Learn about the potential dangers lurking in your perfume and discover 5 incredible and affordable non-toxic perfume brands we tried, tested, and loved!
Our bathroom vanity used to be our own personal perfume counter, lined with rows of beautiful fragrances. We loved being able to pick a scent to match any mood. However, when mysterious health issues emerged, we started investigating a potential link between the toxic chemicals in our perfumes and personal care products and our symptoms.
This research led us to dramatically overhaul our fragrance collection. We discovered synthetic fragrances contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin.
These substances mimic hormones and interfere with our body's delicate systems. Prolonged exposure is shown to contribute to autoimmune disorders, reproductive issues, thyroid dysfunction, and even negative neurological effects.
While the lack of transparency in the fragrance industry makes scrutinizing ingredients difficult, phthalates, parabens, and secret "musk cocktails" are prevalent in conventional perfumes. It didn't take long until we purged these chemical-laden scents from our shelves.
For a while, it seemed we'd have to live without our beloved fragrance collection. But soon, a new world of non-toxic fragrances started to emerge. We set out to find natural perfumes made from safe, sustainable, natural ingredients. And after extensive research and testing, we're thrilled to have discovered some beautiful, clean fragrances that smell great and are safe to use.
In this post, we'll get into the dark side of the fragrance industry and explore why it's crucial for your health to choose 100% natural and non-toxic options. We can't wait to share these affordable, non-toxic perfume options that captured our hearts and earned our trust.
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Quick Summary: Our 5 Favorite Affordable Non-Toxic Perfumes
Why Picking Non-Toxic Perfumes Is Better For Your Health & The Environment
Let's get real about what's lurking inside many perfume bottles. A lot of them are packed with some pretty nasty chemicals. For individuals with sensitive skin, eczema, autoimmune issues, or even just a sensitive nose, the synthetic fragrances you use are actually causing more harm than good.
Our body is run by a delicate network of hormones and systems that regulate all of our body's primary functions. This network of systems is referred to as our endocrine system. Synthetic chemicals, like those found in fragrances, can mimic our natural hormones and disrupt the sensitive hormone balance in our bodies.
Health Harming Chemicals Commonly Found in Conventional Perfumes
When it comes to our personal care products in the US, the fragrance industry can legally withhold specific ingredients in their products under the protection of trade secret laws. While these laws are intended to safeguard a company's proprietary information, this lack of transparency around the chemicals used to create synthetic fragrances and perfumes has raised concerns regarding consumer safety and environmental impact.
The use of certain chemicals in perfumes has become a contentious issue, with debates centering around their safety, particularly in relation to long-term health consequences, including:
- Allergic Reactions and Sensitivities: Some individuals may experience allergic reactions or sensitivities to certain fragrance ingredients. Symptoms can include skin irritation, headaches, and respiratory issues. This is particularly concerning for people with existing allergies or asthma.
- Hormone Disruption: Certain chemicals used in fragrances, such as phthalates, have been linked to hormone disruption. These chemicals can mimic or interfere with the body's natural hormones, potentially leading to reproductive health issues and other long-term health effects.
- Neurotoxicity: Some fragrance ingredients might have neurotoxic effects, which means they can potentially affect our brain function. This includes impacting mood, mental clarity, and overall neurological health.
- Carcinogenic Risks: There are concerns that some chemicals used in perfumes, though present in small amounts, could have carcinogenic properties, especially with long-term exposure.
- Phthalates- are known endocrine disruptors found in most perfumes to keep the scent strong over time. Unfortunately, the FDA doesn't require companies to list the presence of phthalates on their labels, so if you see the term "fragrance," it likely contains phthalates.
- Parabens- are used as preservatives in perfumes and cosmetic products to give products a longer shelf life.
- BHT- or Butylated hydroxytoluene is another common preservative found in perfumes. BHT is linked to liver, thyroid, and kidney issues and can accelerate tumor growth. Some research also suggests that BHT mimics estrogen in the body, leading to reproductive problems and increases in certain types of cancers.
- Octinoxate- also known as Octyl Methoxycinnamate or Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, is used as a UV filter to protect perfume formulas from degrading when exposed to sunlight. However, Octinoxate is potentially linked with thyroid dysfunction and reproductive disorders.
- Musk Ketone- a synthetic fragrance ingredient used to give depth to fragrance compositions and to help the scent linger on the skin. Musk ketones are part of a class of chemicals known as nitro musks that cause reproductive issues, developmental abnormalities, and an increased risk of certain types of cancers.
Conventional Perfumes Also Come With Notable Environmental Concerns
In recent years, there have been growing environmental concerns associated with the chemicals found in perfumes and synthetic fragrances, as well as the manufacturing processes used to create these products.
Impact on Air Quality
Perfumes and synthetic fragrances add to both indoor and outdoor air pollution. Of particular concern is the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) commonly found in traditional perfumes. VOCs, when released into the atmosphere, react with other elements to form ozone. This not only deteriorates our air quality but also contributes to broader issues like smog and respiratory problems.
But of larger concern is how synthetic fragrances affect our indoor air quality since we are releasing these VOCs into enclosed spaces that allow higher concentrations of these compounds to accumulate, polluting the air we breathe every day. The lingering effects of these fragrances in our homes, offices, and public spaces contribute to this often-overlooked aspect of air pollution.
Other Environmental Effects
Beyond air quality, perfumes can also damage our physical environment. When we wash fragrances off our bodies or toss them into the trash, they can seep into waterways, disrupting aquatic ecosystems and threatening marine life, potentially leading to long-term ecological damage.
Why Opting For Clean, Non-Toxic Perfume Is A Better Choice
So, what makes non-toxic perfumes different? Clean perfumes use only natural, safe ingredients, such as pure essential oils, and are free from synthetic dyes and artificial musks.
These natural ingredients are significantly gentler on your skin and your health, as synthetic ingredients can trigger undesirable skin reactions, allergic responses, and long-term health consequences that we discussed above.
Like with our food, the more natural and less processed the ingredients that go into a perfume, the better the end product will be for your overall health.
Natural ingredients also make for better-smelling, higher-quality perfumes with more original scents. Natural perfumes made with sustainable, organic ingredients can better maintain the integrity of the aromatic molecules since natural perfume makers utilize hydro distillation rather than steam distillation, allowing them to achieve a more complex scent.
How We Found Our 5 Favorite Natural Perfume Brands
With the array of clean perfumes available in the organic fragrance market, we had to narrow down our options. We started by researching some popular perfumes that are marketed as non-toxic and created a shortlist of ten promising options we wanted to try, including:
Extensive Ingredient Review
Next, we took a deep dive into each perfume's ingredient list using the EWG Skin Deep database to ensure that none of the perfume brands contained known irritants, allergens, or toxic chemicals. As a result of this review, we had to eliminate Heretic Parfum from our list due to the presence of butylphenyl methylpropional in their formulation.
We Put Each Fragrance To The Test
With our revised list of nine non toxic perfumes, we moved on to the testing phase. Over several weeks, we wore each scent individually, giving each one a thorough two-week trial. We paid close attention to the strength of the scent, its longevity, and how it interacted with our skin. Crucially, we also noted whether it caused any irritation or discomfort or if the scent was noticeably overwhelming.
We wanted to know how others perceived the scents as well. So, we sought feedback from friends, family, and co-workers about their first impressions of each fragrance.
Our 5 Favorite Affordable Clean Perfumes
Evoking cozy mornings in a warm kitchen, Skylar's Fall Cashmere Eau de Parfum is an invitingly warm, gourmand-style fragrance ideal for autumn. Top notes of almond and ginger provide a lively, spiced opening, while middle notes of cinnamon, clove, and matcha tea lend a soothing, familiar sweetness. The scent culminates in a creamy base of sandalwood, vanilla, musk, and amber. Together, these notes create a perfume experience as comforting as a steaming mug of chai latte and a plate of cinnamon-spiced cookies.
While deliciously evocative, Fall Cashmere remains easy to wear, even for those who don't typically gravitate toward sweet fragrances. The bold ginger note adds a refreshing zing that keeps the scent from becoming too heavy.
As part of the clean beauty movement, Skylar places strict standards on its ingredients for both human and environmental health. They omit over 1,300 questionable ingredients from their eco-friendly perfumes, including phthalates, sulfates, parabens, synthetic dyes, and skin irritants.
Skylar also avoids using endangered plants and discloses all ingredients clearly on their website. To reduce their ecological impact, they use primarily synthetic ingredients and sustainable practices like FSC-certified paper packaging. Further, Skylar ensures its products and packaging are fully recyclable.
Not Your Baby is a sensual yet playful, unique scent that intrigues from the first spritz to the lingering dry down. Equally impressive is PHLUR's transparency about their practices and dedication to sustainability.
PHLUR's provocative and addictive Not Your Baby fragrance is a true head-turner with its playful contradictions and lush layers of spicy florals. Top notes of bergamot and cardamom intermingle with the powdery sweetness of mimosa and violet. As the fragrance develops, it takes on a warmer, sensual tone with milky vanilla, tonka bean, and sandalwood in the base notes. Like the fragrance itself, PHLUR as a brand embodies complexity.
PHLUR thoughtfully uses both natural and synthetic ingredients, recognizing that natural does not inherently mean safer or more sustainable. They base their ingredient choices on safety, quality, and environmental impact. For example, some natural ingredients require unsustainable harvesting practices for small yields. In these cases, PHLUR uses nature-identical synthetics, enabling their perfumers to create fine fragrances more sustainably.
With its sophisticated simplicity and clean elegance, Ellis Brooklyn's Myth Eau de Parfum is an understated yet captivating scent. Crisp top notes of orchid, jasmine, and cedar unfold into an airy floral bouquet, with warm base notes of musk wrapping the fragrance in cozy softness. Sophisticated without being stuffy, Myth is an uplifting daytime scent that sits beautifully close to the skin.
As a clean, vegan, and cruelty-free fragrance, Myth aligns with Ellis Brooklyn's thoughtful approach to ingredient selection.
They avoid questionable ingredients like phthalates and prioritize natural components for their complexity while responsibly incorporating synthetics. This balanced perspective acknowledges that natural does not inherently mean better across all sustainability factors.
Further reflecting their commitment to health and the environment, Ellis Brooklyn adheres to strict EU standards that ban over 1300 potentially harmful ingredients. They also follow scientifically backed IFRA guidelines for fragrance safety. For reduced environmental impact, the brand primarily uses glass bottles for packaging and offsets their carbon footprint annually through initiatives like carbon-neutral shipping.
With its refreshing yet warm floral musk scent and conscientious formulation, Ellis Brooklyn Myth is an elegant everyday perfume option. The brand's careful attention to sourcing, ethics, and sustainability shines through this sophisticated fragrance.
Exuding breezy vibes reminiscent of a sunkissed drive along the coast, Henry Rose's Windows Down eau de parfum perfectly captures the essence of summer. This uplifting citrus-floral opens with invigorating top notes of Earl Grey tea, bergamot, neroli, and grapefruit. As it dries down, the scent reveals delicate middle notes of orange blossom and jasmine sambac. Finally, the fragrance settles into a relaxing base of oakmoss, musk, and guaiac wood. This journey from bright citrus to warm, woody depths evokes the feeling of freedom and seaside adventure.
As the first fine fragrance brand to earn verification from the Environmental Working Group (EWG), Henry Rose upholds strict standards for both human and environmental health.
Their formulas contain no parabens, phthalates, carcinogens, or other hazardous ingredients. Henry Rose also pursues top certifications like Cradle to Cradle and Leaping Bunny to guarantee products that are safe, responsibly made, and cruelty-free across their entire supply chain.
The brand was founded to redefine transparency in fragrance through full ingredient disclosure and adherence to green chemistry principles. By partnering with organizations like EWG and IFF, Henry Rose pushes the industry towards more sustainable practices and renewable ingredients.
With its sheer, ethereal essence, Lake & Skye's 11 11 Perfume Oil is a breath of fresh air. This calming unisex fragrance opens with an ozonic essence that evokes the crispness of a misty morning. Hints of amber wood lend a delicate warmth, and white musk creates a clean, comforting base. Effortlessly simple yet undeniably chic, 11 11 is the olfactory equivalent of a perfect white t-shirt - an instant mood-booster.
As a holistic brand focused on wellness, Lake & Skye is dedicated to creating natural, non-toxic fragrances. Free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, their formulas feature organic sugar cane alcohol.
Lake & Skye also demonstrates a commitment to sustainability through initiatives like planting a tree for each online order and using FSC-certified, recyclable packaging. By supporting causes like The Nature Conservancy, Lake & Skye makes a positive impact on communities and the planet.
This post was all about affordable non toxic perfume options.
In this post, we went over the hidden health and environmental hazards of conventional perfumes. We dove into how synthetic fragrances can disrupt hormones, cause allergic reactions, contribute to air pollution, and damage ecosystems. Key offenders like phthalates, parabens, and musk ketones permeate many mainstream perfumes.
The solution is switching to clean, non-toxic perfume options made with natural ingredients. We shared our journey of finding the best natural scents through extensive research and testing. Our top five picks avoid toxic chemicals and use ethical, sustainable ingredients without sacrificing delightful scents.
We hope this post has convinced you to overhaul your fragrance collection and adopt more natural perfumes. Your health and the planet will thank you.
We hope our recommendations help you find your perfect signature scent. You deserve to smell amazing with ingredients you can feel good about.
Share this post so more people can discover the wonderful world of safe, eco-friendly fragrances. Why should our health and environment suffer for the sake of smelling nice? It's time to clear the air and breathe in the uplifting possibilities of clean perfume.
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