The World of Non-Toxic and Eco-Friendly Perfume: Our Top 16 Recommended Brands Redefining Fragrance

The History of Perfume (and How It Was Made)

Scented products have existed since at least 7000 BC in the form of fragrant resins and incense, but wearing perfume was something the Ancient Egyptians seem to be the first to have truly perfected. They found that fats could store fragrances well and would not only wear these scented balms and oils, but Priests and Pharaohs even insisted on being buried with them.

From India to the Mediterranean, natural ingredients such as animal musk, myrrh, juniper, jasmine, and patchouli have been used as fragrances for centuries. The first scents distilled with alcohol, however, only appeared in the Middle Ages and greatly influenced how perfumes went on to be made.

The next big stride in perfumery occurred during the industrial age of the 1800s when the very first lab-created fragrance ingredients came into use. Synthetic ingredients quickly gained popularity from then because of how much cheaper and more stable they were.

Nowadays, we’re revisiting many of those synthetic ingredients due to their possible health risks. Brands are learning to take the scientific strides of the modern era and combine them with some of the more natural approaches that first defined how people wore fragrances thousands of years ago.

Why Does Using Non-Toxic and Eco-Friendly Perfume Brands Matter?

A 2018 study caused waves across the beauty world when it was found that most perfumes emit “volatile organic compounds (VOCs) when sprayed which can cause as much air pollution as car fumes. Ironically, the world of perfumery itself is under threat from climate change. Recent weather and temperature shifts have made it increasingly difficult to grow the flowers needed for our favorite scents.

What this ultimately means is that not only do we need to be using less toxic, more eco-friendly perfumes for the sake of our health and the planet’s, but for the sake of keeping the best parts of the fragrance world alive. 

The Benefits of Switching to Non-Toxic Perfume

Switching to a non-toxic fragrance can have benefits for your health and your sustainability impact. Let’s take a closer look:

Non-Toxic Perfume is Better for Your Health

It’s easy to believe that because you’re simply spritzing a perfume on rather than ingesting it that the chemicals in the formula can’t have much of an impact. Every time you spray your perfume though, some particles are entering your body via inhalation or your skin.

Considering the potential carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, air pollutants, and irritants found in conventional perfumes, this is pretty concerning. While some of these ingredients need to be applied in heavy doses to have an impact, others are known to accumulate in our bodies. Synthetic musks, parabens, and octinoxate all fall under this category and are also the very ingredients that non-toxic perfumes are leaving behind.

We don’t know yet what the long-term implications are of the ingredients that most conventional perfumes use but there are enough question marks and early studies to suggest that steering clear of them in favor of non-toxic fragrances is a worthy precaution. Even simply switching to a phthalate-free perfume can reduce the amount of harmful chemicals you’re exposing your body to and in turn, allow you to better protect your wellbeing. This is especially true of anyone with existing health concerns and allergies.

The Environmental Impact of Clean Ingredient Perfume 

Many synthetic chemicals in fragrances can’t biodegrade and thus end up accumulating in the environment. Synthetic Musks, for example, have been found to collect in water systems. Though researchers aren’t sure yet of the impact, we know that when other fragrance chemicals like octinoxate accumulate, it can be extremely damaging to aquatic life.

Phthalates are another problematic ingredient that appear frequently in conventional fragrances. Though they tend to break down when exposed to UV, they’ve still been linked to having possibly hazardous impacts on marine animals. The VOCs in many fragrances are also known air pollutants that affect both human and animal health. It just goes to show how interconnected we all are and how the chemicals we use in our fragrances invariably end up in our environments too.

It’s why using a clean ingredient perfume without things like phthalates and synthetic musks doesn’t just benefit you, it benefits the planet. As we all try to take steps to reduce our ecological footprint, non-toxic fragrance brands offer us the opportunity to reduce the harmful chemicals that end up in our environment and work toward cleaner air and happier oceans in the process.

Is Non-Toxic Perfume More Expensive Than Conventional Perfume?

The short answer is that often, yes, non-toxic fragrances are often more expensive. Clean ingredient perfume should be the norm, but it isn’t and as such, making these formulas often requires more money and time to produce than conventional equivalents. There are affordable options but they’re sometimes harder to find. Some of our favorite affordable non-toxic perfume options include:

• For Strange Women
• Rainwater Botanicals
• By/ Rosie Jane

Does Non-Toxic Perfume Smell as Good as Traditional Perfume?

With both conventional and non-toxic fragrance brands, the quality and scent style is down to the brand more than anything else. Some synthetic musks are credited with providing more sophisticated notes to a fragrance but we’d argue that plenty of brands, such as Henry Rose and Maison Louis Marie, are managing to formulate non-toxic perfumes without those musks and still retain significant depth.

Sometimes, safe perfume brands even smell better as they rely on pure essential oils that have mood-boosting benefits as well.

Can Non-Toxic Perfume Last as Long as Conventional Perfume?

The difference in longevity that sometimes exists between conventional and non-toxic fragrances has more to do with synthetic versus natural ingredients rather than anything else. It’s important to note in that conversation that many non-toxic and ethical perfume brands still make use of synthetic ingredients and benefit from the longevity they can add. They simply avoid the synthetics known to be health risks.

Non-toxic natural perfumes are where people will struggle most with longevity. However, there are plenty of ways to use your natural perfumes more thoughtfully so that the scent lasts longer.

Here are a few quick tips to ensure that your natural, non-toxic perfume has you smelling great all day:

• Apply after showering onto well-moisturized skin so that the natural fragrance has more to cling to.
• pply to pulse points on your neck, wrists, and behind the ears.
• Make sure your hair picks up some of the fragrance as it will likely hold it better than your skin.

The Top 10 Ingredients to Avoid When Looking for Non-Toxic Perfumes

There’s almost no end to the chemical combinations that can be used to make a fragrance but even so, there are 5 of the main ingredients worth avoiding whenever possible:

• Synthetic Musks: This ingredient generally appears on fragrance labels as musk ketone, musk xylene, and Cashmeran. They’re generally used to enhance scent profiles and make them more sophisticated. The downside, however, is that synthetic musk can enter the human body through inhalation and the skin where these chemicals tend to accumulate as they are only partially biodegradable. They can also accumulate in our water systems and environment. Some of the concerns associated with this family of ingredients, as listed and verified by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics include hormone disruption, organ system toxicity, and reproductive and developmental toxicity. ‍
• Octinoxate: This ingredient is a UV absorber and filter that we’ve otherwise spoken about in our article on coral-safe sunscreens. Spoiler alert: nothing with this ingredient in it is coral-safe, nor does it make for a safe perfume as it’s been associated with allergies and immunotoxicity, as well as developmental and reproductive toxicity for both human and marine life.‍
• Lilial: This ingredient has been banned by the EU and various other countries and yet, as the FDA showed, it’s still one of the most common preservatives in cosmetics. The EU ban came as a result of studies that indicated that lilial was linked to reproductive risks and cancer. There’s still some debate about how much of a risk the ingredient poses but for now, if the EU has ruled it as being something to avoid, it’s worth steering clear.‍
• Styrene: A 2018 report linked exposure to this very common perfume ingredient with cancer. It can also be toxic to the central nervous system through inhalation and is considered a major endocrine disruptor. No doubt about it, the best non-toxic perfumes won’t have this ingredient in them.‍
• Fragrance/Undisclosed Ingredients: The FDA has a very convenient system that allows cosmetic brands to avoid disclosing the ingredients in their specially created scents. The problem is that this means brands get to avoid accountability, and consumers are left in the dark about what’s actually in the products they’re buying. When you’re looking for non-toxic perfumes and checking ingredients, stick with the brands that disclose everything. As with sustainability, going non-toxic requires a commitment to transparency.‍
• Phthalates: This group of chemicals is known as “plasticizers” as they’re generally used for things like food packaging and soft toys. In cosmetics, they’re used to stabilize scent and color. The problem is that these chemicals are known to enter the body and chronic exposure to them can adversely affect hormones and reproductive health. Phthalates are also considered a potential carcinogen and have been linked to heart disease.‍
• Benzaldehyde: A common fragrance ingredient despite being an inhalation risk, benzaldehyde exposure is often warned against as the chemical can irritate the nose, cause coughing and shortness of breath, and make people feel lightheaded.‍
• Methylene Chloride: Sometimes referred to as dichloromethane, this solvent is used for everything from stripping paint to decaffeinating tea and coffee. It’s now been restricted for use in fragrances by the European Commission and the FDA due to it being a possible carcinogen.‍
• Camphor: This ingredient is made from the wood of camphor trees and though technically natural, isn’t necessarily safe. You’ll often see it used in creams and ointments due to its antibacterial and antifungal properties. It’s generally considered fine to use on unbroken skin, but inhaling it can seriously irritate the nose and throat. Look out for this ingredient on “woody” and “spicy” perfumes as it’s often used as a base note for these scents.
• ‍Benzyl and Ethyl Acetate: Skin irritation, reproductivity toxicity, carcinogenicity, and genotoxicity have all been raised as concerns with this synthetic fragrance preservative.

Why Some Non-Toxic Perfumers Still Use Synthetic Ingredients

Though many synthetic fragrance ingredients can be hazardous, not all are bad. Many non-toxic fragrance brands use a combination of natural and safe synthetics. Some of these synthetics are better for sensitive skin than pure essential oils or are easier to obtain ethically.

What Makes Perfume Eco-Friendly?

We’d argue that an eco-friendly perfume comes down to 3 main factors:

• The formula: Ingredients should be non-toxic and ethically sourced, as well as vegan, and not tested on animals where possible. Some of the best certifications a fragrance brand can have in this regard are a Peta cruelty-free stamp and EWG verification.

• The Bottle: Refillable and recyclable is ideal but even using some recycled material in a perfume bottle can help limit environmental damage. Shipping packaging is also important.

• Transparency: One of the biggest eco hazards of the perfume industry is that they’re allowed to keep quiet about what’s in their exact fragrance combinations. A great non-toxic and eco-friendly fragrance brand will tell you exactly what’s in their formulas, and what goes into their production, so you get true peace of mind.

10 Of Our Favorite Non-Toxic and Eco-Friendly Perfume Brands

We get it, all that other information was fun but what you really want to know is how to smell amazing without compromising your ethics. To that end, here are 10 of our favorite eco-friendly and non-toxic perfume brands broken down by their standout scents, ingredients, and sustainability stats:

1. Henry Rose

Founded by actress Michelle Pfeiffer, this is the first major fragrance brand to be EWG-verified. Pfeiffer credits motherhood with making her more curious about what was in everyday fragrances and pushing her to create better options.

Why We Love Them: The brand is proving that a non-toxic, ethical perfume can still be elevated. The scent combinations and packaging all feel very luxe and modern.

Price Range: $35-$120

Fragrance Range: Genderless, wearable fragrances that go from fresh, citrusy scents to deep florals and woody patchouli blends. 

Standout Scent: Queens and Monsters is a sensual combination of sandalwood and petitgrain that won an Allure Beauty award (2020) and maintains 152 5-star reviews on the brand’s site.

Customer Rave Reviews: Linda L. complimented the blend of vanilla and musk in Queens and Monsters and like many others, raved about how both unusual and uplifting the scent is.

What Customers Say Can Be Improved: The longevity of some of the fragrances.

Sustainability Stats:

• Clean ingredients – free of any known carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, etc.
• Leaping Bunny-Certified.
• Cradle to Cradle Certified for overall sustainability.
• EWG Certified.
• Recycled and recyclable packaging.
• Green and renewable energy used at fragrance factories.

2. Wit and West

We love the story of this brand almost as much as their products. Run by a husband-and-wife team, Wit and West makes everything in small batches from Colorado. Wit crafts the perfumes and West designs the artistic packaging.

‍Why We Love Them: They leave out the harmful chemicals you see in conventional fragrances, but still create scents with depth and interest to them.

Price Range: $60-$160

Fragrance Range: Genderless classics such as Jasmine and Rose-based scents, as well as spicier combinations and fresh, citrus scents.

Standout Scent: Lavender, peppermint, and thyme, with a dash of Jasmine and oakmoss. That’s what makes up Wit and West’s award-winning and wholly unique Fougère fragrance.

Customer Rave Reviews: Comments on Fragrantica all point to the same thing – how much of a journey this brand’s complex fragrances and colognes take you on.

‍What Customers Say Can Be Improved: Nothing to note here!

Sustainability Stats:

• 100% natural ingredients.
• Vegan.
• Leaping Bunny certified.
• Small batch, artisanal.

3. Dedcool

Dedcool has set out to do something truly unusual: make vegan, biodegradable, non-toxic fragrances that don’t just smell great but will boost your mood and health. The female-founded brand is all about “functional fragrances” that cut through gender binaries and allow people to play with individual expression.

Why We Love Them: Their scents tend to be quite lowkey so they’re perfect for anyone wanting to smell great without having their perfume enter the room before they do.

Price Range: $6-$90

Fragrance Range: Genderless bright, spicy scents, as well as sweeter, more sensual combinations designed to be worn for any occasion.

Standout Scent: Dedcool’s bestseller is Xtra Milk which features bergamot, white musk, and amber to create a fragrance that sits close to the skin and smells like “you”.

Customer Rave Reviews: “Fantastic layering scent” is how Sandie and many others describe Xtra Milk.

‍What Customers Say Can Be Improved: Their scents are quite subtle which some like and others don’t.

Sustainability Stats:

• Carbon Neutral.
• Vegan.
• Donate to 1% for the planet.
• Everything is manufactured in-house in small batches to reduce waste and carbon footprint.
• Recycled and reusable packaging.

4. Pacifica Beauty

Pacifica Beauty has managed to bring neuroscience to the world of clean, natural perfume. The paraben-free fragrances are completely natural and also feature clinically studied ingredients that are meant to elicit a positive effect on wearers. 

Why We Love Them: Don’t be fooled by their serious approach to fragrance, the scents still feel fun and flirty.

Price Range: $13-$27

Fragrance Range: Perfumes and body mists for women that mostly feature floral, fruity, citrusy, and beachy scents.

Standout Scent: Dream Moon is one of the brand’s newer launches but it’s use of rose, patchouli, and sandalwood has already made it a firm favorite.

Customer Rave Reviews: “Subtle and sweet” is how Clara Luna describes the Dream Moon fragrance in a review. This scent and many others from the brand are praised for balancing lightness and impact well.

What Customers Say Can Be Improved: A few of the fragrances have been re-formulated which has disappointed people.

Sustainability Stats:

• Vegan and cruelty-free
• Natural, non-toxic formula free of parabens, nitro musks, phthalates, etc.

5. Snif

Snif describes each of their phthalate-free perfumes like they’re a character in a movie. Some have a “complicated past” or are “prone to throwing shade” but no matter which one you wear, rest assured that you’re not being exposed to harmful synthetic preservatives. 

Why We Love Them: Cool fragrance stories and they also offer a trial kit so you get the chance to try a little bit before committing to a full bottle of your signature scent.

Price Range: $25-$40

Fragrance Range: Genderless fragrances that put “vibes” first. Most have a modern mix of fragrance notes from floral and musky to green and woody. They’re great for everyday or special occasion wear.

Standout Scent: Sweet Ash’s woody, earthy scent profile and ability to feel both subtle and memorable is what got it this write-up in NY Mag.

Customer Rave Reviews: “Perfect timeless and year-round perfume” is how Jorge A. describes Sweet Ash.

What Customers Say Can Be Improved: The scents are a bit strong for some.

Sustainability Stats:

• Vegan and cruelty-free.
• Non-toxic formula free of preservatives and synthetic dyes.

6. The Nue Co

Aromatherapy is nothing new, but The Nue Co is making it feel like it is with its non-toxic therapeutic-inspired fragrances. They have just three scent options, each of which has been shaped by research on the link between cognitive function and the olfactory system. 

Why We Love Them: Even if The Nue Co’s fragrances don’t alter your mood, you’ll at least smell incredible.

Price Range: $104

Fragrance Range: Genderless aromatherapy-inspired scents with green, spicy, floral, fresh, and marine notes.

Standout Scent: The Nue Co’s Functional Fragrance earned them a glowing review from Vogue for its stress-relieving properties. It uses green cardamom, palo santo, bergamot, and cilantro to create a sense of full-body calm as soon as you spritz it on.

Customer Rave Reviews: Most reviewers are honestly surprised that the cilantro in the Functional Fragrance works so well. It’s often compared to Santal 33.

What Customers Say Can Be Improved: Some don’t experience the mood-boosting properties promised.

Sustainability Stats:

• Non-toxic formula free of parabens, phthalates etc.
• Sustainably sourced, traceable ingredients.

7. Abel

Abel is a New Zealand-based brand making modern, 100% natural, biodegradable fragrances. They’ve often been called one of the best all-natural perfume brands and that’s all down to their clever formulations and ethical practices. 

‍Why We Love Them: Abel’s scents are simple, refreshing, and have a natural feel to them no matter which product you choose.

Price Range: $85-$180

Fragrance Range: Genderless florals, ambers, woods, and an unusual, sweet, salty musk.

Standout Scent: Cyan Nori was an Allure Beauty winner (2023) and received praise for its “juicy, warm, and slightly umami scent” that can transport you to the “Italian Riviera”.

Customer Rave Reviews: The unique, memorable scent combinations and the compliments they garner have customers over the moon.

What Customers Say Can Be Improved: Pricing.

Sustainability Stats:

• 1% of profits given to non-profits.
• 100% biodegradable, natural fragrances.
• Vegan.
• Cruelty-free.
• Ethically sourced ingredients.
• Low carbon shipping.
• Recyclable packaging.

8. By/Rosie Jane

A Los Angeles-based brand, By/Rosie Jane, has received attention from Allure, Harper’s Bazaar, WWD, and various others for their incredible smelling, 100% clean perfume options.

Why We Love Them: The brand’s non-toxic scents are simple and fresh – the kind of thing you can wear again and again and never tire of.

Price Range: $28-$75

Fragrance Range: Genderless, cozy scents that sit close to the skin. Top notes range from fig and gardenia to vanilla and hinoki wood.

Standout Scent: Rosie, the brand’s signature scent, has 501 5-star reviews on their site. It also won the “Best Unisex Fragrance” at PEOPLE in 2023 for its skin-like scent made up of nude musk and sweet rose.

Customer Rave Reviews: Stephanie B. complimented the soft, subtlety of the Rosie scent.

‍What Customers Say Can Be Improved: Some find the scents too subtle.

Sustainability Stats:

• Cruelty-free.
• Vegan.
• 1% for the planet.
• Climate neutral.
• 100% recyclable packaging.
• Clean, safe formulas.
• Recyclable packaging.

9. DefineMe

Like so many fragrance houses on this list, DefineMe is female-founded and committed to creating the very best organic perfumes. Sticking mostly to natural ingredients, they only use synthetics when they’re deemed safer on the skin than essential oil counterparts.

Why We Love Them: Though their nontoxic perfume range isn’t very big, the scents they do have are memorable and long-lasting.

Price Range: $72

Fragrance Range: Fresh, light, everyday fragrances for women that include everything from citrus notes to softer, more floral scents.

Standout Scent: Kahana won the “best ethical fragrance” at the Global Green Beauty Awards in 2021. It features a hibiscus, delicate pink pepper, and refreshing coconut water.

Customer Rave Reviews: Krista R. and others are fans of how light and yet long-lasting scents like Kahana are.

‍What Customers Say Can Be Improved: Pricing.

Sustainability Stats:

• Peta Certified vegan and cruelty-free.
• Natural, organic, and sustainably sourced ingredients.

10. Maison Louis Marie

Trust the French to bring a sense of glamor to the world of natural fragrances. Maison Louis Marie makes chic, botanical scents with a history that goes as far back as the French Revolution. 

‍Why We Love Them: As you'd expect with any of the European perfume brands, this one abides by strict EU safety regulations but doesn’t compromise on any scent complexity because of it.

Price Range: $16-$93

Fragrance Range: Genderless “eu de parfum” (they are a French brand, after all) and perfume oils in distinctly botanical scents with top notes such as hinoki wood, vanilla, and tropical tuberose.

Standout Scent: The Bois de Balincourt perfume oil is their most popular. This romantic, natural fragrance has top notes of sandalwood and cedarwood which settle to reveal warm, nutmeg and cinnamon scents.

Customer Rave Reviews: Plenty of customers like Nicole N. have commented how the fragrance might have been bought for a spouse, but both in the couple end up using it because it’s too good not to.

‍What Customers Say Can Be Improved: The longevity of some of the fragrances.

Sustainability Stats:

• 1% for the Planet
• Partnered with the National Forest Foundation.
• Certified climate neutral.
• Clean, natural ingredients,
• Recyclable packaging.

11. Esas

The CEO and COO of this non-toxic fragrance brand are both women with backgrounds in chemistry now focused on bringing all their know-how to synthetic-free formulations. The result has been a range of sophisticated, fine fragrances that feel just as luxe as anything you’d find at bigger brands, but without the nastier ingredients. 

Why We Love Them: One of our favorite features of their clean ingredient perfume range is that they have moisturizing ingredients meant to add extra nourishment to your skin when you apply your perfume.

Price Range: $45-$103

Fragrance Range: Female, male, and unisex scents that include citrus, floral, fruity, sweet, and woody options.

Standout Scent: Inspired by the fresh, clean smell of someone’s skin at the end of a long day at the beach, Bare is the brand’s top seller. Bergamot, tonka bean, sage, and gardenia all pair together for this uniquely floral, zesty scent.

Customer Rave Reviews: “Fresh”, “clean”, and “wearable” are the words we see customers using the most when complimenting this brand.

What Customers Say Can Be Improved: Pricing.

Sustainability Stats:

• Refillable and recyclable packaging.
• Natural, non-toxic formula free of synthetics.
• Vegan and cruelty-free.

12. Sana Jardin

This female-founded brand makes some of the best clean perfumes on the market and even better? The business runs multiple initiatives to improve the livelihoods of female harvesters in the perfume industry. It’s just one of the many things that makes their ethical perfume range so special. 

‍Why We Love Them: The subtle, old-school glamour of the brand and its fragrances. Spritzing their perfume always feels like a treat.

Price Range: $28-$180

Fragrance Range: Aimed at women, the brand creates rich, memorable scents that cover everything from warm, earthy notes to florals and fresh citrus.

Standout Scent: Sana Jardin’s Venus of Verbena scent is a highly unusual, green, citrus blend that won a Vogue Beauty Award in 2023.

Customer Rave Reviews: Meghan, like many other wearers of Venus Verbena, adores how well the scent works in warmer months and climates.

‍What Customers Say Can Be Improved: Some wish the perfumes were a little stronger.

Sustainability Stats:

• Vegan Leaping Bunny Certified.
• No polycyclic musks, parabens, BHT, etc.
• Recycled and recyclable packaging.
• Non-plastic bottle caps.

13. For Strange Women

This all-female indie perfume house is based in the Midwest and has a wonderfully witchy, gothic approach. Everything from their packaging to their unusual scents feels like an experience.

‍Why We Love Them: Their natural, nontoxic perfumes are available as solid balms and concentrated oils, as well as mists, for different wearing experiences. The balms are especially great for people who usually struggle to find long-lasting non-toxic perfume options.

Price Range: $17-$60

Fragrance Range: Genderless fragrances broken down by elements such as “blooms”, “resins”, and “moss”.

Standout Scent: November in the Temperate Deciduous Forest is their best-seller thanks to its transportive, autumnal, woodsy scent.

Customer Rave Reviews: Our favorite review of the above fragrance opens with this great line: “Do you want to smell like the folk witch that dwells in the forest and the townspeople make up rumors about even though you’re just foraging?”. That says it all.

‍What Customers Say Can Be Improved: Some aren’t a fan of the prices.

Sustainability Stats:

• Natural, non-toxic formula.
• Ethically sourced ingredients.
• Small-batch production.
• Recyclable packaging.

14. Rainwater Botanicals

Rainwater Botanicals makes some of the best natural perfume oils and mists on the market. Everything is produced in small batches with natural, ethically sourced ingredients. The brand began with healing salve, and they’ve extended that focus to gentle, healing scents.

Why We Love Them: Their phthalate-free perfume oils don’t try to overcomplicate things. Each product tends to have one dominant note and honestly, that kind of simplicity feels quite refreshing.

Price Range: $14-$24

‍Fragrance Range: Genderless perfume oils and mists with simple scent profiles such as spruce and cardamon, and jasmine and vanilla.

Standout Scent: Their bestseller is a Coconut Lime Perfume Oil that is small enough to be carried around all day so that you’re never without the sweet, tropical, sunny scent.

Customer Rave Reviews: Kiarra raved about the “incredible smell” of the Coconut Lime Perfume Oil.

‍What Customers Say Can Be Improved: Scent descriptions don’t always seem to accurately match the product.

Sustainability Stats:

• Natural and responsibly sourced ingredients.
• Recyclable packaging.

15. M. Hainey

Mindfulness is at the heart of this non-toxic perfume brand so it’s no wonder that each scent is designed to ground and calm the wearer. Their phthalate and paraben-free perfume oils and eu de parfums are 100% natural and meant to merge with your skin as you wear them. 

Why We Love Them: The brand explains exactly how each fragrance will change in depth after one hour of wear versus three, adding to the whole experience.

Price Range: $35-$138

Fragrance Range: Genderless perfumes with botanical-inspired scents that seem to come straight out of the woods and wildflower fields. Palo santo, wild vetiver, red cedar, and osmanthus blooms all feature.

Standout Scent: The Palo Santo perfume oil is one of the brand’s most unique and beloved fragrances thanks to the way it captures the scent of burning palo santo. It’s sweet, smokey, and just a little spicy.

Customer Rave Reviews: “Magical” is how one anonymous reviewer describes the Palo Santo Perfume oil. The sentiment is backed up by many others who praise the quality and scent.

What Customers Say Can Be Improved: Pricing.

Sustainability Stats:

• 100% natural non-toxic formula featuring 80% certified organic botanicals.
• Pure, sustainably sourced ingredients.

16. The 7 Virtues

These enticing, phthalate-free perfumes aren’t just crafted to be safer to use than conventional fragrances, but to have a greater positive impact overall. The brand was founded by activist Barb Stegemann who has made sure to prioritize sustainable, clean ingredients at every turn.

Why We Love Them: The brand takes the concept of “ethical perfume” very seriously. Proceeds go to numerous war-torn countries to help with education, supplying menstrual products, and more.

Price Range: $25-$88

Fragrance Range: Genderless scents that range from earthy and green, to fruit and floral.

Standout Scent: Vanilla Woods is a warm, spicy scent with a seriously long-lasting vanilla scent made from sustainably sourced vanilla in Madagascar. Unlike so many vanilla perfumes, it has enough of a woodsy element to balance out the sweet.

Customer Rave Reviews: “Pure vanilla bliss” is how a Sephora reviewer describes the Vanilla Woods scent, as well as noting how well it layers with other fragrances.

What Customers Say Can Be Improved: Pricing.

Sustainability Stats:

• Vegan and cruelty-free.
• Sustainably sourced ingredients.
• Various charitable initiatives.
• Certified B Corp.

Where Else To Buy Non-Toxic and Eco-Friendly Perfume Brands

There’s a misconception that non-toxic and eco-friendly perfumes can only be found in obscure health stores but most of the brands we’ll look at in the next section are easy to order online or can be found in everyday beauty stores like Ulta and Sephora.

A Scent With A Conscience

Smelling good is one thing, but what about feeling good? The right non-toxic perfume will give you that unique, signature scent you’ve been looking for while also ensuring that your health and the planet’s is protected. If you’re looking for even more reasons to go clean, most of the brands we’ve mentioned sell inexpensive testers that allow you to dip a toe into the non-toxic fragrance world without too much commitment. Be warned, you’ll smell too good to ever go back …

Frequently Asked Questions About Non-Toxic Perfume

What is Non-Toxic Perfume?

“Non-toxic” isn’t a legally protected term which means brands can use it almost unchecked. Some argue the term should only be used to describe natural perfumes without chemicals, but technically, even water is a chemical. Others would say that it should only be used for toxin-free perfume but that gets tricky too because not everyone agrees on which toxins. 

To keep things simple, we define non-toxic perfume as any formula that makes an effort to be free of potentially hazardous chemicals and takes a transparent approach to ingredients and sourcing. We believe that non-toxic perfumes aren’t just a matter of paying attention to what’s in the formula, though of course that’s crucial, but also communicating better where ingredients are from and their safety.

The main ingredients you’ll usually find in non-toxic perfumes are pure essential oils and botanicals which are often organic and/or sustainably sourced

Does ‘Cosmos Organic Label’ Certified Perfume Mean It Is Non-Toxic?

The Cosmos Standard doesn’t advertise itself as a “non-toxic” certification but it certainly encompasses many of the same principles. Brands have to abide by fairly strict guidelines regarding organic and sustainable ingredients, as well as manufacturing processes that are “clean and respectful of human health and the environment” to receive a Cosmos Organic Label.

Though their focus is more on the environmental side of things, the standards they require brands to meet in terms of natural and safe ingredients means that a Cosmos Organic Label can be seen as an indicator that a perfume is non-toxic. That said, make sure to still read up on the brand and how they approach ingredients, etc. No certification should be looked at in isolation.

Are Non-Toxic perfumes better for allergies?

Though many non-toxic perfumes take pains to avoid known irritants, a clean formula doesn’t necessarily mean it’s hypoallergenic. Many non-toxic fragrances rely on essential oils which, while fine for some, may be an allergen for others. It’s important to tread carefully if you have allergies and test things in small doses before use.

Is there such a thing as non-toxic fragrance?

We’re happy to say that there is such a thing as a non-toxic fragrance thanks to EWG-verified perfume brands like Henry and Rose which have managed to make natural, safe perfumes free of any toxic ingredients. 

How do I know if my perfume is toxic?

‍To know if your perfume is toxic, check the ingredient list for chemicals like synthetic musk, lilial, and styrene. We’d also recommend doing an online search of any ingredients you don’t recognize and using EWG’s Skin Deep site as a resource. They’ve reviewed popular fragrances such as Daisy by Marc Jacobs and broken down the hazard level of each ingredient.

How can I smell good naturally?

‍If you want to smell good naturally, you’ve got to do two things: pay attention to your health and stick to products with natural scents. For the health side of things, it’s all about drinking lots of water, eating an antioxidant-rich diet, and making sure to wash daily so that nasty bacteria are kept at bay. If you do then want to add a fragrance over and above this, stick to natural brands like Rainwater Botanicals which have a range of fragrances and body care items that are naturally scented.

Which fragrances are natural?

‍Natural fragrances are anything that use natural derivatives to create their scents. Usually, this involves the use of essential oils and extractions from plants such as Jasmine, rose, or bergamot. If you’re looking for natural perfumes without chemicals, some brands we’d recommend include Rainwater Botanicals, Wit and West, and For Strange Women.

What is 100% natural fragrance?

‍A 100% natural fragrance is a scent that doesn’t use any synthetic ingredients such as synthetic musk, or styrene to create the scent. Instead, a 100% natural fragrance will rely on naturally derived ingredients and is biodegradable as a result.

What is the purest form of perfume?

‍The purest form of a perfume is called the “extrait de parfum” and usually exists in oil form rather than as a spray. These oils have a fragrance concentration of about 20 to 40% and can be applied directly to the skin for an extra long-lasting scent.

Does organic perfume exist?

‍Organic perfume does exist! Some of the best organic perfume brands are Sana Jardin, Henry Rose, By/Rosie Jane, and DedCool. Not only do they each make organic, non-toxic fragrances but they’re also just beautiful formulas that prove that smelling good shouldn’t have to come at the cost of the planet.