Fragrance evoke.ie is an ongoing series that explores the often-overlooked world of perfumes and colognes. Featuring articles, videos, and quizzes about the ingredients found in perfumes and colognes, this series is designed to help consumers better understand what’s in their fragrances and how those chemicals can affect them.

Perfumes are a complex mixture of essential oils and synthetic aroma chemicals. When you see the word “fragrance” or “parfum” on a product’s ingredient list, it usually represents a mixture of dozens of scent chemicals. Companies are not required to disclose the individual fragrance components because it is considered proprietary information.

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Choosing a fragrance is about much more than just finding a scent that appeals to you; it’s about the effects that perfume has on your body and mind. This is why it’s important to educate yourself about perfumes and colognes before you head down the beauty counter at your local department store or order fragrance samples online.

Fragrance chemicals can cause a variety of health problems including dermatitis, allergies and reproductive harm. In an effort toward transparency, the International Fragrance Association has released a list of the chemicals used in perfumes and colognes that have been linked to health concerns. However, the list is not comprehensive and many chemicals like styrene and phthalates remain in the product ingredient lists despite substantial research linking them to negative health outcomes.