High-end fragrances, especially those endorsed by celebrities, are sought after items but the toxic ingredients some of them contain are a cause for concern. When the EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) tested conventional, synthetic perfumes in 1991, they found many toxic chemical ingredients, such as benzaldehyde, acetone, methylene chloride, and ethyl acetate as well as stearates, parabens and phthalates.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react with the proteins in our bodies and can affect our immune responses, causing headaches, breathing problems and skin irritation. Over time, this can lead to long-term health effects.
Phthalates Diethyl phthalate (DEP) is a common phthalate that is often listed under the word “fragrance” in conventional perfumes and phthalates have been found to negatively disrupt the endocrine and reproductive systems.
When shopping for sustainable scents, it is important to consider many factors, such as how a brand sources their ingredients and what type of production processes they use. You don’t want to buy perfumes that contain parabens, synthetic fragrances, dyes, phthalates or petrochemicals. Here is a list of 12 perfume brands and the natural products they offer.
1. Sana Jardin: Berber Blonde
Sana Jardin is a socially conscious luxury fragrance house that empowers low-income women in Morocco. Sustainability is prioritized at each step of the supply chain, and they use mostly recycled materials for their packaging. All their perfumes are free of artificial colorants, phthalates, formaldehyde, and parabens.
Berber Blonde is one of their natural perfumes containing notes of Moroccan orange blossom. This is a fresh, sunny scent that will enhance your mood, with the freshness anchored by notes of musk and North African neroli oil.
https://sanajardin.com/products/berber-blonde
2. Acorelle: Green Tea
Acorelle’s perfumes are certified organic and each one has a different effect – sensual, calming etc. All Acorelle’s perfumes are guaranteed to be free of coloring, nitro musks, phthalates and they are not tested on animals.
Acorelle’s green tea perfume enhances vitality and alertness with its base notes of cedar, leather, and patchouli. It consists of 100% organic essential oils, wheat alcohol and organic floral waters adapted to the fragrance. It comes in a roll-on bottle, which makes it handy when traveling.
http://www.soorganic.com/brands/acorelle-products/acorelle-tea-garden-organic-perfume-roll-on.html
3. Clean Reserve: Reserve Rain
This brand is well known by sustainably-minded shoppers. Its fragrances are manufactured in a solar-powered factory, come in recycled and recyclable bottles and are packaged in compostable cellophane.
Reserve Rain has an understated, cool scent that blends patchouli, bergamot, and vetiver. This light floral scent evokes memories of the clean air after a rainfall. The lightness of this fragrance makes it suitable for both men and women. It is suitable for everyday use and works well when layered with other scents.
https://www.spacenk.com/uk/en_GB/fragrance/personal-fragrance/fragrance/rain
4. Juniper Ridge: Cascade Forest Solid
Juniper Ridge’s philosophy is that nothing smells better than the natural scents of nature. Cascade Forest Solid is an earthy scent infused with the aromatic notes of the forest. It contains wild-harvested and steam-distilled essential oils with jojoba oil and organic beeswax for hydration.
The ingredients of this solid perfume bar are actually good for your skin and you simply warm it on your fingertips and apply. Coastal Pine, which brings to mind the ocean and pines, is another favorite unisex scent offered by Juniper Ridge.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GT9H22X/
5. Kuumba Made: Black Coconut
All the plants and herbs used in Kuumba Made are grown on certified organic farms or wild-harvested in an ethical way. Animals aren’t used for testing.
The Black Coconut fragrance is sweet and tropical, with a rich, milky aroma that lingers throughout the day. This is an oil-based product that lasts longer than alcohol-based ones that evaporate quickly. You can even use a few drops in your bath or use it as a massage oil. It’s the perfect fragrance for a hot summer day.
https://www.kuumbamade.com/product/black-coconut-fragrance-oil/
6. Floral Street: Neon Rose
Floral Street in London has an innovative approach to packaging. Its fragrances come in pulp cartons with embossed lids made from biodegradable and recyclable paper packaging. The box can be repurposed to use as a seed tray.
The fragrance house’s specialty is floral scents. Its eau de parfum, Neon Rose, includes the zingy notes of peach nectar, apple blossom, jasmine, and cassis. Vegan, sustainable and unforgettable, the clean, crisp scent is given a botanical dimension with the inclusion of angelica leaves.
https://floralstreet.com/products/neon-rose-50ml-eau-de-parfum
7. Sharini Parfums Naturels: Ambre Essentiel
Sharini Parfums Naturels use hydro-distilled absolutes and organically certified essential oils where possible in their perfumes. This guarantees no use of pesticides or insecticides. They offer handcrafted natural perfumes certified organic by Ecocert and suitable for vegans.
The oriental fragrance of Ambre Essentiel will appeal to anyone who loves the beauty and heat of amber. Well refined and formulated entirely from natural botanical extracts, it contains ingredients like roses, mandarin, vanilla, bergamot, and Australian sandalwood.
The warm color of the fragrance is due to the sticky resin from the Cistus ladiner flower. Organic corn alcohol and organic rose flower water make the product gentle on the skin. The warm earthy fragrance with a citrus kick makes it suitable for winter wear.
http://www.sharini.com/index-uk.html
8. Lush: Himalaya
Lush is another brand with an extensive selection of solid perfumes. Solid perfumes are a great green option because they reduce water consumption and often use less packaging. Lush practices earth-friendly ingredient sourcing and ethical energy use. They use natural ingredients and some safe synthetics. The products are not tested on animals.
Himalaya is a deeply reflective fragrance combining 21 ingredients, such as the sweet notes of ylang-ylang and the musky ones of spikenard. The intoxicating mix of heady spices and sweet florals lingers and puts you in a meditative mood.
https://uk.lush.com/products/perfume-library/himalaya
9. Abel: Cobalt Amber
Abel is a brand with many loyal fans. All the natural ingredients used in its products are mindfully sourced and certified organic with guaranteed fair-trade and sustainable farming practices. They don’t use synthetic musk, which is potentially damaging for oceans, using hibiscus as an alternative. For every bottle they sell, they donate a meal to a child in the developing world.
Cobalt Amber is a sophisticated eu de perfume with juniper berries and pink peppers, providing a modern twist to the base note of the amber. Cardamom, cacao, tonka and peru balsam are some of the other ingredients used in this perfume.
https://www.contentbeautywellbeing.com/products/abel-colbalt-amber
10. Fluorescent: Pretty Bird
Fluorescent’s natural perfumes are hand blended and created with a love for real, fresh scents – those that you experience in a garden or in the wild. When you wear them you smell real flowers, plants, and herbs. They are made from a blend of certified organic and essential oils, CO2 extracts, absolutes, resins, and balsams. Grape alcohol is used for dilution.
One of the brand’s three signature scents is Pretty Bird, an earthy and warm scent. It features ingredients such as damask rose, bergamot, sandalwood, palisander rosewood, and cloves.
https://florescent.co/collections/all
11. Melvita: Patchouli Eu de Toilette
Melvita is part of the L’occitaine group which is committed to supporting communities, respecting the environment and guaranteeing the safety and quality of its products.
Melvita is France’s leading ecological and organic beauty brand and its products meet the criteria of Ecocert, one of the biggest organic certification organizations that inspect products in about 80 different countries to make sure they’re organically sourced.
Melvita’s Patchouli Eu de Toilette contains a surprisingly harmonious blend of sweet and fruity fragrances. It will make you feel you are wandering through a garden on a warm summer night. This fragrance is made with undenatured plant alcohol and a fragrance complex. It doesn’t contain any coloring, propylene glycol, diethyl phlate or nitro-musks.
https://eu.melvita.com/patchouli-eau-detoilette,27,1,13710,104148.htm#s=13616
12. LILFOX: Sandalo Sandalwood
LILFOX in Miami offers a collection of natural perfumes formulated from essential oils, absolutes, CO2 extracts, orals, resins, and spices. It works with all-natural and sustainably harvested botanical elements and the products contain no synthetics, parabens, sodium sulfates, or GMOs.
Sandalo Sandalwood is a subtle yet rich fragrance with soft layers that linger on the skin. It contains botanical extracts such as organic jojoba and Madagascan Vanilla Planifolia. Its heart notes are sandalwood and cardamom and its base notes are vanilla bourbon and ambrette seed. The hints of white cedarwood and musky ambrette combine in a soft, woody mélange.
https://lilfox.miami/products/sandalo-sandalwood-toning-mist-smoky-quartz-infusion
A final word
For a distinctive floral scent, try Neon Rose by Fluorescent. Perhaps you would rather go for Patchouli by Melvita which is both floral and fruity.
If you’re looking for a warm, earthy fragrance, Ambre Essentiel offers the heat of amber which makes it perfect for use in winter. Pretty Bird by Abel is another warm fragrance. For an understated, cool scent, Rain is the perfect option, whereas Berber Blonde is a fresh, sunny scent that’s great for a summer day.
Some fragrances in this list are multi-purpose, such as using Black Coconut for a massage or Acorelle’s Green Tea perfume to enhance alertness. If you haven’t tried out solid perfumes yet, those offered by Juniper Ridge and Rush are great options.