In case you’re wondering what the hell a Phthalate is + why you need to avoid them…
Phthalates are de-odorants or masking agents that are usually listed on a labels as “parfum” or “fragrance” + can actually contain up to 500 hundred, unknown, untested, harmful chemical compounds! The problem is… that nobody really knows what’s in them! Why? Because current regulations in the US do not require the listing of the individual fragrance ingredients; therefore, the consumer won’t be able to determine from the ingredient list if phthalates are present in a fragrance. In the industry, they’re considered… “trade secrets” similar to “natural flavor” in our food.
Some Phthalates that are commonly used in cosmetics are: (DBP) dibutylphthalate, (DMP) dimethylphthalate + (DEP) diethylphthalate (find other Pretty Toxic Ingredients to Avoid here!). Unfortunately, you’ll hardly ever see these on a Perfume label. Maybe in Nail Polish, Hair Spray + Makeup, etc. though.
Phthalates + synthetic fragrance usually also contain allergens, sensitizers, endocrine disruptors, probable neurotoxins + possible carcinogens. With all that going on in two little words on a label – it’s no surprise that studies show that women may be at higher risk for potential adverse health effects (from phthalates) due to increased cosmetic use. They have also been shown to cause proliferation of breast tumor cells in Cancer Patients, rendering anti-estrogen treatments like Tamoxifen (which I opted against, read my story here), less effective against tumors. Not worth it + totally not cool.
Check out some of the season’s hottest phthalate-free fragrances…
1. Vered Organic Botanicals, $89 – $119
3. Lotus Wei Flower Essences, $30 – $60
7. Honore Des Pres, $84 – $145
8. Strange Invisible, $150 – $220
13 comments
You should check out Ava Anderson Non-Toxic fragrances that are made of essential oils. I love them!
Do you have any samples of your perfumes?
Hey Sonia! :)
I don’t sell anything… I just write about beauty products. Contact the companies I’ve mentioned directly to see if they’ll send you samples. I know you can purchase them through many of the sites I’ve recommended. Hope this helps!
XO
Danielle :)
Is Pacifica really phthalate/”fragrance” free? I’ve used them before and it definitely smelled/felt like synthetic fragrance. When you read their ingredients they say that it’s alcohol plus “Pacifica’s own fragrance blend with natural and essential oils inlcuding of ylang ylang, osmanthus and jasmine.” (Or whatever pertaining scents you’re looking at.) “No parabens, animal testing, animal ingredients or artificial colors. 100% VEGAN and Gluten-free.” Their “fragrance blend is WITH natural and essential oils, but not EXCLUSIVELY made of natural oils. In other words, artificial fragrance with some essential oils added. Nowhere on their website or packaging–at least that I can find– does it say that they’re “fragrance” or “phthalate” free. Am I missing something?
Hey Steph!
Awhile back (when I wrote this post) I called them directly to find out 1. if they used synthetic fragrance + 2. if they were Phthalate-free. They told me that they do use some synthetics (depending on the scent), but that they were in fact totally Phthalate-free. They’ve since changed their website, making it difficult to find some of the info I had originally seen on there, but some of the descriptions do say that they use a signature, Phthalate-free perfume blend, like this one. Since they do use some synthetics (not a fan of that)… I only use this on my clothing instead of my skin + file it under the “easily accessible store brand, budget friendly, + better than most” category. Hope this helps! :) XO <3
I have tried tsi-la samples. I really liked one of them, the bad thing is, I can’t remember which one. It’s hard to pick online. I want to know what it smells like on me, lol .. #7 looks good to me except for the vanilla. I love coconut + lime. Vanilla seems to out way the other scents on me. Wish they had samples. Maybe they do, I think that was on spirit beauty..?
Hey Laura!
Haha, I hear you! I think they do have samples on Spirit Beauty Lounge, not sure about which ones though.
XO :) <3
Great topic! I don’t think many people realize how wonderful natural perfume smells compared to the chemical stuff. One more to add to the list ~ Drift Perfume. Handcrafted solid perfumes in *wooden* cases. NO synthetic ingredients. And, we sell samples :) http://www.driftperfume.com
Thanks Jennifer!
I’ll have to check those out! As always, I love companies that sell samples + the cases are so gorge! Do you have anything on the more girly / fruity-side, as that’s more of my scent style? Feel free to email me through the contact form.
Thanks! :)
Hi Danielle! Thanks so much for visiting Drift. I’d recommend Emigre for you if you’re craving a citrusy/floral adventure (I call it my “getaway fragrance”). Also, Cirrus is girly-soft with more flowery/grassy/earthy notes ~ like a summer meadow in bloom. Next month, I’ll be unveiling a couple of new florals, too. Keep in touch ~ questions are always welcome :)
i think this is their new email: http://meylah.com/maoli
Hello Danielle
What do you think about lauren brooke makeup?
Hey Vee! Sorry I’m just seeing your comment now. It’s been awhile since I’ve used Lauren Brooke – but I love her Lip Botanical Lip Glosses! Her new Botanical Color Sticks looks great too! As far as ingredients go – her makeup is pretty much as clean as it gets! The only thing is that it’s not pigmented enough for my taste (I’m a full coverage kinda girl), and I’m not crazy about the limited color selection either. BTW, I think you can try samples of most of her products though, if I remember correctly? They’re a really great company though + Lauren is amazing! Hope this helps! xo 💖