Are Synthetic Fragrance Ingredients Bad?

It’s not as simple as categorising synthetic as bad and natural as good when it comes to perfumes and fragrance ingredients.

The ingredients aren’t universally bad for everyone; it depends on factors like how much is used in a perfume, where you apply the perfume, and your personal sensitivity to it. 

In our quest for amazing scents, we often pile on multiple layers of scented products. However, this excessive use can lead to an overload of chemicals on our skin, so it’s important to be mindful of the amount of scented products we use.

If you have extremely sensitive skin, it might be best to avoid scented products completely, including naturally derived ones. Instead, spraying perfume on to your clothes rather than directly on to your skin.

When it comes to fragrances, the belief that natural is always safer than synthetic is not entirely true. There are many natural ingredients that are highly concentrated and packed with allergens that will cause skin sensitising effects.

Pro and Cons of Natural Ingredients

Natural ingredients have several advantages when it comes to scent creation. They add depth and interest, and can even have therapeutic effects on the body and mind.

For this reason alone, we often feel comfortable with natural scents because of their association with health and wellness. However, it’s important to note that natural ingredients can be highly allergenic and challenging to standardise.

If you prefer an all-natural scent, be aware that it may not have the same strength and longevity as a perfume that includes synthetics.

Natural scents tend to stay closer to the body and are less diffusive. So, if you prioritise a more subtle and intimate fragrance experience, natural perfumes may be the way to go.

Pro and Cons of Synthetic Ingredients

While natural essential oils and absolutes provide richness and depth to perfumes, it is the synthetics that add structure and hold everything together.

In fact, some fragrance styles heavily rely on synthetic ingredients for their unique effects and long-lasting scent profiles, which cannot be achieved with naturals alone.

Advantages of synthetic ingredients include minimal allergens and consistent scents, while also having long-lasting power on the skin. However, a potential disadvantage is that newer aroma molecules may lack long-term safety data.

While some synthetic materials may face biodegradability issues and be made from non-sustainable petrochemicals, not all synthetics fall into this category.

In fact, many synthetics start from natural sources, and the industry is actively working towards sustainability to address environmental concerns and meet consumer demands. 

Regulations

The regulations for synthetic ingredients and natural ingredients in perfumery are governed by IFRA, the fragrance industry’s self-regulating body.

IFRA sets strict guidelines, restricting and banning those materials, both natural and synthetic, when new safety issues arise.

This ensures that the perfumery industry upholds high standards in the use of all raw natural and synthetic ingredients.

Conclusion

If synthetic fragrances were replaced with naturals, it would not only lead to an increase in skin sensitisation but also become unsustainable due to the overwhelming demand for natural ingredients.

In today’s environmentally-conscious world, it’s important to consider that sometimes lab-made can be more eco-friendly than naturally derived.

It’s time to shift the focus towards a more balanced approach between natural and synthetic ingredients in the beauty industry.

While it may seem counterintuitive, embracing the benefits of synthetic products can be a step towards a greener future.

So, let’s be open to compromise and explore how we can make choices that prioritise the well-being of our planet.

Shop our range of natural and synthetic perfume making ingredients here