The word frgrance usually refers to flowers and perfume—and smells in general that make people happy. But some smells are pretty bad. As the writer Charles Duhigg discovered while researching his new book, “The Power of Habit,” many unpleasant odors persist, even after you’ve “deodorized.” What’s going on? It turns out that when it comes to odors, human noses are very adaptable. In fact, we often develop a liking for things that stink.
A fragrance is a combination of chemicals that gives an aroma to something, including cologne and perfume. Fragrance chemicals come from a variety of sources, from natural raw materials to petroleum and synthetics. Companies that manufacture perfume and cologne use these mixtures to create their own blends. They also add other ingredients such as stabilizers, preservatives and dyes.
The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) sets voluntary standards for chemicals used in fragrance. Because the FDA doesn’t require labeling of perfume and cologne ingredients, companies are free to keep their formulas secret. But some fragrance chemicals have been linked to health issues such as cancer, reproductive toxicity and allergies and sensitivities. As a result, many products list only the “fragrance” component on their labels and leave out details of what makes up the fragrance mix. This allows companies to skirt ingredient disclosure laws and sustain a loophole that benefits fragrance-industry trade secrets rather than consumer safety. Thankfully, a number of companies have chosen to disclose their fragrance mixtures and their names.