A Rose is a Rose is a Rose…..Or Is It?

In 1973 the Federal Fair Packaging and Labeling Act was put into place and requires companies to list cosmetics ingredients on the product labels but explicitly exempts “fragrance” from the terms. By taking advantage of this loophole, the cosmetics industry has kept the public in the dark about the ingredients in the “fragrance”, even those that present potential health risks.

There is nothing natural about synthetic fragrance oils! They are created in a lab and primarily made from petrochemicals, and attempt to duplicate the smell of a specific plant. By dismantling the unique chemical compound of an essential oil, chemists reassemble a “Frankenstein” fragrance. A 1986 report by the National Academy of Science reports that 95 percent of the chemicals used in synthetic fragrances are derived from petroleum and include benzene derivatives, aldehydes, and many other known toxins and synthesizers capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions. Many companies blend a very small amount of essential oils with synthetic fragrances, chemical enhancers, and boosters in an attempt to cut costs to create a more potent and longer lasting odor. Unless a company discloses that they exclusively use pure essential oils, there is every possibility that instead of spraying an aroma therapeutic air freshener, they are dispersing a chemical cocktail in the air that is anything but healthy!