Perfume or cologne is a product that contains fragrance, which is a combination of chemicals that gives it a distinct scent. The fragrance ingredients may be derived from petroleum or natural raw materials, and companies that manufacture perfume or cologne purchase fragrance mixtures from fragrance houses to develop their own proprietary blends. However, the chemical components in fragrance itself are protected as trade secrets and described on the label only as “fragrance” . Here are some details about perfume or cologne:

Ingredients or materials:

• Fragrance ingredients may be derived from petroleum or natural raw materials.
• Fragrances are composed of three structural parts — the head, middle, and base notes — to provide the first impression, body, and lasting impression of the fragrance respectively after the application of a perfume.
• Five classes of compounds make up most fragrance ingredients: alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, and lactones.

Positive:

• Perfume or cologne can provide a pleasant scent.

Negative:

• Most fragrance chemicals are not disclosed, and some are linked to serious health problems such as cancer, reproductive and developmental toxicity, allergies, and sensitivities.
• Fragrance ingredients can carry potentially serious negative long-term health effects.
• The average fragrance product tested contained 14 secret chemicals not listed on the label, some of which are derived from petroleum and potentially hazardous.
• The cosmetics industry has kept the public in the dark about fragrance ingredients, even those that present potential health risks or build up in people’s bodies.

It is important to note that there are many beauty brands to choose from that do not use fragrance and disclose every aspect of their product’s ingredients. If you are concerned about the ingredients hiding in your products, you can check the labels and avoid any product with the ingredient “fragrance” or “perfume” on the label.