Parfum/ fragrance: the mystery ingredient

The term “fragrance” or “parfum” represents a complex mixture of dozens of chemical ingredients- from a collection of 3,000 chemicals. Fragrance is an obvious ingredient in perfumes, colognes, and deodorants. Moreover, it is used in nearly every type of personal care product plus numerous other consumer products, notably laundry detergents, fabric softeners and cleaning products.

Fragrance recipes are considered trade secrets so manufacturers are not required to disclose fragrance chemicals in the list of ingredients. Thus, many products list “fragrance” or "parfum" on the label, but very few name the specific ingredients. 95% of the chemicals in most commercial fragrances are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum and natural gas, known as petrochemicals. Furthermore, synthetic musks used in fragrances are of particular concern from an ecological perspective; several musk compounds are persistent in the environment and build up (bioaccumulate) in the fatty tissue of aquatic organisms. Ultimately, fragrances can often quietly contain petrochemicals.

Therefore, you should avoid fragrance/ parfum (some already avoid it as it may cause sensitivity issues on one's body).