We are accustomed to taking seriously the choice of decorative cosmetics and care products, understanding the possible harm of their components to the body. And perfumery is perceived as something harmless, which can be selected focusing only on aroma and durability, and then used in unlimited quantities for a long time.

But everything is not so simple with perfumes, toilet and perfumery waters, which may contain a dangerous concentration of harmful substances. Symptoms appear after several years and it is not always possible to determine their causes, so it is better now to determine which perfume is dangerous.




1. Mass market. Contains dibutyl phthalate (anchoring element), which is marked as DBT in the composition. As a product of petroleum refining, it imparts a persistent aroma to materials and substances. But its chemical nature negatively affects health - with regular contact through the respiratory tract, it accumulates in the body and over time provokes the development of asthma.

The composition of perfumes in this category is comparable to air fresheners. After all, you can often find products with the aroma of water or strawberry, the essential oils of which cannot be obtained, but there are perfumes with similar notes on the shelves. This is possible due to chemical processes: the component can be processed and the resulting aroma is fixed with dibutyl phthalate. The result is not a composition of notes, but a set of complex chemical components.



Ingestion of such a liquid is fatal, but contact through the respiratory tract is also dangerous. The skin protects against direct exposure to "chemistry", so it does not enter the bloodstream. However, the regular use of such perfumes for many years will lead to chronic problems in the functioning of the respiratory system and epidermal cells.

2. Niche (selective). In terms of its composition, it is also a synthetic product, but at a high price, it is presented in boutiques and the MAKEUP online store. There are no dangerous components in expensive original products of world brands, but there are other interesting nuances. Buying perfumery with a bright note (rose or ylang-ylang), we do not get the full aroma of the extract, but only 1-2 esters out of 300 total. Such selective work allows to reduce the cost of production of elite perfumery.

3. Absolu (Absolu de Parfum). Perfume made using a complex technology that takes a long time. It is as close as possible to the process of composing aromatic compositions that have been used for centuries. Therefore, the result is a natural, safe product with full notes. A similar technique can be seen in the film Perfumer (2006), where the protagonist created perfume from absolutes.

What determines cost and quality

The price of a niche and absolute perfumery depends on the composition: many manufacturers refuse pretentious bottles, realizing the value of the compositions and the needs of the target audience.

The mass market, on the other hand, invests in marketing, promotion and design of their products, so about 90% of the cost of their products is advertising, 5% is a bottle and packaging, and the rest is components. Read the composition of the perfume: if water is in the first place in it and then a large group of parabens, preservatives and other chemical compounds, then it is better to refuse it. Remember that perfumes that can be stored for more than 3 years contain phenols - a poison.