Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Just Starting Out › Help with finding chemical free fragrance
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Help with finding chemical free fragrance

post #1 of 21
1/14/12 at 10:19am
Thread Starter 
Hello everyone!

I've been searching on the internet after chemical free (organic) fragrances because I can't wear a cologne loaded with chemicals because of health-issues.

I've looked into strange invisible perfumes, intelligent nutrients and can't seem to find something that suits me. I also don't have the option to try in a store as I am from a small town in Norway.

I used to wear stuff like: Acqua di Gio, Chanel sport allure, Armani Black code etc. and I would like that masculine scent.

Any of you have any ideas of a cologne/fragrance that might be suitable which is not chemical loaded or organic?

Thanks!
Reply
Reply

Features on Basenotes

Basenotes Reader Awards 2013 - Finalists Announced.
Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs
Greatest Hits: Annick Menardo
post #2 of 21
1/14/12 at 10:50am
There's an issue with the word chemical, of course. We're all made of chemicals, water is a chemical, all organic essential oils are made of chemicals. What I think you mean is a synthetic chemical: one made up in a lab. I was at a talk where Roja Dove tried himself in such knots over this he actually said what he meant was a "chemical chemical".
You are more likely to get a reaction from pure citrus or spice essential oils - organic or not - than from most synthetic fragrances. What you really need is for them to be safe, and you can't assume that either natural or organic mean the same as that. There are some very effective natural organic poisons.
However if you do want to look at some fragrances that are made only with natural perfumes, try Essentially Me www.essentially-me.co.uk for Alex Lawless's scents. There's also Honore Des Pres www.honoredespres.com who had Olivia Giacobetti create their organic scents for them.
Have fun.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 21
1/14/12 at 10:58am
Presuming you have allergies of some sort. The Gendarme line of fragrances were created by a guy who has a lot of allergies, and while they are not truly hypoallergenic, they are often less offensive to people who have issues with a lot of frags.

4160 Tuesdays makes a good point with your use of the word "chemicals." I think what you really mean is synthetic aroma chemicals. But I don't think an "all natural ingredients" perfume is necessarily the answer to your problem.

It's going to be tough for you to find things because most "all natural" scents I've run into are more or less mom and pop, or hippy type operations, with limited web presence. I may be wrong, others may weigh in with some options.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 21
1/14/12 at 11:11am
^ Good advice!

Check out the natural perfumers guild, too. They have many members who cover a lot of different styles.

An organic scent that you might like is L'Eau de Jatamansi from L'Artisan Parfumeur. I have that and I love it. I could describe it as a natural version of Acqua di Gio. Kind of like if Acqua di Gio had been created by really smart hippies, or by Alobar and Kudra from the novel Jitterbug Perfume. It doesn't last as long on skin as AdG (obviously, due to the lack of certain synthetic aroma chemicals), but the bottle is huge, and it has a great smell that gets compliments.

Stylin is right - there are very few all-natural scents that smell even remotely like designer scents. It takes a while to "get into" hardcore natural scents, but you may want to do it. Strange Invisible Perfumes are among the most accessible all-natural scents - they could be your gateway drug. Once you're into them, then I would recommend Lord's Jester (perfumer Adam Gottschalk) or Essentially Me (perfumer Alex Lawless) for guys, simply because they have more fragrances that fall closer to traditional masculines. The women all-natural perfumers gravitate toward florals, which are beautiful and complex and far richer than most commercial perfumes, but they are not easy stuff for most guys. Anything that is labeled a cologne is more likely to come in closer to AdG and the like.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 21
1/14/12 at 11:55am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for great answers! I'll look into the brands and types you have listed.

You are right that I meant syntethic chemicals and not chemicals. I got adviced against phatalates and stuff like that because of my current health problems.

But since I have not much money. I'm a student with quite a lot of stuff that I need to buy... like food..haha. I can't afford to try different brands, so if you guys would give me your best option what would it be ?

Thanks to all!
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 21
1/14/12 at 12:01pm
Thread Starter 
May I also add that I'm also looking for a manly perfume that goes with my style. I dress a lot in black, gray, and dark with half long hair and a type of "rock" look. I'm also twenty years old. Haha.. any suggestions with that in mind?
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 21
1/14/12 at 12:13pm
Ive come across a lot of natural aftershaves on healthfood/vegan sites, a lot of them use natural oils and omit the chemicals.
Cant remember the others just yet but here's two..

http://www.gvtc.co.uk/florame/hommef...verspirit.html


http://store.veganessentials.com/org...boy-p1412.aspx
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 21
1/14/12 at 1:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Redneck Perfumisto View Post

^ Good advice!

Check out the natural perfumers guild, too. They have many members who cover a lot of different styles.

An organic scent that you might like is L'Eau de Jatamansi from L'Artisan Parfumeur. I have that and I love it. I could describe it as a natural version of Acqua di Gio. Kind of like if Acqua di Gio had been created by really smart hippies, or by Alobar and Kudra from the novel Jitterbug Perfume. It doesn't last as long on skin as AdG (obviously, due to the lack of certain synthetic aroma chemicals), but the bottle is huge, and it has a great smell that gets compliments.

Stylin is right - there are very few all-natural scents that smell even remotely like designer scents. It takes a while to "get into" hardcore natural scents, but you may want to do it. Strange Invisible Perfumes are among the most accessible all-natural scents - they could be your gateway drug. Once you're into them, then I would recommend Lord's Jester (perfumer Adam Gottschalk) or Essentially Me (perfumer Alex Lawless) for guys, simply because they have more fragrances that fall closer to traditional masculines. The women all-natural perfumers gravitate toward florals, which are beautiful and complex and far richer than most commercial perfumes, but they are not easy stuff for most guys. Anything that is labeled a cologne is more likely to come in closer to AdG and the like.

L'Eau de Jatamansi is a good recommendation. L'Artisan Parfumeur also had another organic perfume, don't know if it has been discontinued...
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 21
1/14/12 at 3:33pm
Aveda is supposed to make organic fragrances. There's Pureformance (spicy fresh) and the various Chakras (I especially like #7). Aveda is rather easy to find here in the US and it is not expensive (Pureformance goes for about $70 and the Chakras, which are lighter, for about $30). But I don't know how easy it is to find them in Europe, nor how expensive they are.

I also like the abovementioned Eau de Jatmansi, but it is more expensive ($150, I believe).

cacio
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 21
1/14/12 at 4:08pm
Check out Dawn Spencer Horowitz and Liz Zorn's lines of fragrances. They aren't cheap but use top quality natural ingredients. They have both all-natural and mixed-media lines, which do use synthetic aroma chemicals. I would look at their mixed media lines too, many "niche" perfumers use aroma chemicals much more tastefully than designers and are worth checking out. Liz Zorn's Transcendental Musk is similar to a "sporty" designer frag, but has a more natural feel to it and is really much more tastefully done than any designer sport frag I have ever tried. Judging by what you have worn and like in the past, I think T. Musk would be perfect for you, as long as you aren't bothered by the restrained use of some synthetics. As far as Dawn Spencer Horowitz, Bacha Extreme was a standout, great woody citrus frag. I think, but am not 100% sure than Bacha Extreme is 100% natural.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 21
1/14/12 at 4:33pm
I'm in awe at how wonderful this community is ....

Reply
Reply
post #12 of 21
1/14/12 at 4:46pm
L'artistan can be had in Norway as well, heavenscent.no. Very pleasant people there.

Gimle also has a lot of echological stuff, parfymeri.no for more info.

Do note, neither are cheap but they are both amazingly skilled at what they do and will ship to you.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 21
1/14/12 at 4:54pm
You're searching for non-synthetic substances: no idea if they're totally organical, but you could check L'Occitanne, Sisley Eau Series (1,2 and 3) and Natura perfumes wich I know as made by natural oils. Based on lack of longevity...
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 21
1/14/12 at 4:58pm
You could also try essential oils.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 21
1/14/12 at 9:23pm
AAAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!! HIppies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 21
1/14/12 at 9:29pm
+1 Aveda and have a look into the www.profumo.it site. The perfumer, Dominique Dubrana, is a member of basenotes and hosts a Social Group here and I'm sure would be open to frank discussion if you see anything you like and want to ask about specifics.
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 21
1/14/12 at 10:20pm
Almost all modern commercial scents have some synthetics in them. Even natural ingredients can provoke allergic responses or irritation.
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 21
1/15/12 at 12:15am
My suggestions are honore des pres , jo woods, guerlain eau du 96
All these are made with nautural essences and smell great
Good luck
Vass
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 21
1/15/12 at 2:58am
If by "health issues" you mean skin irritations, I would suggest spraying on your clothes instead of skin. Most fragrances will not stain fabrics, and you get the same performance as on skin. Have you considered it, or is it not an option for you?
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 21
1/16/12 at 2:46pm
+1 'have a look into the www.profumo.it site. The perfumer, Dominique Dubrana, is a member of basenotes and hosts a Social Group here and I'm sure would be open to frank discussion if you see anything you like and want to ask about specifics'.

Correct King Friday. DD has made a niche for himself doing precisely what you are looking for. And he has a great turban too!
Reply
Reply
post #21 of 21
2/20/12 at 11:48am
Aftelier by Mandy Aftel is amazing and worth sampling. Suendhaft in germany carries her line. Shiso, Cepes + Tuberose and Tango are my favorites and are available in parfum and eau de parfum.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Just Starting Out

Features on Basenotes

Basenotes Reader Awards 2013 - Finalists Announced.
Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs
Greatest Hits: Annick Menardo
Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Just Starting Out › Help with finding chemical free fragrance