Producers of body-care products are not required to reveal what their
fragrances contain. These ingredients are considered proprietary
information.
Many synthetic fragrances contain phthalates, which have been linked
to a variety of health problems — most notably endocrine disruption and
birth defects.
“Fragrance-free” products are not necessarily safer, as they may contain troublesome masking agents.
A clean consumer’s best bet is to stick with products that use only
fragrances that are essential oil– or plant-based (they’re more
expensive, so this will be noted on the label).
Very few products bear the green USDA Organic label (it requires a
product’s ingredients be at least 95 percent certified organic and not
include any synthetic preservatives) so formulas bearing that seal are a
safer bet. When in doubt, check a product’s safety rating in the
Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database; it considers synthetic
fragrances a toxic ingredient.