In response to "What's That Smell?" a new report from Women's Voices for the Earth, the Fragrance Materials Association has posted a statement. The full text is below:
The Fragrance Materials Association of the United States (FMA) strongly objects to unfounded claims in a report targeting fragrances in cleaning products published by Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE). The report unnecessarily alarms consumers. It offers no new science or analysis and simply repeats false arguments.
The ingredients used to formulate scents in cleaning products are well-known and their safety evaluations are conducted globally on an on-going basis. Credible science is available to address specific concerns raised by the report. However, the authors ignored facts and, instead, based their conclusions on flawed studies, unsubstantiated reports, and subjective opinions.
Safety of fragrance materials is of critical importance to the fragrance industry. That is why the fragrance industry has a long-standing and effective safety program. The international scientific authority on the safety of fragrance materials, The Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM), conducts studies on fragrance materials and publishes its findings in scientific journals. RIFM’s study protocols and results are also reviewed by an independent expert panel. The RIFM database is the world’s largest, most comprehensive resource for information on exposure to and safe use of fragrance materials.
All members of FMA abide by the International Fragrance Association’s (IFRA) Code of Practice which sets the highest safety Standards for use and manufacture of fragrance materials. IFRA’s Compliance Program, further ensures that fragrance products on the market are safe and manufactured in strict accordance with IFRA Standards. IFRA randomly selects products every year from 10 countries around the world and has them tested for compliance using an independent laboratory.
There is nothing secret about the ingredients used to make fragrances. A comprehensive list of all ingredients used in making a fragrance is publicly available at www.ifraorg.org.
Consumers need to know that they can continue to enjoy fragranced products without concern.
