What The Fragrance Industry Doesn't Want You To Know

At The Lab Co., we’re here to pull back the curtain on the fragrance industry’s dirty little secrets. While other brands bathe their products in mystery, we believe in radical transparency. Today, we’re exposing three major fragrance ingredients that are still lurking in mainstream products—ingredients we refuse to use because they pose serious risks to your health and the environment.

1. Ethylene Brassylate: The ‘Clean’ Musk That Isn’t So Clean

Ah, musks—the warm, velvety scents that add depth and allure to perfumes, home fragrances, and even fabric softeners. But did you know that many musks, like Ethylene Brassylate, are classified as Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs)? That means they interfere with your hormones, mimicking estrogen and throwing your body’s delicate balance out of whack. Studies have linked EDC exposure to reproductive issues, hormone imbalances, and even breast cancer. To make matters worse, Ethylene Brassylate is bioaccumulative—meaning it builds up in your body over time. So every spritz, every inhale, every wash with fragranced laundry products could be adding to a toxic load you don’t even know you’re carrying.

2. Galaxolide: The Forever Chemical in Your Perfume

Galaxolide is one of the most widely used polycyclic musks in commercial fragrances. It’s in perfumes, detergents, candles, and personal care products—but what the industry doesn’t tell you is that Galaxolide doesn’t break down easily. It lingers. In your body. In the environment. In the water supply. Scientists have found it in human breast milk, which means babies are being exposed before they even take their first breath. And because it’s also an EDC, it’s linked to hormonal disruptions and reproductive harm. But hey, it smells great, right?

3. Formaldehyde-Releasing Agents: The Silent Carcinogens

You wouldn’t willingly spray formaldehyde into your home, right? But that’s exactly what happens when you use products containing formaldehyde-releasing agents. These sneaky compounds degrade over time, slowly releasing a known carcinogen and respiratory irritant into the air you breathe. They’re common in mass-market air fresheners, scented candles, and personal care products, yet brands don’t have to list them explicitly on labels. Instead, they’re hidden under the vague term “fragrance.” At The Lab Co., we say: if it’s linked to cancer, it has no place in our products. Simple as that.

Why We Do Things Differently

We don’t believe in cutting corners when it comes to your health. That’s why every fragrance we create is crafted using real essential oils and safe, high-quality synthetics that don’t carry hidden risks. We refuse to use any ingredient that is bioaccumulative, hormone-disrupting, or carcinogenic—no matter how widely accepted it is in the industry.

Because fragrance should be about pleasure, not pollution.

So next time you pick up a beautifully packaged bottle of perfume, home spray, or detergent, ask yourself: what’s really inside? At The Lab Co., we’re proud to say that what’s inside is just as good as it smells.