Can fragrance ‘mess’ with your hormones?

Fragrance myths, busted: 
Can perfume mess with your hormones?

There’s a lot of discussion about the ingredients we use on our skin – including those found in your favourite fragrances. Here, we explain why the ingredients we use (and don’t use!) at Floral Street are paramount – and why you should rest assured when spritzing your favourite scents.

How safe are our fragrances, really?

There have been studies to show that some brands use ingredients (like phthalates) that – in high doses – could mimic or interfere with the body’s natural hormone production. However – when it comes to worries about chemicals in perfumes, you should rest assured that fragrance brands (especially those in the UK and Europe) are held to rigorous standards of safety. It’s also important to remember that synthetic ingredients aren’t inherently harmful or toxic, just because they’re created in a lab.

What ingredients should we be mindful of? And what ingredients does Floral Street avoid?

We avoid phthalates, a chemical used to increase the longevity of fragrances, as we don’t deem them necessary and are wary of their impact on our environment and waterways. All of our products are also free from polycyclic and nitro musks (due to environmental concerns), sulphates and parabens – though we know that studies show the risks of using these ingredients in small concentrations are low. 

What ingredients do Floral Street use? 

At Floral Street, vegan, responsible and carefully-sourced ingredients are paramount. We work with perfume house Robertet to source both natural and synthetic fragrance ingredients and create certified vegan and cruelty-free perfumes. Some lab-made ingredients we use include ambroxan, an animal-free alternative to ambergris which is derived from whales, and our vegan honey accord, which mimics the sweet scent of honey, without relying on honey bees. 

We believe that fragrance is a source of mood-boosting self-expression and something we should all enjoy, without the fear of negatively impacting ourselves or our planet. By embracing honest discussion and transparency about our practices and ingredients, we can continue to spritz, play and discover the power of fragrance every day.