Where That Fresh Laundry Smell Goes
Synthetic musks are built to last, and that's the problem. Here's where they hide.
Transcript
That fresh laundry smell often comes from a synthetic musk. It hides under one word on the label: fragrance. Galaxolide and tonalide break down slowly, and turn up in water, wildlife and people. Effects in people aren't established. Fragrance-free laundry cuts exposure. Our Man Bar is scented with tea tree, cedarwood and bergamot mint. Named on the label.
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Synthetic Musks: Galaxolide, Tonalide and Bioaccumulation
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Key points from the full guide
- Synthetic musks are lab made scent molecules that replaced musk from animals, and they hide under "fragrance" on labels.
- Polycyclic musks like galaxolide and tonalide break down slowly and have been found in human blood, fat and breast milk.
- Some older nitro musks have been banned in the EU, and others carry concentration limits.
- Lab studies suggest some musks may weakly interact with hormone systems, but human health effects are not established.
- Laundry products and air fresheners are major sources, so fragrance free choices there make a big difference.
Read the full guide: Synthetic Musks: Galaxolide, Tonalide and Bioaccumulation