When materials like oakmoss extracts are restricted by the exiting [sic] culture of toxicological imperialism on dubious safety grounds (and this applies also to other vital perfume ingredients such as coumarin and citrus oils - see elsewhere), the ‘art of the possible’ in perfumery’ dies back even further, with a result that fragrance companies, instead of vigorously opposing regulatory change, end-up producing cheap, conformist and essentially poor-quality perfumes with little consumer re-purchase potential, for a increasingly non-discerning market slot.
— From Sale / use of fragrant lichen commodities to become virtually illegal in Europe? at the aromaconnection blog, a must-read (albeit, a depressing read) for perfumistas.
We all like to jump on perfume houses that reformulate our favorite perfumes into banality, but all too frequently they are simply complying with new regulations. Ready for more bad news?