Please Make the AXE Stench Go Away!
May 12, 2010 – The things I do for the cause. Today, during a TV interview about the new “Not So Sexy” fragrance report
, the reporter asked me to spray some perfume in the air for the cameras. Anything for the b-roll!
Going for maximum visuals, I reached for the super propellant body spray. Old Spice was jammed by a safety lock, so, next thing I know, I’m shaking up the swarthy black-and-blue can of Axe deodorant and blasting a jet stream of chemicals into my living room.
Big mistake! The air was suddenly noxious, my eyes watered. “I can’t even smell it,” the reporter said. “Just wait,” I replied. “The cloud is coming your way.” A moment later she was making an uncomfortable face.
Now, three hours later, the potent scent still lingers on my clothes and skin (and I didn’t even spray the stuff on my body!) — and I’m wondering if there’s any connection to the scratchy throat thing I have going on.
OK, yes, I have a bias: I’m sensitive to fragrances. And I’m not alone: a significant percentage of the population
reports adverse reactions to fragrance exposure.
While it’s nice to have one, I don’t need a peer-reviewed study to tell me that. Most people I’ve talked to about the new fragrance report – from scientists to reporters – have mentioned they get weird reactions to fragrance, too.
If I were a cosmetic industry exec today, I’d be thinking about how to fix that problem. I’d be gathering together my best heads to say, hey, let’s figure out how to make perfumes that don’t contain 10 allergens, a bunch of estrogen mimics, and a whole lot of petrochemicals that haven’t been assessed for safety (these are the average findings for the tested fragrances; Axe actually fared somewhat better – see results).
Yes I’d do that instead of sending out weird press releases with air quotes
, or telling reporters that consumers wouldn’t be able to understand labels that included fragrance chemicals.
It’s tempting to air vent some Axe into their next crisis management PR meeting, and see how that goes over. Coughing fit anyone? Or maybe just some hot girls falling at their feet.
May 14th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
In light of the recent report, is anyone from EWG or the Campaign attending Sustainable Fragrances 2010 later this month? I’d love to hear a report on what might actually be a ‘sustainable fragrance’!
http://www.sustainablefragrances.com/
May 14th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
I will check on that, I’m not sure if anyone in our group is attending. But this is an excellent question – what makes a sustainable fragrance? There may also be problems with some natural fragrances and essential oils containing synthetic chemicals in some cases. Certainly the things we found in the report – 10 allergens per product, and potential hormone disruptors like DEP and musk chemicals do not belong in sustainable fragrances!
May 15th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
You might want to touch base with this gentleman, he seems to be very knowledgeable about the industry and what is really going on “behind the scenes”:
http://thegreennose.blogspot.com/
September 13th, 2010 at 11:19 pm
Hi Stacy …I recently got educated about the toxic ingredients lurking in our everyday cosmetics and to say the least, it’s shocking!! I’m currently reading your book and can’t wait to share it with others and place it on my blog.
On the subject of Axe, my husband and teenage son used to use it. Whenever either one of them sprays it on, the entire house reeks of the stuff. It’s so strong smelling that it will literally wake me up from my sleep in the morning because I’m coughing! But, luckily, I’ve been made aware of the dangers of these types of body sprays, deordorants, and skincare products that I’ve eliminated them all from my home. I now only use 100% toxic free products.