. What really is natural? Is Sodium Hydroxide or potassium hydroxide natural. They are both in shaving creams and soaps in significant quantities. My belief is that they are very safe as long as they have completely reacted with the oils to saponify them. They are very simple reactive compounds that don't last in the environment. Are all ingredients safe?? Obviously not. I would worry more with substances in cologne or other leave on products than wash off products.
I find it really funny when people say something is safe because they have been using it for x years. I've been smoking for 30 years and I'm fine so it must be safe is an example. Time will tell. There are many more synthetic compounds being used and people have more exposure since they now live longer.
Would I advocate not using such and such a product. Not with out proof it is bad for you, but I try to stay with produts that have simpler ingredients.
I find it really funny when people say something is safe because they have been using it for x years. I've been smoking for 30 years and I'm fine so it must be safe is an example. Time will tell. There are many more synthetic compounds being used and people have more exposure since they now live longer.
Would I advocate not using such and such a product. Not with out proof it is bad for you, but I try to stay with produts that have simpler ingredients.
Some of the traditional ingredients in scents, and especially in cosmetics, are toxic. You're at the jumping-off point when you decide that the risk is worth the potential costs. However, in modern society I believe that we expect, and rightly so, to know if anything acknowledged to be harmful is included in the product ... but, this can conflict with a reasonable perfumer's right to keep their formulae proprietary. It's always going to be a trade-off.
If you're looking for a perfect life in a perfect world - it can't be found as far as I can gather. I think that "least worst" is a more reasonable goal.
If you're looking for a perfect life in a perfect world - it can't be found as far as I can gather. I think that "least worst" is a more reasonable goal.
As a professional Risk Manager, I'm happy to give myself a liberal spray of cologne every morning after a shower.
- Thread starter
- #17
Very good comments Gentlemen. Thanks you all.
Nothing is ever 100% safe. A few years ago I recall a news story where a vacationing couple were at a restaurant, and a waiter passed their table holding a tray of fish. The woman abruptly died, right then and there. It turned out that she was severely allergic to the fish being served on that tray, so much so that the few molecules of it that wafted off with the steam and into her nose sent her into anaphylactic shock and sudden death. Unfortunately, it was a very rare dish, and she was completely unaware of her allergy.
The moral of the story is, never rule anything out. But think about how freakish it is that anyone would get severely ill from something in the air, or on the surface of their skin, and you'll see the odds are in your favor.
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The moral of the story is, never rule anything out. But think about how freakish it is that anyone would get severely ill from something in the air, or on the surface of their skin, and you'll see the odds are in your favor.
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