How does natural perfume compare to commercial perfume?
We create 100% natural, plant-based perfumes using only botanical extracts, absolutes, resins, woods, spices, grasses, and natural alcohol derived from sugar cane. We explicitly exclude all synthetic fragrances, preservatives, colorants, phthalates, parabens, and formaldehydes.
Our perfumer emphasizes classical French techniques with hydro-distilled materials and natural fixatives such as plant resins.
Commercial perfumes (the vast majority of mass-market and many designer fragrances) typically rely on synthetic aroma chemicals—often petroleum-derived—sometimes blended with smaller amounts of naturals. The term “parfum” or “fragrance” on labels can encompass hundreds of undisclosed compounds. These formulations frequently include synthetic fixatives (e.g., phthalates), stabilizers, and solvents for consistency, longevity, and cost efficiency.
The comparison below draws primarily from peer-reviewed systematic reviews and scientific literature on fragrance chemistry, health effects, allergens, and environmental fate.
1. Composition and Production
Our perfumes: Complex mixtures of dozens to hundreds of naturally occurring molecules (terpenes, esters, aldehydes, etc.) extracted via distillation, enfleurage, or solvent extraction from plants. Examples include flower absolutes, essential oils, resins, and natural alcohol. The scent profile is inherently variable by harvest, season, and geography. Production is low-volume, labor-intensive, and uses renewable but resource-heavy botanical sourcing from all over the world.
Commercial: Mostly synthetic molecules (nature-identical or novel) created via chemical synthesis or petrochemical feedstocks. These replicate or exceed natural scent profiles with far greater batch-to-batch consistency. Many include phthalates (e.g., diethyl phthalate/DEP as fixatives/solvents) and undisclosed blends of 100+ compounds. Production is highly scalable and much cheaper.
Scientific consensus: Synthetic molecules are chemically identical to many natural ones but are produced in controlled lab conditions, avoiding the variability and high material input of plant extraction.
2. Health and Safety
Phthalates and endocrine disruption — Commercial perfumes frequently contain phthalates (DEP, DBP, etc.) as fixatives and solvents. A 2022 systematic review of pollutants in perfumes and colognes identified phthalates, parabens, aldehydes, and other synthetics as key contaminants linked to:
• Reproductive toxicity (reduced sperm quality, hypospadias, cryptorchidism, lower testosterone)
• Endocrine disruption (estrogenic activity contributing to breast and prostate cancer risk)
• Neurological effects (migraines, dizziness, potential developmental impacts)
• Respiratory and skin issues (asthma exacerbations in up to 75% of sensitive individuals, contact dermatitis)
Our natural perfumes avoid these entirely, as they use no synthetic fixatives. However, the FDA has stated that DEP as currently used in fragrances does not pose a safety risk based on available data, though independent reviews highlight cumulative exposure concerns, especially in pregnant women and children.
Allergens and sensitization — Both types contain potential allergens. Many regulated fragrance allergens (e.g., limonene, linalool, eugenol, geraniol) occur naturally in essential oils at higher concentrations than in some synthetics. The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) sets maximum usage limits for these compounds regardless of origin; the list of declarable allergens (now 82 in the EU) applies to both natural and synthetic sources.
Patch-test studies and reviews show similar rates of contact allergy to natural and synthetic fragrance materials. Natural perfumes may trigger reactions in people sensitive to specific botanicals, like for example some people are allergic to strawberries-while synthetics can contain undisclosed sensitizers. Both emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can form secondary pollutants (e.g., formaldehyde) indoors when reacting with ozone.
Other effects — Synthetic fragrances are more frequently linked in literature to headaches, respiratory irritation, and potential neurotoxicity from undisclosed mixtures and petroleum-derived compounds. Natural scents are sometimes promoted for aromatherapy benefits, but high concentrations of certain essential-oil components can also irritate skin or airways.
Conclusion on safety: Natural perfumes eliminate phthalates and many synthetic additives, reducing certain documented risks. However, they are not automatically hypoallergenic; both categories require caution for sensitive individuals. IFRA standards and proper dilution as we adhere to, help mitigate risks.
3. Performance (Scent Profile, Longevity, Projection)
Scent character — Natural perfumes offer greater olfactory complexity and nuance because each botanical contains dozens of interdependent molecules. The scent evolves dynamically on skin (top, heart, base notes shift noticeably). Commercial synthetics provide cleaner, more linear, and consistent profiles; they can create notes impossible or prohibitively expensive in nature (e.g., certain marine or gourmand accords).
Longevity and sillage — Scientific and formulation literature consistently shows synthetic fragrances last longer. Natural volatile molecules evaporate more quickly; without synthetic fixatives, even high-quality natural perfumes like ours typically last 4–8 hours, with projection fading sooner. Synthetics use stable large petrochemical infused molecules and synthetic fixatives to achieve 8–12+ hours and stronger sillage. Natural fixatives (resins, balsams, woods) help but are less efficient.
Evaporation studies confirm that molecular weight, vapor pressure, and skin interactions (sebum, pH, temperature) influence longevity; heavier synthetic molecules generally persist better.
4. Environmental Impact
Biodegradability — Natural fragrance materials are generally more readily biodegradable because microorganisms have evolved to break them down. Synthetic molecules can be more persistent in water and soil, and the hormone disruptors can cause environmental havoc.
Resource use and production — Natural perfume production demands large quantities of plant material (e.g., thousands of roses for a small amount of absolute), raising concerns about land, water, biodiversity, and potential overharvesting. Sustainable sourcing (with indigenous and organic farming) mitigates this.
Synthetic production uses non-renewable petroleum but requires far less land and water and reduces pressure on rare botanical species. Life-cycle assessments often show synthetics have a lower carbon footprint per kilogram of fragrance material, though petrochemical extraction and synthesis generate pollution.
Our emphasis on sustainable, natural mostly local sourcing and avoidance of petroleum derivatives gives it an edge in renewability and biodegradability, provided the botanicals are truly responsibly farmed.
5. Cost, Accessibility, and Other Factors
Natural artisanal perfumes like ours are significantly more expensive (small-batch, high raw-material costs) and hand-poured. Commercial perfumes are affordable, widely available, and highly consistent. Regulatory transparency is limited in commercial perfumes, as “fragrance” hides ingredients, but we list all our ingredients transparently.
Overall Evidence-Based Summary of natural perfumes.
• Absence of phthalates and undisclosed synthetics, and carcinogen -free.
• Biodegradability and (when sustainably sourced) reduced reliance on fossil fuels
• Olfactory complexity and authenticity
Commercial perfumes excel in:
• Longevity and performance
• Consistency and affordability
• Scalability with lower per-unit land/water use
Consumers seeking the middle ground often choose fragrances that blend high-quality naturals with safe, IFRA-compliant ingredients, cruelty-free, synthetic-free and eco-friendly like De la Fontaine naturals. Your body will love you for it.