What are allergens in fragrances and are they dangerous for me?
A allergen is, according to the RAE, a «substance causing allergic reactions«. However, when we bring it to the field of perfumery and essential oils, it would probably be more accurate to say that allergens are substances that cause or may cause allergic reactions, Because allergies are personal and not all of us are allergic to the same thing. At the end of the day, just because a substance causes allergic reactions in one person, does not mean that it will cause the same allergic reaction in the population as a whole.. Or to put it much more simply: just because my friend is allergic to peach skin does not mean that I am.
For every human being, on every perfumery item there may be one or more allergens that cause an allergic reaction. But once we have identified the substances that trigger an allergic reaction, we should be able to easily determine whether or not a perfume contains these allergens.
Why are allergens in fragrances declared on the labelling?
The labelling of perfumery products allows the consumer, using common sense and in the knowledge of which substances cause allergic reactions, to inform himself about whether or not the fragrance or cosmetic he wants to buy will be dangerous for his body.
If a person takes the trouble to check the labelling of a perfumery product, he or she will find a list of various allergens contained in that product. They can check if any of the allergens that cause allergic reactions are present, in which case they can simply not buy the product and look for a similar product that does not contain the same allergens.
What are the main allergens in fragrances?
Since the early 2000s, the cosmetics sector has had a list of 25 substances considered allergens, and of compulsory declaration in the labelling, as long as they exceed or equal a concentration of 0.01 % in cosmetics that are rinsed off and a concentration equal or higher than 0.001 % in cosmetics that remain on our skin for a longer period of time.
However, following the publication of the Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 the list will be significantly expanded, with 55 new substances, It is therefore expected that from now on it will be necessary to declare to notify up to 81 allergens in fragrances, if they exceed the established concentration.
