Chemical safety tests conducted by the Consumer Council on 40 perfume models have shown significant improvements in overall safety levels compared with a similar study in 2018. However, two samples were found to contain a fragrance allergen banned by the European Union.
The two products — OHANA MAHAALO’s Eau de Cologne Halia Nohea and Scent With You’s Eau De Toilette No. 18 — were detected with BMHCA, a fragrance allergen prohibited in EU cosmetic products, at concentrations of 0.047 percent and 0.25 percent respectively.
Neither product provided complete labeling of the detected allergens.
According to the European Chemicals Agency, BMHCA is a potential endocrine disruptor. It is also a known contact allergen and is classified as a Category 1B reproductive toxicant.
The Council advised women who are planning to conceive, pregnant, or breastfeeding to use fragrances containing this ingredient with caution due to possible adverse effects.
The agent for Scent With You said the product has been removed from shelves and that proper labeling, including expiration dates and ingredient lists, will be ensured in the future.
The tested products comprised nine Eau de Cologne, 21 Eau de Parfum, and 10 Eau de Toilette models, with prices ranging from HK$129 to HK$2,850 per bottle.
The results showed that about 95 percent of the samples did not contain substances banned by the EU. Both the type and quantity of concerning ingredients detected had decreased compared with the previous study.
None of the samples contained the seven phthalates prohibited in the EU or mainland China, nor the three synthetic musks banned by the EU. Although some samples contained ketone musk and tonalide, their concentrations were within regulatory limits.
ASTIER de VILLATTE’s Elixir du Docteur Flair Cologne was found to contain 0.64 percent of diethyl phthalate (DEP). As there is currently insufficient data to determine its health effects, neither the EU nor mainland China has set limits for DEP in cosmetics.
The Council noted that in its 2018 study, DEP was found in 11 samples, indicating gradual improvement in product formulations across the industry.
Regarding allergenic substances, 39 of the 40 samples were found to contain between one and 10 types of fragrance allergens. Three models — ACQUA DI PARMA’s COLONIA EAU DE COLOGNE, BVLGARI PARFUMS’s ALLEGRA PASSEGGIATA, and Gucci’s The Alchemist’s Garden Tears from the Moon Eau de Parfum — each contained 10 allergens. L’ATELIER PARFUM’s ROSE COUP DE FOUDRE contained nine types.
