Page 32 - Masala Lite Issue 164 August 2024

SUSTAINABLY 3. The perfume industry does not require any external assessment; the industry

STYLISH 4. The toxins in fragrance can also cause environmental hazards – chemical vapours
regulates itself. This means that safety testing currently is either not mandatory
or it is not done in an efficient way before products are sold to consumers.

found in perfumes, known as volatile organic compounds, have been linked to
ozone pollution. A study found that emissions from volatile chemicals in perfumes,
paints, and other scented consumer items now rival vehicles as a pollution
source in greater Los Angeles, according to a study by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Even though 15 times more petroleum
PERFUME is consumed as fuel than is used as an ingredient in industrial and consumer
products, the amount of chemical vapours emitted into the atmosphere in
POISON scented products is roughly the same, according to Brian McDonald, a scientist
working at NOAA and lead author of the study.
5. A good smell does not indicate that the perfume is natural and clean. There are
Aparna Sharma helps us soaps which may have fresh smells, like lime, but this does not mean that all
understand the toxic reality the ingredients used to make that product are clean.
of perfumes. How Can You Smell Good Without Using Chemical-Based Perfumes?
The answer to this is simple: you can DIY your own perfume using different
essential oils, or buy from brands which practice 100 percent transparency
and traceability of their ingredient list and supply chain. There are a lot
I have to admit that I wasn’t aware of the toxic chemicals in perfumes and scent
oils sold for diffusers till my friend recently told me about it. When this topic was of blogs on the internet which show you in detail the entire procedure
suggested to me for my next column, I took this as a sign for me to learn more about required to make any natural essential oil-based perfume of your choice.
the murky world of chemicals in our favourite perfumes. As a disclaimer, I’m not a If you don’t enjoy DIY, you can easily find brands which sell natural
perfume person; I have always preferred natural essential oils, and that is probably perfume blends, and which clearly share all the ingredients. One of
a reason for my ignorance on how toxic perfumes can be. my favourite brands for everything organic and natural in Bangkok
is Bangkok Soap Opera. I personally love their
Are you aware that the chemicals in perfumes are linked to a high number of
health risks? There have been multiple research papers indicating that the products, and always take them as gifts when I
travel. I also buy natural body sprays from Forest
synthetic chemicals in perfumes can trigger asthma and other allergies, and
Essentials, Juicy Chemistry, and Kama
that these chemicals are classified as neurotoxins and carcinogens. Here are
five interesting facts about the perfume industry. Organic in India. Aside from these ones,
which I’ve been personally using for the
1. The toxins in perfumes can pass from skin into the bloodstream. past few years, I’m sure there are many
When chemicals get absorbed by the skin, it can cause more brands that have a good selection of
irritation and other skin diseases. These can span rashes, smells and use clean ingredients.
skin cancers, skin infections, skin injuries, and more. The
speed at which skin absorbs chemicals depends largely on
the outer layer of the skin, called the stratum corneum.
2. Manufacturers are not required to be transparent in the perfume label as per the Aparna Sharma is a non-conformist who believes that fashion must become a
government regulations. This is because the ingredients are considered a ‘trade force for good and style must meet sustainability. She breaks down the
secret,’ but this allows for gross misuse, and the consumer has no idea about nuances of slow fashion and how we can stay stylish without being trendy.
the amount of toxic chemicals which went into making the perfume bottle.