Perfumes have been an essential part of the daily beauty care routine for thousands and thousands of years. The fragrance of perfumes is expected to give us a refreshing feeling, but it should not contain harmful components that might affect the skin and health.
Well, yes… Even the dermatologist told me once to stay away from products that just say “fragrances” in their ingredients list. We’ll try to explain here. By law businesses and large corporations are not required to list the constituent ingredients in the fragrances they use. The reason is that the fragrance and the cosmetics industry lobby hard not to disclose fragrance ingredients, arguing that these are trade secrets and needed to be protected as confidential business information. This is not great news for the consumer.
In recent times, research has revealed that the fragrances in many perfumes are contributed by synthetic ingredients and chemicals that can harm both a person and the environment. One of these studies was published in 2023 in the Journal of Xenobiotics and reviewed synthetic fragrances in personal care and household products and how these can have potential adverse effects in human health like allergic reactions, both skin and lung related, but also headaches, asthma attacks, breathing difficulties, cardiovascular and neurological problems.
Personal Tip: Be careful of the word “fragrances” listed as an ingredient not just in perfumes but also in your plastic-free laundry detergent, fabric softener, shampoo, deodorant etc. Purchase only fragrance-free products if possible!
Related: 7 Plastic Free Essential Oils for Your Home
Many popular perfumes contain ingredients responsible for increasing carbon footprints on the earth, affecting the natural habitats of numerous species. Moreover, often the discarded perfume bottles and packets contain plastic components that are not recyclable. They only add up to the waste accumulation on land and water bodies, polluting the environment. It is essential to take some conscious actions to ensure that our perfumes should not adversely affect the environment. In some countries (i.e. Germany, Switzerland) if the glass bottle is empty and doesn’t have plastic parts on it, it can be recycled.
Today, people are becoming more concerned about their health and the environment, so zero-waste and eco-friendly beauty care products like perfumes are in great demand. Manufacturers also offer products that contribute zero waste, are free from toxic chemicals, and support a healthy lifestyle like non toxic solid perfumes.
Related: 7 Best Plastic Free Face Wash Brands to Supercharge Your Skincare
There are certain parameters that we should look for when choosing natural, zero-waste perfumes made. These are as follows:
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The plastic-free perfumes have all the qualities to give you a natural and refreshing fragrance while protecting you from the harmful effects of plastics and other chemical components. Perfumes containing natural and organic ingredients packaged in compostable, eco-friendly containers are good alternatives to conventional products. We are providing details of tent best plastic-free, zero-waste perfume brands that are most suitable for people looking for sustainable solutions.
This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. This helps us continue the hard work we put into researching products and solutions.
This famous non-toxic perfume brand is certified for providing cruelty-free, vegan products using natural ingredients. The perfume uses plant-based natural fragrances sourced from selected places around the world.
For example, its grapefruit lime perfume contains grapefruit essential oils from Israel and lime and basil essential oils from Iran. This perfume is free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic colors, UV inhibitors, and palm oil. It contains hypoallergenic organic sugar-cane alcohol blended with a natural scent that also has aromatherapy benefits.
Origin: made in Canada.
Available on Amazon USA
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Clean Reserve has created environmentally conscious fragrances crafted with ingredients you can trust. On their website, they have a long list of ingredients, they say no to. Here are a few of the nasties, they don’t use: phthalates, parabens, gluten, propylene glycol, mineral oil and artificial Dyes. Their “clean formulas” are vegan, and non-Irritating. The eco-conscious packaging consists of recyclable glass bottles, caps made of sustainable wood from Spain, recyclable carton & liner, and a compostable cellophane based film.
Origin: made in the USA
Available on Amazon USA – Canada – UK – Australia
This brand manufactures products through ethical, organic, and environmentally friendly processes using traditional techniques in their Kansas City studio, in Missouri, USA. All perfumes are free from alcohol, palm oil, phthalates, parabens, and synthetic ingredients. They offer some unique fragrances obtained from plant and flower extracts. They contribute towards reducing plastic consumption by compostable and recyclable packaging for their products as much as possible.
Origin: made in the USA.
Available on Etsy
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This is a renowned brand in the skincare industry and has been serving customers with chemical-free, non-toxic cosmetics for several years. Users widely acknowledge their plastic-free, eco-friendly perfumes due to their natural fragrances and skin-friendly qualities.
They do not contain synthetic ingredients and use jojoba oil to provide natural essence. They only use organic ingredients sourced from local ethical suppliers. Thes perfumes is available in durable glass bottles, that can be reused or recycled.
Origin: made in the USA.
Available on Etsy
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Plant makeup is a “Super Unique Plant Based Makeup + Skin Care” brand based in Massachusetts. Their motto couldn’t be more true. They only use natural and plant-based ingredients to produce organic non-toxic perfumes through a cruelty-free process. The plant and botanical extracts are carefully combined with flowers to create beautiful fragrances. The products are in reusable glass bottles with labels made of compostable materials.
Origin: made in the USA.
Available on Etsy.
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It offers a range of beautiful fragrances by incorporating plant-based essential oils and fruit oils in its perfumes. The chemical-free and vegan products are free of palm oil, phthalates, parabens, petroleum, and formaldehyde.
The non-toxic, zero-waste perfume is made via ethical manufacturing practices in California, USA and sourcing that adheres to eco-friendly standards. The perfume is delivered in recyclable or reusable packaging that combines glass and metal, along with labels made with compostable paper and printed with plant-based inks.
Origin: made in the USA
Available on Amazon USA
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Viking Revolution started out as a hobby between two bearded friends in Florida that were frustrated by the limited beard care options for men. So they created products that avoid harsh chemicals and are kind to your skin and the planet and had great succes! They use fresh, masculine scents and natural formulations. The solid cologne is made with beeswax, coconut oil, sunflower seed oil. The 4-pack sample comes in four natural scents: spiced vanilla, sweet tobacco, majestic oud, and bergamot. It is perfect as a present for that special men in your life!
Origin: made in the USA
Available on Amazon USA – Canada
Related: 5 Tips to Reduce Plastic Waste When Shaving
Solid Scent Co. have developed a range of waterless perfumes that contains a 100% natural base, they use no paraben & alcohol, are dermatologically tested but have never been tested on animals. The all natural ingredients include a moisturising blend of coconut wax, shea butter and jojoba il. They are vegan friendly.
The product is luxuriously presented in handmade packaging with 98% non-plastic gift boxes. This refillable perfume is compact and allows you to replenish when you run out or mix up your scent for different occasions. It has been designed to fit in your pocket or bag so you have it always with you.
Origin: made in the UK
Available on Amazon UK
Related: Easy DIY Zero Waste Beauty Recipes
Viva La Body is an Australian, Darwin based business of solid cosmetics. Their all natural solid scents are cruelty free, palm-oil free, vegan and also 100% plastic-free as they are packaged in a cardboard based push-up tube making them very easy to apply. You can choose from three unique scents to suit your style with absolutely no nasties. The size is also perfect for your purse or bag for an easy refreshment when out and about.
Origin: Made in Australia.
Available from Biome Australia
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Earths Purities has created a range of natural perfumes made with real fruit extracts that smell like a tropical getaway. They have three main scents mango and coconut, vanilla and coconut, and strawberry and vanilla. They are a highy concentrated perfumes that use modern technology to extract the scent, macro nutrients and botanical properties of the fruits. They smell absolutely delicious but are also nutrient rich for your skin.
Origin: Made in Australia.
Available from Biome Australia
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The eco-friendly, plastic-free, and zero-waste perfumes contain natural ingredients, follow ethical manufacturing processes, and use sustainable packaging to reduce overall waste contributions to the environment.
Most natural perfumes contain natural aromatic components with emotional and physical healing properties such as calming, relaxing, and energy-enhancing.
Plastic-free perfumes don’t have synthetic ingredients that can cause health issues. Eco-friendly perfume containers use recyclable materials that help keep our environment free from plastic pollution.
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Browse the I’m Plastic Free platform to discover plastic pollution solutions.
Lastly, Tiffany & Co. Eau de Parfum is a stunning floral scent with notes of green mandarin, iris, and musk, encapsulating elegance and sophistication in a beautiful bottle.
Anneaanne
August 3, 2023 at 8:46 pmI absolutely love the idea of Plastic Free Perfumes! It’s a breath of fresh air to see conscious brands taking steps towards a more sustainable future. Not only do they offer delightful scents, but they also contribute to reducing plastic waste, which is a massive environmental concern. By choosing plastic-free alternatives, we can all play a part in preserving our planet for future generations. Let’s support these eco-friendly perfumes and make a difference together! #SustainabilityMatters #PlasticFreePerfumes
I'm Plastic Free
August 5, 2023 at 3:08 pmHi Anneanne,
Yes absolutely! Many conventional, synthetic perfumes have been found to contain a long list of toxic chemical ingredients, so our article is trying to provide a few more “natural” options available on the market.
Kind regards,
Simona