Synthetic Fragrance / Perfume

'Parfum' in perfume, lotion, and sprays.

46Moderate burden · out of 100

Cleaner swapFragrance-free, or essential-oil scented sparingly

How this score is built

100Start
77Chemical hazard 5 × 4.6−23
56.6Everyday exposure 6 × 3.4−20.4
46Persistence 4 × 2.6−10.4, then rounded to 46
ModerateThe band46 sits in 40–59.

What each input rests on

The three ratings behind the score, and the studies each rests on
Input	Rating	Evidence
Chemical hazard	5/10	unsourced input
Everyday exposure	6/10	Among 186 pregnant women in New York City, those who used perfume in the previous 48 hours had 2.3 times higher urinary monoethyl phthalate, the metabolite of the fragrance solvent diethyl phthalate. Urinary and air phthalate concentrations and self-reported use of personal care products among minority pregnant women in New York city · J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2010 DOI 10.1038/jes.2010.13 · PMID 20354564 · Abstract · read 2026-10-16
Persistence	4/10	unsourced input

Ratings are editorial. A study listed here supports the rating; it did not compute it. How the index is built

What this means for you

It scores as it does mainly because of how much everyday contact it involves. 'Fragrance' is an undisclosed mixture that often includes phthalates used to make scent linger. Fragrance-free is the simplest cut.

Evidence strength: moderate

See where your whole exposure load is highest — free Exposure Score →

This entry and the whole Index, on your phone.

Lower-exposure choices

Fragrance-Free Basic SkincareMinimal · Personal Care

All 33 personal care entries, highest burden first →