What Makes Scents

By Melaina Juntti

The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) recently released its Transparency List (view at ifraorg.org), naming 3,163 ingredients—synthetic and natural—that perfumiers use to make scents.

The good news: The IFRA has made strides to disclose the mystery ingredients considered “trade secrets” in fragrances.

The bad news: Of the 3,163 ingredients, 26 ranked a toxic 10 out of 10 on the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep cosmetic database, and one in six fell in either the moderate- or high-hazard range, EWG scientists say.

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