Is Perfume Bad For You?
Also Known As: parfum
Short answer
Unfortunately, perfume contains many toxic ingredients that are bad for your health.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Many people choose to put on a spritz of perfume before heading out for the day. It has been a standard move for centuries, and its use can be traced back as far as the ancient Egyptians. But unfortunately, and unbeknownst to many, that one spritz is loaded with chemicals that can affect not only you, but those around you as well.
It is typically marketed as an easy way to up your appeal, but what perfume companies don’t want you to know is that it can easily do the opposite. Allergic reactions are common in many people when confronted with the myriad of chemicals hiding in a perfume. Just being in proximity to someone wearing it can trigger asthma attacks, sneezing, coughing, headaches and migraines, which is probably not the reaction you hoped for.
For the perfume wearer, the effects may actually be worse. On the list of ingredients is generally an umbrella word for any thousands of chemicals allowed to be hidden from the public due to trade secret laws: “fragrance”. Many of these, including one diethyl phthalate, have been shown to disrupt the hormones of the wearer. For males, this can range from developmental disorders in newborn boys (when used on the pregnant mother) to low sperm motility in adults. For females, this is potentially connected to increased breast cancer risk and polycystic ovarian syndrome. With this knowledge, it might finally be time to send perfume into retirement. It had a good run!
Possible short-term side effects
- sneezing and coughing
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skin rashes and irritation
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headaches
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asthma attacks
Possible long-term side effects
- low sperm motility
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newborn developmental disorders
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polycystic ovarian syndrome
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breast cancer
Ingredients to be aware of
- "fragrance"
diethyl phthalate
Benefits
Healthier alternatives
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Written by Lindsay
Published on: 12-29-2015
Last updated: 12-10-2016
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Lindsay
Published on: 12-29-2015
Last updated: 12-10-2016
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