Chanel concerned over regulatory changes to fragrance formulation

06-Nov-2012 - Last updated on 03-May-2013 at 07:55 GMT

Chanel is amongst industry perfumers calling on the European Commission to abandon a regulatory system that it fears will ultimately change the formulation of it's fragrances.

Luxury fragrance houses such as Chanel, Dior and Guerlain are concerned that their perfumes might be altered in terms of odour and / or development if the EC follows through with the recommendations published back in July by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS).

Industry concerns

Then, the Committee had estimated that between 1 and 3 per cent of European consumers were either allergic or potentially allergic to the ingredients present in perfumes, and advised a restriction on concentrations of 12 ingredients to 0.01 per cent of the finished product.

Some of the ingredients in question include citral, found in lemon and tangerine oils; coumarin; and eugenol, found in rose oil, while an outright ban was called for tree and oak moss, common ingredients found in Chanel's No.5 and Miss Dior.

According to Francoise Montenay, non-executive president of Chanel, the new regulation will signal "the end of magnificent perfumes" if certain ingredients are prohibted.

LVMH is also said to have expressed concern on the issue, while a spokesman for the international industry organisation (IFRA) reveals that the ingredients targeted will represent and affect the core of about 90 per cent of deluxe perfumes on the market.

EC weighing up the matter...

Currently, the EU Commission is said to be in talks with industry professionals to assess the recommendation and it's potential impact.

Infact spokesman for health and consumer policy, Frédéric Vincent has spoken out amist recent reports to insist that it was "false to say that the European Commission wants to ban Chanel 5" and that "we are still a long way from considering changes to the legislation."

Further adding that; "Perfume and cosmetic makers know what we are doing ... The legislative process has not begun and it will not be for tomorrow."

Elsewhere, trade associations including the IFRA and Cosmetics Europe, are said to be aiming to submit a joint industry proposal to the EC by the end of the year.

Click here to view the SCCS's opinion on fragrance allergens in cosmetics.