Would You Use Baby Perfume?
Designer brand Dolce & Gabbana recently released a perfume for babies that they say captures the “innocence of childhood” and it’s come under much ridicule. As Laura Beck on Jezebel.com satirically writes, “How have we, as a people, dealt with the foul aroma of a freshly bathed baby for so long?”
We agree with the sentiment. Do babies really need perfume?
And, this isn’t the first of its kind. Jai Ose Baby Perfume by Guy Laroche was created in 2001 (with a “tender floral fragrance, that is strikingly sharp”). There’s also Burberry Baby Touch eau de toilette and even Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Cologne.
Aside from the fact that these products are entirely unnecessary and border on silly, they could also pose serious risks to a baby’s health. You see, due to a loophole in labeling laws, manufacturers are allowed to dump any number of chemicals into their “fragrances” without listing them on the package. Fragrance (aka “parfum”) is considered a trade secret.
In 2010, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the Environmental Working Group (EWG) commissioned independent laboratory tests that revealed 38 secret chemicals in 17 leading fragrances. Some of these chemicals are linked to hormone disruption, allergic reactions, and even cancer. And, many have not been assessed for safety in personal care products at all.
“A rose may be a rose,” reports EWG. “But that rose-like fragrance in your perfume may be something else entirely, concocted from any number of the fragrance industry’s 3,100 stock chemical ingredients, the blend of which is almost always kept hidden from the consumer.”
Want to avoid this unnecessary risk? Clearly, not using baby perfumes is the obvious first step. But, you should also avoid other care products that include “fragrance” or “parfum” unless the manufacturer clearly spells out what they use.
Looking for more tips for protecting your baby from risky chemicals in everyday products? Download the free e-book from Healthy Child Healthy World, Easy Steps for a Healthy and Safe Nursery - be sure to check out the section on easy DIY recipes for making your own natural baby “lotions and potions!”
photo credit: Scott & Elaine van der Chijs via photopin cc
The information provided on this site is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or recommendations. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding the issues raised here.
