How ethical is the perfume you are wearing?

By Eleonora Zorzenone

We hear a lot about sustainability and ethics when it comes to cosmetics and fashion but what about fragrances? How important is it for people to be aware of what’s inside the potion they wear every morning?

As the world is slowly moving towards a more ethical way of consuming products, we should extend this to all luxury goods we buy – including our perfumes.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, about 95 percent of the chemicals used to make perfumes come from fossil fuels, which is dangerous to the environment when being extracted and transported. Out of 3,100 ingredients used in different combinations to create different fragrances, around 90% of them are synthetic petrochemicals (derived from petroleum) reported the National Academy of Sciences.

Many brands have decided to step away from harmful chemicals and mass production to approach a more sustainable way of creating a perfume.

Anima Vinci is a niche brand that creates exclusive fragrances crafted only with sustainable natural ingredients. On their website, they guarantee the best ingredients from sustainable sources.

“It’s our responsibility to play our part in getting the world in better shape”

Nathalie Vinciguerra, the brand’s founder, believes in perfume’s power to uplift our senses. She said: “I have always wanted to start my own business, where I could absolutely ensure the quality and the authenticity and sustainability through every single stage of a perfume’s production.”

There are also brands like Faîr Parfum that have a long tradition of ethical and sustainable production. Established in 1888 in the French city of Grasse, they have been producing high end perfumes with natural ingredients and artisan methods ever since.

“We use a 22 plate filtration system which ensures maximum purity. We also use the legal maximum of 25% oil concentration and natural ingredients, allowing our perfume to last for a minimum of 8 hours but also is kinder to the skin,” said Umair Khalid, 23, Faîr Parfum Social Media Manager.

“Sustainability in perfumes isn’t just about the perfume itself. It goes beyond the liquid, it starts from the very beginning”

In order to protect the environment, there are many more elements to pay attention to. As Khalid from Faîr Parfum said: “The ingredients we use are natural and organically grown, derived from local farms which we have ties with dating back generations.

“In regards to the technique, we use artisan methods which don’t allow mass chemicals to be used. This is why we create small batches of perfume as opposed to mass produced perfumes and our hand blown glass bottles are recyclable as are the boxes in which they are packaged.”

Big brands take responsibility

What responsibility do big brands like Dior, Chanel or Hermes carry? Certainly a big one.

According to Khalid from Faîr Parfum: “It is costly to use natural ingredients and the cost of production rises as more processes are required to filter out natural essences. If big companies would do that, they could no longer mass produce and create new fragrance lines every other month.”

In 2019, the exclusive and luxury brand Montblanc created the fragrance “Explorer Montblanc”. The fragrance has been created by a trio of Givaudan with ingredients that come from local producers who are supported to work in an ethical and sustainable way. It is not enough but it definitely proves that also big luxurious brands can embrace a more sustainable way of creating their perfumes.

People are demanding a more transparent beauty industry, where products are not only fabulous but also sustainable and ethical. Monica De Fazio, 26, a perfume collector said: “Perfume is my favourite accessory but I am no longer willing to give up the planet’s health just to smell good. I have stopped buying big brands as they fail to follow fair trade ethics and to use environmentally and health-friendly ingredients.”

Here you can find three amazing sustainable fragrances that you should not miss:

Faîr Parfum, Bisou, £75

“Friendly, vivacious and such fun to be around. With a playful glint in her eye and affectionate in the extreme, she leaves an unmistakable impression on everyone she meets.”