DEODORANTS ON THE EUROPEAN MARKET - QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL-ANALYSIS OF21 FRAGRANCES

Deodorants are one of the most frequently used types of cosmetics and side-effects from them are common. Recent studies relate perfume aller gy to this type of product. 73 deodorants were analyzed by gas chromat ography - mass spectrometry for the determination of the contents of 7 well-known fragrance allergens from the fragrance mix and 14 other co mmonly used fragrance materials. The deodorants were purchased at reta il outlets in 5 European countries. It was found that in general, frag rance mix ingredients were more frequently present in vapo- and aeroso l sprays than in roll-on products. The levels of the fragrance mix sub stances ranged from 0.0001-0.2355%. The products investigated containe d cinnamic aldehyde and isoeugenol less frequently (17% and 29% respec tively), and eugenol and geraniol most frequently (57% and 76% respect ively). The 14 other fragrance materials were found in 40-97% of the d eodorants, with hedione and benzyl acetate the most frequently found s ubstances. The concentration of these 14 substances ranged from 0.0001 -2.7%. It is concluded that the levels of cinnamic aldehyde and isoeug enol found in the deodorants could prove to be relevant for elicitatio n of contact dermatitis. No conclusions could be drawn about the other fragrance mix constituents, as threshold levels in sensitized individ uals have not been investigated. Furthermore, all of the fragrance mat erials investigated were frequently found in deodorants and, apart fro m the fragrance mix ingredients, the extent of problems with sensitiza tion to these fragrance materials is largely unknown. (C) Munksgaard, 1998.