Like the once-dangerous Brazilian Blowout and allegedly illegal neon nail polish, there is a new beauty product facing serious heat — and this time, it might be you, your mother, and your grandmother who say good-bye to the iconic, luxury item. According to research presented by a European advisory committee, there have been 100 allergens identified in the Chanel No. 5 perfume formula that could cause health issues for the massive number of devoted fans who spritz it on. The committee's solution: a ban on Chanel's most famous fragrance.
But don't pry the bottle from our hands just yet (seriously, don't). A member of the French perfumer's society told Telegraph UK that the kinds of allergens found in the fragrance (as well as other perfumes that may have failed to list all the allergens on their labels) are simply the cause of the natural ingredients used. "The more you use natural ingredients, the more there is a risk of allergies. Lemon, jasmine, and bergamot all contain allergenics," Sylvie Jourdet said.
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Sounds harmless, right? Perhaps. While we would prefer our beauty products to contain only pure, non-toxic ingredients, that standard "natural" label can be quite the ambiguous umbrella term that so often leaves us with more questions than answers.
Of course, the safety of the consumer should always be a main concern for brands; however, this recent news makes us wonder if a total ban on the Chanel scent is the correct solution. The European Commission is currently working on new fragrance regulations to be decided by early 2014. Hopefully, these changes will include a better way to let customers know what they're actually spraying on, besides the familiar old smell they love.
What's your take on this discovery? Will you keep using the signature scent or will you play it safe and say sayonara? (Telegraph UK)
Photo: Courtesy of Chanel
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