• Profielfoto van Suzanne in een rond pictogram

    Written by certified Naturopath Suzanne Shares

    - 8 years of experience with over 1600 customers in the Netherlands and Europe.

Perfume without the junk: which sources take a critical look at fragrances and chemicals?

Perfume is emotion. Fragrance is associated with memories, attraction, identity, and personal care. Yet, more and more people are raising questions about perfume. Not because fragrance shouldn't be a luxury, but because perfume is a product often applied directly to skin, hair, or clothing. Sometimes daily. Sometimes multiple times a day.

The question "does perfume without junk exist?" usually stems from a broader need: people want to better understand what they are using. What ingredients are in it? Which fragrances are listed separately? Which substances fall under the collective term "perfume" or "fragrance"? And what do independent organizations and studies actually say about fragrances, allergens, endocrine disruptors, sensitivity, and daily exposure?

This blog soberly lists the most important sources. With good reason to look at perfume more consciously.

Wyld Notes White Lie eau de parfum in witte flacon met perziken, roomwitte rozen en groen blad.

First: what do people mean by "perfume without junk"?

"Perfume without junk" is not an official cosmetic category. It's customer language. People usually mean: perfume with a transparent ingredient list, more careful ingredient communication, less ambiguity surrounding fragrances, and more attention to daily exposure to chemicals.

1. Environmental Working Group: concerns about hidden fragrances

The Environmental Working Group, often abbreviated as EWG, has been publishing critical reports on ingredients in cosmetics and personal care for years. In its report Not So Sexy, EWG states that a perfume fragrance can be composed of a large number of fragrance chemicals and that the full composition is often not visible to consumers. EWG refers to thousands of possible fragrance ingredients and to the fact that fragrance formulas are often treated as trade secrets.

EWG also published a news report on "secret chemicals" in popular perfumes and body sprays. In it, the organization describes that tested products could contain several undeclared substances, including substances that EWG associates with allergic reactions or hormone disruption.

What you can soberly conclude from this is: EWG primarily advocates for more transparency. The core of their criticism is not that every perfume fragrance automatically causes a health problem. The core is that consumers often have little insight into the full fragrance composition.

Why this is relevant:
Transparency is important when you use products on your skin daily. Especially if you are sensitive, pregnant, have children, use many care products, or want to consciously manage your total exposure.

Wyld Notes Smokey Ember eau de parfum tussen groene bladeren, naaldtakken en zwevende rook.

Antidote: Dutch attention to endocrine disrupting chemicals and cosmetics

In the Netherlands, Stichting Tegengif (Antidote Foundation) is one of the parties raising awareness about harmful substances in consumer products. Tegengif published an article on harmful chemicals in popular perfumes, referring to the report "What’s that smell: problematic chemicals in perfume." According to Tegengif, the organizations involved indicate that regulations do not sufficiently protect consumers from exposure to certain chemical substances through perfumes and scented personal care products.

Tegengif also published on endocrine-disrupting substances in cosmetics and daily personal care products. In its own research on over a hundred popular personal care products, Tegengif found that 60% of the tested products contained endocrine-disrupting substances.

For almost every woman, this is particularly relevant due to the theme of cumulative exposure. Perfume does not stand alone. Many people use multiple products in one day: shampoo, shower gel, body lotion, deodorant, make-up, hair products, cleaning products, and perfume. Therefore, the discussion is not just about one spray, but about the sum of daily choices.

Wyld Notes Sweet Decadence eau de parfum in groene flacon, omringd door vanillestokjes en witte orchideeën.

CHEM Trust, Tænk and Kom op tegen Kanker: Reports on Problematic Substances in Perfume

international sources on perfume and chemicals, including CHEM Trust and Tænk. CHEM Trust writes about tests of designer fragrances where endocrine disruptors were found. The organisation states that thousands of fragrance ingredients are used in perfumes and fragranced consumer products in the EU, and highlights the topic of cocktail effects: multiple substances at the same time, each at a low concentration.

The report What’s that smell? Problematic chemicals in perfume was published by Forbrugerrådet Tænk and is also cited by Tegengif and Kom op tegen Kanker. The report focuses on problematic substances in perfume and discusses, among other things, endocrine disruptors, allergens, and substances that can be persistent in the environment.

Kom op tegen Kanker also warned about harmful substances in perfumes in Belgium following this report. They place the topic in the context of public health and prevention.

What you can gather from this: multiple consumer and health organisations are calling for more attention to substances in perfume, especially with daily use and repeated exposure.

Wyld Notes-parfumflacons en productverpakkingen tijdens een presentatie achter de schermen.

European Commission and SCCS: fragrance allergens are a serious consumer issue

The European Commission and the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) consider fragrance allergy a relevant topic within cosmetics. The European Commission states that the most common issues with fragrance ingredients are skin allergies and skin irritations. The SCCS opinion lists various fragrances and natural extracts as contact allergens or potential contact allergens.

This is an important nuance for anyone looking for natural perfume or clean perfume. Natural does not automatically mean that a fragrance is suitable for everyone. Natural extracts and essential oils can also contain fragrance allergens. The SSOT document explicitly states this as a crucial FAQ rule: natural perfume is not automatically better for sensitive users, as natural extracts and essential oils can contain allergens.

Furthermore, the EU has tightened the labeling rules for fragrance allergens through Regulation 2023/1545. This regulation amends the Cosmetics Regulation regarding the labeling of fragrance allergens in cosmetic products. The text states, among other things, that for someone who is already sensitized, a much lower concentration of an allergen can be sufficient to provoke allergic symptoms.

Why this is relevant:
A better perfume choice is not just about "natural" or "synthetic." For sensitive users, it's about complete ingredient information, allergen communication, dosage, and careful testing.

Research into aerosols, air fresheners and household odour burden

A study by the University of Bristol, based on ALSPAC data, looked at exposure to air fresheners and aerosols during pregnancy and early childhood. The researchers found associations with, among other things, more diarrhoea and ear problems in babies, and headaches and depressive symptoms in mothers.

This study does not directly address eau de parfum. It broadly concerns aerosols, air fresheners, and household exposure to volatile substances. Nevertheless, it is relevant to the broader question: how many perfumed or volatile products do we use daily in our homes and on our bodies?

This is precisely why the term “toxic load” resonates with many people. It is not always about one product. It is often about repeated exposure through multiple sources.

What natural scent suits me?

Perfume and asthma-like complaints

Millqvist's 1996 study on perfume and asthma-like symptoms – Placebo-controlled challenges with perfume in patients with asthma-like symptoms – examined a small group of patients with respiratory complaints after non-specific stimuli.

This study is interesting, but the group was small and specifically selected. The research primarily supports that perfume can trigger asthma-like symptoms in some sensitive individuals.

Some people react strongly to perfume. This deserves serious attention. At the same time, personal sensitivity varies from person to person.

Read more about aromatherapy

(read more about each substance by clicking to open the menu)

In the sources concerning perfume, cosmetics, and daily exposure, certain groups of substances frequently reappear:

Phthalates

Often discussed in relation to fragrance, fragrance fixation, and potential endocrine-disrupting properties. EWG and other organizations mention phthalates in the context of fragrance and personal care.

Synthetic musks

These appear in various reports as substances that can be used in scented products and are controversial due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, or hormone activity.

Parabens

Parabens are more broadly discussed in cosmetics concerning preservation and endocrine disruption. They are not exclusive to perfume but are part of the wider conversation about personal care products.

PFAS

PFAS are mainly discussed within broader cosmetics and consumer product discussions. The SSOT lists PFAS as an excluded substance according to the provided brand context for Wyld Notes, but for general blog copy, it is advisable to treat PFAS primarily as a broader cosmetic theme, not as a standard perfume claim.

Wyld Notes Black Book eau de parfum in geopende zwarte geschenkdoos met botanische illustraties.

What does this practically mean if you want to keep wearing perfume?

A practical checklist:
1. Check for transparency
Does a brand only provide general scent descriptions, or also actual ingredient information?

2. Pay attention to allergen information
Especially important if you react quickly to fragrances, skin products, or essential oils.

3. Test calmly
Use sparingly. One spray is often enough to experience how a scent develops.

4. Consider your entire routine
Perfume is often one component of a larger daily exposure through personal care products, laundry detergent, cleaning products, and air fresheners.

5. Choose fragrance as a ritual, not a cloud
Fewer sprays, better chosen. Especially if you are sensitive to strong scents.

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Sources and further reading


  • Environmental Working Group — Not So Sexy / fragrance ingredients

  • EWG — Secret chemicals in perfumes and body sprays

  • Stichting Tegengif — Harmful chemicals in popular perfumes

  • Stichting Tegengif — Endocrine disrupting chemicals in cosmetics

  • CHEM Trust — Designer fragrances and endocrine disruptors

  • Forbrugerrådet Tænk — What’s that smell? Problematic chemicals in perfume

  • Kom op tegen Kanker — Warning about harmful substances in perfumes

  • Europese Commissie / SCCS — Perfume allergies

  • EU Regulation 2023/1545 — Fragrance allergen labelling

  • Commission Regulation 655/2013 — Cosmetic claims

  • PubMed — Odorant substances that trigger headaches in migraine patients

  • University of Bristol / ALSPAC — Aerosols, air fresheners and symptoms in mothers and infants

  • Millqvist 1996 — Placebo-controlled challenges with perfume in asthma-like symptoms

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Perfume without junk: which sources critically examine fragrances and chemicals?

Perfume without nasties: which sources critically examine fragrances and chemicals?

Perfume is emotion. Scent is linked to memories, attraction, identity, and personal care. Yet, more and more people are questioning perfume. Not because scent shouldn't be a luxury, but because perfume is a product often applied directly to skin, hair, or clothing. Sometimes daily. Sometimes multiple times a day.

The question "does perfume without nasties exist?" usually stems from a broader need: people want to better understand what they are using. What ingredients are in it? Which fragrances are listed separately? Which substances remain under the collective name "perfume" or "fragrance"? And what do independent organizations and studies actually say about fragrances, allergens, endocrine disruptors, sensitivity, and daily exposure?

This blog lists the most important sources. Soberly, without panic. But with enough reason to look at perfume more consciously.

First: what do people mean by "perfume without nasties"?

"Perfume without nasties" is not an official cosmetic category. It's customer language. People usually mean: perfume with more transparency, more careful ingredient communication, less ambiguity around fragrances, and more attention to daily exposure.

The Wyld Notes SSOT document also names these keywords as customer language: natural perfume, perfume without nasties, clean perfume, perfume for sensitivity, perfume for skin complaints, and perfume for allergies. At the same time, it states that these words are claim-sensitive and should primarily be used for educational purposes, not as a hard product promise.

A realistic definition for Suzanne Shares:

Perfume without nasties means: choosing scent more consciously, with more attention to ingredients, transparency, allergens, personal sensitivity, and daily burden.

1. Environmental Working Group: concerns about hidden fragrances

The Environmental Working Group, often abbreviated as EWG, has for years published critically on ingredients in cosmetics and personal care. In the report Not So Sexy, EWG states that a perfume fragrance can be composed of a large number of fragrance chemicals and that the full composition is often not visible to consumers. EWG refers to thousands of possible fragrance ingredients and to the fact that fragrance formulas are often treated as trade secrets. (EWG)

EWG also published a news report about “secret chemicals” in popular perfumes and body sprays. In it, the organization describes that tested products could contain multiple unlisted substances, including substances that EWG links to allergic reactions or endocrine disruption. (EWG)

What you can soberly take from this: EWG primarily advocates for more openness. The core of their criticism is not that every perfume fragrance automatically causes a health problem. The core is that consumers often have little insight into the full fragrance composition.

Why this is relevant:
Transparency is important when you use products on your skin daily. Especially if you are sensitive, pregnant, have children, use many personal care products, or want to manage your total exposure consciously.

2. Tegengif: Dutch attention to endocrine disruptors and cosmetics

In the Netherlands, Stichting Tegengif is one of the parties drawing attention to harmful substances in consumer products. Tegengif published on harmful chemicals in popular perfumes and refers to the report What’s that smell: problematic chemicals in perfume. According to Tegengif, the involved organizations signal that regulations do not sufficiently protect consumers from exposure to certain chemical substances through perfumes and perfumed personal care products. (Tegengif.nl | Erase all toxins)

Tegengif also published on endocrine disruptors in cosmetics and daily personal care products. In its own research into more than one hundred popular personal care products, Tegengif found that 60% of the tested products contained endocrine disruptors. (Tegengif.nl | Erase all toxins)

For Suzanne Shares, this is particularly relevant due to the theme of cumulative exposure. Perfume does not stand alone. Many people use multiple products in one day: shampoo, shower gel, body lotion, deodorant, make-up, hair products, cleaning products, and perfume. Therefore, the conversation is not just about one spray, but about the sum of daily choices.

3. CHEM Trust, Tænk and Kom op tegen Kanker: reports on problematic substances in perfume

The SSOT document also mentions international sources on perfume and chemicals, including CHEM Trust and Tænk. CHEM Trust writes about tests of designer fragrances in which endocrine disruptors were found. The organization states that in the EU thousands of fragrance ingredients are used in perfumes and perfumed consumer products, and emphasizes the topic of cocktail effects: multiple substances at once, each at low concentration. (chemtrust.org)

The report What’s that smell? Problematic chemicals in perfume has been published via Forbrugerrådet Tænk and is also cited by Tegengif and Kom op tegen Kanker. The report focuses on problematic substances in perfume and discusses, among other things, endocrine disruptors, allergens, and substances that can be persistent in the environment. (Tænk)

Kom op tegen Kanker also warned in Belgium about harmful substances in perfumes following this report. They place the topic in the context of public health and prevention. (Kom op tegen Kanker)

What you can take from this: multiple consumer and health organizations call for more attention to substances in perfume, especially with daily and repeated exposure.

4. European Commission and SCCS: fragrance allergens are a serious consumer issue

The European Commission and the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, SCCS, consider fragrance allergy a relevant topic within cosmetics. The European Commission writes that the most common problems with fragrance ingredients are skin allergies and skin irritations. The SCCS opinion names various fragrances and natural extracts as contact allergens or potential contact allergens. (European Commission)

This is an important nuance for anyone looking for natural perfume or clean perfume. Natural does not automatically mean that a scent is suitable for everyone. Natural extracts and essential oils can also contain fragrance allergens. The SSOT document explicitly states this as a crucial FAQ rule: natural perfume is not automatically better for sensitive users, because natural extracts and essential oils can contain allergens.

The EU has also tightened the labeling rules for fragrance allergens via Regulation 2023/1545. This regulation amends the Cosmetics Directive regarding the listing of fragrance allergens in cosmetic products. The text states, among other things, that for someone who is already sensitized, a much lower concentration of an allergen may be sufficient to trigger allergic symptoms. (EUR-Lex)

Why this is relevant:
A better perfume choice is not just about "natural" or "synthetic". For sensitive users, it's about complete ingredient information, allergen communication, dosage, and careful testing.

5. Research into scent, headaches, and migraines

The SSOT document refers to migraine and sensitivity studies in which perfume or strong scents can trigger headache or migraine attacks in some people. It explicitly states that this can be used as educational context, and not as a product promise that a certain perfume prevents headaches.

A relevant PubMed study, Odorant substances that trigger headaches in migraine patients, investigated odorants that can provoke migraine attacks. In this study, perfume was mentioned as a fragrance category that can be a trigger for migraine patients. (PubMed)

Another study on olfactory symptoms in migraineurs reported that perfume scent was the most common trigger in the studied group. (PubMed)

What this practically means: some people react strongly to scent. This can be due to intensity, projection, type of fragrance, personal sensitivity, or the context in which someone is already overstimulated.

Important wording for Suzanne Shares:
One perfume may feel more pleasant for some people than another. No perfume can guarantee that it will never cause headaches or overstimulation.

6. Research into aerosols, air fresheners, and household scent exposure

The SSOT document also mentions a study by the University of Bristol, based on ALSPAC data. This study looked at exposure to air fresheners and aerosols during pregnancy and early childhood. The researchers found associations with, among other things, more diarrhea and ear complaints in babies, and headaches and depressive symptoms in mothers. (University of Bristol)

This study is not directly about eau de parfum. It is more broadly about aerosols, air fresheners, and household exposure to volatile substances. Nevertheless, it is relevant within the broader question: how many perfumed or volatile products do we use daily in our homes and on our bodies?

This is precisely why the term "toxic load" is recognizable to many people. It's not always about one product. It's often about repeated exposure through multiple sources.

7. Perfume and asthma-like complaints

The SSOT document refers to Millqvist's 1996 study on perfume and asthma-like symptoms. The study Placebo-controlled challenges with perfume in patients with asthma-like symptoms investigated a small group of patients with respiratory complaints after non-specific stimuli. (Wiley Online Library)

This study is interesting, but requires careful interpretation. The group was small and specifically selected. The research primarily supports that perfume can cause respiratory-like complaints in some sensitive individuals. It does not support a general claim that perfume causes asthma in everyone.

8. Which substances often recur in this discussion?

In the sources regarding perfume, cosmetics, and daily exposure, certain substance groups reappear more often:

Phthalates
Are often discussed in relation to scent, fragrance fixation, and possible endocrine disrupting properties. EWG and other organizations mention phthalates in the context of fragrance and personal care. (EWG)

Synthetic musks
These appear in various reports as substances that can be used in fragrance products and about which there is discussion due to persistence, bioaccumulation, or hormone activity.

Parabens
Parabens are more broadly present in cosmetics discussions around preservation and endocrine disruption. They are not exclusive to perfume, but are part of the broader conversation about personal care products.

PFAS
PFAS are mainly discussed within broader cosmetics and consumer product discussions. The SSOT mentions PFAS as an excluded substance according to the provided brand context for Wyld Notes, but for general blog copy, it is wise to primarily treat PFAS as a broader cosmetic theme, not as a standard perfume claim.

Fragrance allergens
This is the most direct and regulatorily clear topic within perfume. The European Commission, SCCS, and EU legislation explicitly treat fragrance allergens as a relevant consumer issue. (European Commission)

9. What does this practically mean if you want to continue wearing perfume?

A practical checklist:

1. Look at transparency
Does a brand only provide general fragrance language, or also ingredient information?

2. Pay attention to allergen information
Especially important if you react quickly to scent, skin products, or essential oils.

3. Test calmly
Use sparingly. One spray is often enough to experience how a scent develops.

4. Pay attention to your total routine
Perfume is often one part of a larger daily exposure through personal care, laundry detergent, cleaning products, and air fresheners.

5. Be cautious with absolute claims
Words like "safe," "hypoallergenic," or "does not cause headaches" sound reassuring, but are often too absolute for perfume.

6. Choose scent as a ritual, not as a cloud
Fewer sprays, better chosen. Especially if you are sensitive to strong scents.

 

11. Summary: why this conversation is justified

Multiple organizations and bodies are paying attention to perfume, fragrances, and chemicals:

EWG draws attention to hidden fragrances and limited transparency regarding fragrance formulas. (EWG)
Tegengif, CHEM Trust, Tænk, and Kom op tegen Kanker discuss problematic substances, endocrine disruptors, and cumulative exposure through perfume and personal care products. (Tegengif.nl | Erase all toxins)
The European Commission and SCCS treat fragrance allergens as a concrete consumer issue, including natural extracts. (European Commission)
EU Regulation 2023/1545 tightens the labeling of fragrance allergens. (EUR-Lex)
Research on migraines, respiratory complaints, and household scent exposure shows that scent can be a relevant trigger or burden for some people. (PubMed)

The sober conclusion: perfume is not just a luxury product. It is also a product with ingredients, skin contact, scent dispersion, and personal sensitivity. For some people, this is no problem at all. For others, it is precisely the reason to choose more consciously.

Do you want to continue wearing perfume, but make more conscious choices?

Then read more about Wyld Notes, a premium clean fragrance collection with attention to scent experience, ingredient communication, and personalized selection assistance.

Focus keywords:
perfume without nasties, perfume without harmful substances, chemicals in perfume, endocrine disruptors perfume, clean perfume, perfume for sensitivity, fragrance allergens, perfume headache

Source Block 

  • Environmental Working Group — Not So Sexy / fragrance ingredients

  • EWG — Secret chemicals in perfumes and body sprays

  • Stichting Tegengif — Harmful chemicals in popular perfumes

  • Stichting Tegengif — Endocrine disruptors in cosmetics

  • CHEM Trust — Designer fragrances and endocrine disruptors

  • Forbrugerrådet Tænk — What’s that smell? Problematic chemicals in perfume

  • Kom op tegen Kanker (Stand Up to Cancer) — Warning about harmful substances in perfumes

  • European Commission / SCCS — Perfume allergies

  • EU Regulation 2023/1545 — Fragrance allergen labelling

  • Commission Regulation 655/2013 — Cosmetic claims

  • PubMed — Odorant substances that trigger headaches in migraine patients

  • University of Bristol / ALSPAC — Aerosols, air fresheners and symptoms in mothers and infants

  • Millqvist 1996 — Placebo-controlled challenges with perfume in asthma-like symptoms

 

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