It has long been reported that the widespread use of synthetic musks in cosmetic and fragrance formulas poses some risk to the environment. Now, researchers at Stanford University suggest that
...long-term exposure to these synthetic musks could result in tissue concentrations high enough to impair natural cellular defenses in humans...
I can't bear to think about it any more, but if you must, you can read the whole article in Forbes (link no longer active, sorry). As near as I could tell, giving up your favorite fragrance would be of little help, since apparently synthetic musks are in everything — even your toothpaste.
And in honor of Valentine's Day (gee, thanks) Greenpeace tested some common fragrances for potentially hazardous ingredients. I glanced quickly at the press release (another broken link, double sorry!) but tried not to notice the names of any of the perfumes they tested. If Ormonde Jayne Frangipani is carcinogenic, I'd rather not know.
Thanks for posting this interesting article. From now on, I will only be wearing Gloria Vanderbilt. HELP!!
Hey K! I really meant it when I said I didn't read the articles carefully (ignorance is bliss) so I don't get the reference to Gloria Vanderbilt. Is that the only safe perfume on the planet??? If so, I'll stick with my favorites and risk an early death.
Yup, that's the safe one. I'm with you!