Common Sense About Scents

Are scented products for personal use safe?
Should their use be discouraged in public places?

The answers to these questions should be based on facts - not beliefs. That's the only way to create responsible practices that respect individual rights and freedoms.

Here are some facts to consider:

• All fragrance ingredients have been tested for safety. The Research Institute for Fragrance Materials is an international independent body dedicated to evaluating fragrance ingredient safety.
• Fragrance ingredients are tested to the same standards that apply to consumer goods like food.
• The composition of perfumes hasn't changed much in hundreds of years. They contain primarily water and alcohol - of the same type and purity we drink in beverages - as well as essential fragrance oils.
• Fragrance formulations do not contain toxic ingredients such as carcinogens or neurotoxins.
• Perfumes and scented personal care products are regulated by Health Canada.
• The safety of an ingredient does not depend on whether it is natural or synthetic. For example, almost half of the ingredients no longer used in fragrances are naturals that caused skin irritation.

There are people who react excessively to many materials found in everyday life, including scented products. Be respectful. Any strong aroma - perfume or otherwise - can be unpleasant. Everyone has a personal "scent circle" about an arm's length away form their body. Use scent responsibly and keep it within your "scent circle".

To view this information as a poster, click here.