Dangerous plants
The European Union wants to ban certain plant extracts used in essential oils. The substances are regularly used inl cosmetics and expensive perfumes. The reason: some people are having allergic reactions.
A unique fragrance
Oakmoss is an ingredient in numerous cosmetic products and perfumes. The European Union says it should be banned though, along with a number of other essential oils used by manufacturers, as consumers are having severe allergic reactions.
Natural but undesirable
Extracts from tree moss also emit a tangy smell, which some regard as manly. Although the product has a large fan base, the EU also wants it off the shelves as some of its chemical components are classified as severe allergens.
Allergies possible
It’s about protecting citizens, according to the EU. One to three percent of European citizens apparently react in an allergic way to botanical extracts. They can even develop pustules, redness, or a rash on their skin.
Regulating lavender
In the future perfume packaging may be required to indicate if a product contains any of the 127 substances known to cause allergies. This would mean essential oils made from lavender, rose or clove would only be used in cosmetics in very small dosages.
Knowing what’s inside
Most allergy sufferers know what substances trigger a reaction. Therefore clear labelling on cosmetic products could be useful. Then everyone would be able to decide if they want to shower with jasmine-based soap or not, for instance.
Perfumes affected
The cosmetics industry and perfume manufacturers are nervously monitoring the EU's plans. After all, natural extracts are in almost all their products. Chanel No. 5 for instance contains a large amount of jasmine and oakmoss, which the EU wants to ban completely.
Unpredictable risks
Rose oil smells so irresistable because it is comprised of 400 different molecules. That’s why it is so commonly used in perfumes as well as natural cosmetics. But, with so many different chemical ingredients, it would likely be hit hard by any new EU regulations.
The end of an industry?
If the new EU regulation is implemented in 2014 then the natural cosmetics industry will have to change the majority of their formulas and take most of their products off the shelves. In contrast to the perfume industry, the natural cosmetics industry cannot resort to synthetically produced scents.
Farmers affected as well
Another group that would suffer from any EU regulation on essential oils are farmers that grow roses, jasmine, lavender and sandalwood on a large scale in Tunisia, Egypt and Afghanistan.