Presentation Transcript
Women in Europe for a Common Future - WECF: Women in Europe for a Common Future - WECF Polish Women´s Seminar
Women for a Toxic-Free-Future
PERFUMES
Sonja Haider, German Director, WECF
History: History Perfumes used to be made from real flowers, aromatic plants or wood
Today they are produced synthetically (1 kg rose essence costs €8.000, synthetic scent € 50)
Perfume Foundation estimates:
World sales were at 10-12 billion dollars in the year 2000 worldwide
Approximately over 137 thousand metric tons of aroma chemicals were consumed in the year 2000
Perfumes: Perfumes ... consists of up to 200 components
... receipes are trading secrets
... do have 3 impressions: the head-note, the heart-
note and the basic-note
... main component is alcohol
Alcohol is treated with chemicals to avoid alcoholtax.
Dangerous ingredients + Health effects: Dangerous ingredients + Health effects Phthalates* used to make alkohol undrinkable
Negative effect on the hormon system
can damage liver, kidneys, the lungs
Scents, which are recognised to be allergenic*
Allergic reactions (skin irritation, respiratory deseases)
UV-filter to stabilise colour
Mimic hormones
Halogen organic compounds
Allergenic and irritate skin
Polycyclic musks or nitromusk compounds
accumulate in the body
Animaltests: effecting the liver
Not-too-Pretty campaign: Not-too-Pretty campaign NGOs in America and Europe tested cosmetic products for phthalates
80 % of products contained phthalates, but not listed them
Big advertisement in the New York Times
600 articles followed
Listed good and bad products
What you can do!: What you can do! Try to avoid synthetic fragrances and perfumes, try essential oils instead
If you want to buy perfume, test it on your skin
Buy new developed ones
Write a letter to producer, if you have problems
Ask about ingredients in the shops
Look at www.nottoopretty.com, www.wen.org.uk