Revealed: The toxic chemicals in your perfume that could be causing hair loss and weight gain. So are you wearing one of these ten bestselling fragrances that contain ingredients that may disrupt hormones?
For millions of us, applying a spritz of perfume is something we do without a second thought – but experts are warning that some popular ranges could contain potentially dangerous chemicals.
These substances are known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals – compounds that, in studies, have been shown to interfere with the body’s natural hormones, raising the risk of hair loss, fertility issues, obesity, diabetes and even cancer.
Some of these chemicals are already banned in the UK.
Last year, two fragrances – Hello by Lionel Richie and Hot by United Colors of Benetton – were recalled after it was revealed they contained chemicals that were restricted due to worries they could affect fertility.
But experts believe many chemicals still used in popular perfumes may be having a subtle, but negative, effect on the body.
They are particularly concerned about the impact of perfumes on the thyroid – the small butterfly-shaped organ in the neck that regulates the body’s hormonal system – as only a thin layer of skin protects the gland when these chemicals are sprayed on.
Now, The Mail on Sunday has examined the publicly listed ingredients of ten of Britain’s most popular designer perfumes. And all contained at least one ingredient that has been examined by regulators or scientists for possible hormone-disrupting effects.
Those included in our list include No.5 by Chanel, Perfect by Marc Jacobs, and Sauvage by Dior. All ingredients included in these products are legally permitted for use in cosmetics sold in the UK within regulated limits.
Experts believe many chemicals still used in popular perfumes may be having a subtle, but negative, effect on the body
Campaigners are now calling on the Government to take action – and for consumers to avoid products that may contain endocrine disruptors.
‘Our hormones are critical for our health – they run everything in the body from our reproductive system to our metabolism to our sleep pattern and weight,’ said Chloe Topping, senior UK campaigner at The Chem Trust.
‘There is growing scientific evidence that some of these chemicals can interfere with our hormonal system. But regulation is not keeping up with the science. The UK is significantly lagging behind the rest of Europe in controlling these substances.’
So what exactly are endocrine disruptors? And how can they be avoided?
The endocrine system is the body’s messaging network. Glands such as the thyroid, ovaries and testes release hormones – chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream, instructing organs how to behave.
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals have been shown in certain laboratory or animal studies to mimic natural hormones, block hormone receptors or alter hormone production.
Studies have linked endocrine disruptors to diabetes, obesity, developmental problems and cancers. Experts say they could also be behind the rise of incurable reproductive disorders.
Cases of endometriosis – a condition where tissues that line the womb grow outside of it, causing pain and potentially infertility – have risen from just over 3.4 million globally in 1990 to 190 million today. Meanwhile, the number of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) – a hormonal disorder that causes irregular or heavy periods, weight gain and sometimes excess body hair – has doubled in Britain over the past two decades alone.
In 2012, the World Health Organisation declared endocrine disruptors a ‘global threat’. Since then, a number of chemicals believed to impact the hormonal system have been banned by regulatory bodies around the world.
Bisphenol A (BPA) was banned from baby bottles in Britain in 2011, after studies suggested the compounds – which have been linked to brain defects and behavioural issues in children – were leaking into milk or formula. The European Commission further banned it from any ‘food contact materials’ – such as water bottles, drink can lining and food containers – in December 2024, but the UK has not followed suit.
Studies have linked endocrine disruptors to diabetes, obesity, developmental problems and cancers
Another chemical used as a UV filter in some sunscreens, methylbenzylidene camphor, was banned by the EU in 2024 due to evidence of endocrine disruption. The substance is also banned from cosmetic products in the US and Japan – but is still allowed to be used in the UK.
And butylphenyl methylpropional – a synthetic floral fragrance – was banned from all cosmetic products in the UK and Europe in 2022, after studies showed it had potentially endocrine-disrupting properties, posing risks to fertility and foetal development.
But other chemicals suspected of being endocrine disruptors are still present in many perfumes available on the high street, according to Dr Anna-Maria Andersson, head of the Danish Centre on Endocrine Disruptors.
Fragrances are complex chemical mixtures. Each may contain dozens – sometimes hundreds – of compounds. Often they make a scent last for longer.
The Mail on Sunday reviewed publicly available ingredient lists for ten bestselling perfumes sold in Britain, including Signature by Chloe, The Scent by Hugo Boss, Perfect by Marc Jacobs, Si by Armani, Alien by Thierry Mugler, No.5 by Chanel, Good Girl by Carolina Herrera, Twilly by Hermes, Flower by Kenzo and Sauvage by Dior. Each had, at minimum, three ingredients that have been studied for potential endocrine activity. Some had as many as six.
For example, Si by Armani contained benzyl salicylate and BHT, two chemicals have been shown to interfere with the body’s production of oestrogen, and were linked to an increased risk of breast cancer by British researchers in 2009.
Both have been subject to increased restriction in recent years in the UK, but are still allowed to be added to cosmetics.
Perfect by Marc Jacobs listed ingredients includes ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, which is used to extend the shelf life of products. A 2015 study linked the chemical to delayed puberty in boys, while a 2019 study demonstrated it reduced fertility in women. While banned in several countries, it is still permitted for use in cosmetic products in the EU and Britain.
And Twilly by Hermes is formulated with ethylhexyl salicylate and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, which have both been shown to disrupt hormonal function in animal studies by US scientists in 2018, but are not banned in any country.
Experts say another concern is a form of chemicals called phthalates, also known as plasticisers. A 2008 risk assessment report from the National Research Council in the US linked them to reproductive and genital defects, lower sperm count, disrupted hormones and infertility in animals. Studies have also shown that people who regularly use cosmetics and perfumes have higher exposure to phthalates than those who do not.
Five phthalates were banned in cosmetics in the EU and Britain in 2003, but other forms of the chemical are still legal and used in perfumes today. Often they’re simply listed as ‘fragrance’ on products, as cosmetic firms say the exact make-up of their scents is commercially sensitive information.
All ten perfumes included in our investigation listed ‘fragrance’ as an ingredient, though it cannot be established how many of these contain phthalates.
Industry representatives maintain that all cosmetic ingredients permitted in the UK have undergone rigorous safety assessment and are considered safe at approved concentrations.
We approached each of these companies for comment.
Dr Anna-Maria Andersson admits that proving direct cause between potential endocrine disrupters and effect in humans is extremely difficult.
‘It’s hard to prove a direct link between these substances and hormonal disorders because we can’t do experiments on humans, so we have to look at animal studies,’ she says.
‘And these studies suggest the potential for serious effects at certain exposure levels.’
She points to research she conducted in 2010 in which animals exposed in the womb to mixtures of chemicals commonly found in everyday cosmetics were born with genital abnormalities or later infertility.
‘People often dismiss these findings, saying that these animals were given a high dose, whilst humans are safe because they’re exposed to much less,’ she says. ‘But they’re not considering the fact that we’re exposed to many, many different chemicals that all work in the same way.
‘And when they’re all impacting the same system, they can have an additive effect.’
Dr Christine Maren, a US family physician who focuses on hormone health, says she increasingly sees women with subtle thyroid imbalances.
‘I see so many women these days with sub-clinical hypothyroidism [a condition where their hormones are unbalanced] but not to the point where it will show up in regular blood tests,’ she says.
‘Instead, they may have seemingly unrelated symptoms like hair thinning and weight gain, as well as fatigue, constipation and inflammation.
‘It’s become so common to see this in my clinic, but that doesn’t mean it’s normal. Environmental factors may play a role, alongside diet, stress and genetics. We need more research into it, but it’s reasonable to consider the impact of cumulative chemical exposure.
Si by Armani contained benzyl salicylate and BHT, two chemicals have been shown to interfere with the body’s production of oestrogen
Experts say another concern is a form of chemicals called phthalates, also known as plasticisers
‘Women are more likely to be impacted as they tend to use more cosmetic products than men do.
‘And that built-up exposure, over time, could potentially contribute to hormonal imbalance.’
Some experts are sceptical about the dangers of potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
Dr Annice Mukherjee, consultant endocrinologist and visiting professor at Coventry University, believes the massive increase in reproductive issues that endocrine disrupter campaigners blame on the chemicals is more complicated. ‘Increased awareness, rising obesity rates, a more sedentary lifestyle – all of these things could also be contributing to a rise in cases of endometriosis and PCOS,’ she told the MoS last year. ‘The endocrine disruption theory is more difficult to prove because there are so many contributing factors. It’s still too early to definitively know how these chemicals are impacting reproductive health, but I share the concerns of other experts.’
One of the best ways to avoid these chemicals, says Dr Andersson, is to avoid any product contains ‘fragrance’, unless the brand specifically says that it is phthalate-free.
But if you do have a beloved fragrance that you still want to use occasionally, spray it on your clothes instead of your skin, she adds. ‘Also, don’t buy perfumes online or from international retailers, as these may contain chemicals that are banned in Britain.’
Experts say there are also an increasing number of perfumes which are designed to be free of endrocrine disrupters. These include Henry Rose, a line owned by actress Michelle Pfeiffer, as well as the British company Abel.
Ms Topping adds that consumers should look out for the EU Ecolabel, which means the product does not contain certain harmful chemicals. ‘Regulation moves very slowly,’ she says, ‘but there’s lots that people can do in the meantime.’
Did scents give Allie cancer?
Allie Carson-McGeary, 29, thinks her thyroid cancer could be due to her perfume usage
When Allie Carson-McGeary, 29, began suffering with brain fog, a racing heartbeat and changes to her period in early 2022, she at first put it down the after effects of catching Covid.
Then, the social media manager from Glasgow noticed a lump on her neck.
‘I immediately knew something was seriously wrong,’ said Allie.
The lump turned out to be a tumour that had begun crushing her windpipe, and Allie was diagnosed with cancer of the thyroid, the butterfly-shaped organ responsible for producing and regulating the body’s hormones.
After undergoing surgery to remove the tumour, as well as part of her thyroid, and radiation treatment, Allie was eventually declared cancer-free.
With no family history of thyroid cancer, Allie and her doctors were baffled by her diagnosis. But after doing her own research on the condition, she believes that her love of perfumes could have contributed.
‘I always used to own tons of beauty products and perfumes, and I didn’t know that it could be a cause,’ she says. ‘When I was first diagnosed with thyroid cancer, I wasn’t given any information as to what had caused it, and I was desperate to make sense of it.
‘I’ll never know for sure that the cancer was triggered by perfume, but I’m definitely more cautious about what I put into my body.’
