Consumer Concerns

Consumers are unable to make informed decisions regarding fragrance in products. Present labeling does not allow consumers to know the status of substantiation of safety of the fragrance portion of products. Nor is it possible to discern with certainty whether or not a product contains fragrance.

Cosmetics do not have to be tested for safety before marketing. By law, a warning label is required if the safety of the ingredients and the final product has not been substantiated. If the warning label is not present, it is assumed the safety of the ingredients and products has been substantiated.

The safety of the vast majority of fragrance chemicals has not been substantiated. This is demonstrated by lack of publicly available health and safety data on fragrance chemicals. Yet there are no warning labels on products that contain scent. Consumers are conceivably assuming the safety of the products has been substantiated which is not correct.

Further products labeled as "unscented" or "fragrance free" often contain fragrance chemicals which are used to mask the odor of other ingredients in the product. While masking fragrance is usually at low levels, the very people most likely to be using these products are those that are sensitive to fragrance.

Labeling laws need to be enforced so consumers can make informed decisions when making purchases.