What Is Natural Fragrance?
What is a natural fragrance and why do we feel like ours are safe for people & the planet?
The use of the words “natural fragrance” can be so misleading and confusing. Many consumers steer clear of the term “natural” because it’s not regulated and can lead to greenwashing by many brands. We want to assure you that we choose only the safest ingredients; especially those that we use for scenting our products.
Why use scents at all? Scents have been used for thousands of years and consumers associate them with clean. Scents evoke feelings within us; both good and bad. Clean and fresh are commonly used to describe our kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry.
For those individuals with extreme allergies to scents and fragrances, we will always make unscented versions of (most) our products. We never want you to compromise your values.
For those individuals looking for the safest ingredients and ingredient disclosure we want to offer as much information as we can; without giving away the exact blend of fragrances that are unique to our signature scents. We can assure you that they are all 100% naturally derived from all plant parts (stem, root, leaf) and they do not contain pesticides, solvents, dyes, or petroleum ingredients. Our natural fragrance is phthalate-free, paraben-free and vegan and we never use synthetic fragrances. We do use oil and isolates from the plants to create the scents using distillation, extraction, and expression. Nothing synthetic is used in the process or added to our natural fragrance or we would not be allowed to use the term “natural fragrance”. Whenever possible we use organic plants (but always pesticide-free).
Our primary mission is to ensure that every single one of our ingredients (whether they are disclosed or not) are 100% completely safe and do not contain any ingredients that would concern our customers.
Since we know that full disclosure is important to our customers, we are happy to confirm or deny if any specific ingredients are included in our fragrances. For example, if someone is allergic to a specific type of essential oil, we can let them know if it's present in our products. Just send us an email to laundryguru@mollyssuds.com with your specific concern and we’ll be happy to help.
What is Safer Choice?
Safer Choice is a program implemented by the EPA that helps consumers, businesses, and purchasers find products that perform and contain ingredients that are safer for human health and the environment. While our products themselves do not carry the Safer Choice label, when possible we select raw ingredients that do carry the Safer Choice certification.
“Safer Choice screens all ingredients for chemicals that may present serious health or environmental effects. This screening includes ingredients used in small percentages, like fragrances and dyes. Some of the chemicals of most potential concern in products are those used in small concentrations. Chemicals of concern include sensitizers, carcinogens, and environmentally toxic and persistent compounds. Small quantities don't necessarily mean small hazards: a person, once sensitized to a chemical, can have an allergic response even if exposed at minute levels.” -EPA Safer Choice Standards, revised 2015
What is ISO-9235?
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
ISO-9235 is the specific certification and compliance standards for natural fragrances. This ensures that our fragrances are free of petrochemicals, solvents, and dyes. ISO 9235:2013 specifies the terms and definitions relating to aromatic natural raw materials. This International Standard falls within the framework of the standardization work conducted within the essential oils sector. It is aimed at defining the natural, raw materials and products which stem from that sector.
Do our natural fragrances meet EU Standards?
Only IFRA (International Fragrance Association) members have to comply with the EU standards. Anyone that creates synthetic or natural fragrances are expected to follow good manufacturing processes. The EU regulates that part. The IFRA recommends the regulations, but it's not actually a law. Out manufacturers follow good manufacturing practices as recommended by IFRA, and regulated by the EU. However since we do not have a cosmetic product and we do not sell in the EU we are not classified under the EU cosmetics regulation or have to comply with those requirements.
References:
ISO-9235: https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:9235:ed-2:v1:en
EPA Safer Choice: https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice/safer-ingredients