Fragrance is a combination of chemical ingredients that gives scented cosmetics their smell. It is also found in many household products like laundry detergents, fabric softeners and air fresheners.
Fragrances are made from fragrant oils derived from plants and spices or synthetic aromatic chemicals. Cosmetic fragrances applied to the skin to create a pleasant odour include perfume, cologne and aftershave. It is often used to enhance a person’s self-image and may be an important social signal to others.
Although the word “fragrance” may https://tensymp2020.com/ sound natural, it is actually an industry term for a mixture of thousands of chemicals. Fragrance ingredients are not regulated by the FDA, instead the fragrance industry sets its own standards through a trade group called the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) and the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM). Fragrance chemicals can be harmful to human health as they contain hormone-disrupting compounds, cause allergic reactions in some people, and contribute to ozone pollution, according to research (1).
Using scent to convey a message is a very old and powerful practice. It can be a way to signal that you are happy or sad, or to tell the world that you are sexy or shy. Scent can also make us feel calm and stimulate memory recall (2).
The most common use of a fragrance is in perfume, which is a liquid mixture of fragrant essential oils or synthetic aromatic chemicals (3). Perfume is applied to the neck or wrists and may last for a few hours after application. Fragrance is also used in soaps, lotions, shampoos, deodorants and hair care products. Some household products containing fragrance, such as detergents, fabric softeners and deodorizers, are also used to scent homes and cars.
Whether we realize it or not, the fragrances in our personal care and household products are full of chemicals that have been shown to disrupt hormones, lead to allergies and even cancer in some people (4). They are also bad for the environment (5). When the chemicals in these products break down, they form volatile organic compounds that contribute to ozone pollution and fine particulate matter in air pollution, according to studies (6).
Most personal care and household products labeled as containing fragrance contain perfume, and they don’t require an FDA review before going on the market (7). Some fragrance ingredients, however, can be classified as drugs if they claim to treat a condition, such as easing muscle aches, and are then regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (8).
Compared to synthetic fragrances, pure essential oil perfume is much more natural and free of the hormone-disrupting and allergenic chemicals (9). There are several ways to extract a fragrance from plant material (10). The most common method is distillation, in which the material is heated to high temperatures to release the desired oils. Other methods, including expression and maceration, can be used for more delicate materials or more difficult-to-extract oils. Enfleurage is a technique that involves soaking the material in solvents that act as a carrier for essential oils, but this method is no longer used commercially (11,12). These methods are also costly and time-consuming (12,13). The raw materials may then be blended with chemicals to achieve a particular scent (11). The chemicals in perfume can have a wide variety of effects on the body, including allergic reactions, sensitization and cognitive effects (16). Fragrance is a very powerful product.