EcoWaste Coalition Flags 35 Perfume Products Containing Banned “Reprotoxic” Chemical
9 February 2025, Quezon City. Ahead of Valentine’s Day gift giving, the toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition drew attention to the illegal sale of perfumes, a popular gift idea, containing a “reprotoxic” chemical forbidden in cosmetic products.
To mark this popular celebration of love and romance, the group went store hopping in Makati, Manila and Quezon Cities in search for perfume products listing butylphenyl methylpropional (also known as BMHCA, p-BMHCA, lilial, lily aldehyde, lysmeral or 2-(4-tert-butylbenzyl) propionaldehyde) as an ingredient.
The group targeted BMHCA because cosmetics containing this synthetic fragrance ingredient are now prohibited as per Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Circular No. 2023-007. The ban took effect on November 21, 2024 following a grace period of 24 months as decided by the 36th ASEAN Cosmetic Committee Meeting held in 2022.
During the test buys conducted on February 2 and 3, the EcoWaste Coalition purchased 35 assorted products consisting of 16 brands, presumably imitation items, which list BMHCA as an ingredient, including eau de parfum, eau de toilette, fragrance lotion, fragrance mist, and body mist products.
The products, which come in different scents and sizes, are sold for P75 to P300 each at wholesale and retail stores operating in Makati City (Ayala Circuit Mall), Manila City (11/88 Shopping Mall, 168 Shopping Mall and 999 Shopping Mall), and Quezon City (Divimart).
“Our investigation shows that cosmetics containing BMHCA can still be found on store shelves despite the ban, and sold to consumers who are unaware of the health risks of being exposed to such an ingredient that can damage the reproductive process and harm the health of the baby in the womb,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.
“We have duly informed the FDA about our findings and encouraged it to crack down on importers, distributors and sellers of BMHCA-containing cosmetics, noting that law enforcement action can also help in raising consumer awareness about this lesser-known threat to public health.”
For his part, environmental health specialist Dr. Geminn Louis Apostol from the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health said: "Health product regulators in the European Union and the ASEAN banned butylphenyl methylpropional (BMHCA) in cosmetics to protect consumers from this synthetic compound that can harm the reproductive system, interfere with hormonal functions, and trigger allergic reactions. Studies have linked exposure to BMHCA, a 'reprotoxic' chemical, to infertility, as well as causing harm to the fetus during pregnancy.”
“Banning BMHCA is indeed a step in the right direction. As there are other synthetic fragrance chemicals of concern, it's important to require full ingredient disclosure or transparency to inform consumers and reduce potential exposure to harmful substances," he emphasized.
The US-based Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has identified some of these chemicals of concern in fragrances, many of which are associated with cancer, birth abnormalities, endocrine disruption and chronic health problems, including acetaldehyde; benzophenone; butylated hydroxyanisole; butylated hydroxytoluene; benzyl salicylate; benzyl benzoate; butoxyethanol; chloromethane; dichloromethane; diethyl phthalate; ethylbenzene; eugenyl methyl ether; formaldehyde; ethanolamines; methanol; oxybenzone; propylparaben; resorcinol; styrene; synthetic musks; titanium dioxide; vinyl acetate; and 1,4-dioxane.
As a general rule, consumers are advised to seek products with FDA authorization, read product labels carefully and avoid those products listing butylphenyl methylpropional as an ingredient and when no specific information is provided other than the generic term "fragrance," the EcoWaste Coalition said.
List of 35 perfume products, possibly imitation ones, containing banned butylphenyl methylpropional:
Bulgari Omnia Amethyste Eau de Toilette; Byredo Rose of No Man’s Land Eau de Parfum; Chloe Eau de Parfum; Classy Appeal Amber Romance Midnight Refreshing Body Mist; Classy Appeal Love Bloom Refreshing Body Mist; Classy Appeal Love Spell Midnight Refreshing Body Mist;Classy Appeal Pure Seduction Midnight Refreshing Body Mist; Classy Appeal Soul of No. 5 Refreshing Body Mist; Classy Appeal Vanilla Lace Midnight Fragrance Mist; Daisy Marc Jacobs Eau so Fresh Eau de Toilette Spray; Davidoff Cool Water; Deep in Blue Intense pour Homme Eau de Parfum; Escada Sentiment; Eternity Eau de Toilette Spray; Hidden Fantasy Britney Spears Eau de Parfum Spray; I Angel Lady Happy Women’s Perfume; I Angel Scarves Women’s Perfume; Lacoste Black; Lacoste Dream of Pink Eau de Toilette; Lacoste Essential Eau de Toilette pour Homme; Lacoste Red; Lacoste White; Meow by Katy Perry Eau de Parfum; Ounuo Sesenta y Ocho Eau de Parfum Natural Spray; Ounuo Setenta y Dos Eau de Parfum Natural Spray; Ounuo Setenta y Tres Eau de Parfum Natural Spray; Ounuo Setenta y Cinco Eau de Parfum Natural Spray; Ounuo Setenta y Siete Eau de Parfum Natural Spray; Ounuo Setenta y Ocho Eau de Parfum Natural Spray; Versace Bright Crystal; Versace pour Homme; Victoria’s Secret Bare Vanilla La Crème Fragrance Mist; Victoria’s Secret Bombshell First Love Fine Fragrance Mist; Victoria’s Secret Fruit Crush Fragrance Lotion; and Victoria’s Secret XO, Victoria Eau de Parfum.
References:
https://www.fda.gov.ph/wp-
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