Talk about a buzz word. Phthalate awareness has been higher than ever recently. But do you know what a phthalate is? No worries, we didn’t either until we did some research. We have complied what we found into an easy to read definition. Keep reading to find out why you should avoid these toxic chemicals.
There are 3 types of phthalates: dibutyl phthalate (DBP), dimethyl phthalate (DMP), and diethyl phthalate (DEP).
“The most common use is in the manufacturing of plastics to make them more flexible and durable, but phthalates can be found in pharmaceuticals, building materials, cleaning products, and other household goods.”
Out of these 3 only one is commonly found in fragrance, DEP. This is really important to note because there are companies who claim to be phthalate free but in the fine print specify that they are only free of DBP or DMP. This is completely misleading as those types of phthalates are rarely found in fragrance anyways.
Why are they used in fragrance if they are so toxic?
“Diethyl phthalates were used extensively in the fragrance industry in the past, primarily as solvents to dissolve the raw materials that go into fragrance formulations. Another common function is increasing the hot throw of a fragrance in soy wax. Not only are diethyl phthalates very effective at these jobs, they’re also widely available and inexpensive.”
But are they really that bad? YES
“Over the last decade or so, more and more research has been done on the effects of phthalates on human health. In addition to their status as endocrine disruptors, phthalates are linked to increased risk of breast cancer, fertility issues, and other health problems.”
TO SUM IT UP
It is impossible to eliminate every single phthalate in your life. But we hope this information makes you stop and think. There are some simple changes you can make to limit your exposure. Shampoo, conditioner, dry shampoo, deodorant, make up, cleaning products. Start paying attention to what your buying and look for healthier options when you run out of your Windex and need to buy more anyways. Start with replacing the basics when needed and pretty soon you will have switched over all the things you come in contact with on a day to day basis. Check out our instagram page to find clean products that we love and use!
Source: https://www.candlescience.com/phthalate-free-fragrance-oils-from-candlescience