Does Bath And Body Works Contain Phthalates?

Bath & Body Works is a popular personal care and beauty store owned by L Brands that offers a wide selection of fragranced body care products, including body lotions, shower gels, fragrances, hand sanitizers, and more. Many of their products rely on synthetic fragrances to achieve their signature scents. This has raised questions around whether Bath & Body Works contains phthalates in their products.

Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and harder to break. They are often used as solvents and carriers for fragrance in personal care products. However, studies have raised concerns about the potential health effects of phthalates, particularly on the endocrine system. Some phthalates have been banned or restricted in the United States and European Union over these concerns. Yet they can still be found in many scented consumer products.

This article will examine the evidence on whether Bath & Body Works uses phthalates in their fragranced beauty products. We’ll look at their various product lines, fragrance ingredients, product testing policies, and response to public concern over phthalate exposure through beauty products.

What Are Phthalates?

Phthalates are a group of chemicals that are commonly added to plastics to increase their flexibility and durability. They are primarily used as plasticizers in products made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), giving the plastics more flexibility and resilience. Common types of phthalates include DEHP, DBP, and BBP.

Phthalates can be found in a wide variety of consumer products including flooring, plastic containers and packaging, cosmetics, perfumes, hair sprays, medical tubes and fluid bags, and children’s toys. They are attractive to manufacturers because they are inexpensive, effective, and have a low volatility compared to other plasticizers.

However, there are health concerns related to phthalates as they have been found to disrupt the endocrine system and are considered endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Specifically, there are concerns over their potential effects on the reproductive system and links to a variety of conditions. Some types of phthalates have been banned or restricted in children’s products due to these health risks.

Phthalates in Beauty Products

Phthalates are commonly used in fragrances, lotions, hair products, and other cosmetics to help the scent last longer. The chemicals act as a “fixative” that allows the fragrance to slowly release over time. While phthalates make scents linger, they have raised concerns over potential health risks.

Several consumer and environmental groups have called on regulators to restrict or ban phthalates in cosmetics and personal care products. They argue the chemicals may disrupt hormones and cause reproductive and developmental issues. In response to these concerns, major retailers like Walmart, Target, CVS and Rite Aid have all announced plans to remove phthalates from the beauty, cosmetic and personal care items they sell.

Despite pushback, phthalates remain unregulated in the United States. They are banned from children’s toys, but not from cosmetics. Some companies have voluntarily reformulated products to remove phthalates, while others still use them. Consumers are left having to research products individually to determine if they contain concerning chemicals.

B&BW Product Lines

Bath & Body Works is known for their wide variety of fragranced bath and body products. Some of their major product categories include:

Body Care – This line includes fragranced lotions, creams, mists and scrubs for the body. Popular items are the fragrance mists, shower gels and body lotions.

Home Fragrance – Bath & Body Works offers a large home fragrance collection including candles, room sprays, essential oil diffusers and car fragrances. The candles come in various scents and are one of their signature products.

Hand Soap & Sanitizers – Fragrance hand soaps and hand sanitizers in pocket-size formulas and foams are available across seasonal and signature scents.

Fine Fragrance Mists – A wide range of women’s and men’s fine fragrances are available as body mists and colognes.

Many of the brand’s most popular items like the body lotions, shower gels, fragrance mists and candles contain added synthetic fragrances, which have drawn scrutiny over potential risks.

B&BW Fragrance Ingredients

Bath & Body Works does not disclose the full list of ingredients for their fragrances. The ingredient lists on their products only list “Fragrance” or “Parfum” without providing any details on what’s included in those mystery mixes. This makes it impossible to know if phthalates are present.

The fragrance chemicals are considered trade secrets, so companies are not required to disclose them. However, many health and consumer advocates have called for more transparency around fragrance ingredients, especially for any potentially hazardous chemicals like phthalates. Bath & Body Works has not budged on their secrecy around fragrance recipes. So without access to the full ingredient data, consumers have no way to definitively know if phthalates are lurking in those “Fragrance” or “Parfum” ingredients.

B&BW Product Testing

Bath & Body Works states that they rigorously test their products to ensure quality and safety. All products must pass a safety assessment before being sold in stores. This includes testing for potential hazards and irritants, as well as evaluating each ingredient used.

While Bath & Body Works does not publish full testing reports, they assert that all products comply with safety laws and do not contain banned chemicals. The company says they monitor guidelines and regulations in the US, EU, and other major markets where they sell products. This implies they do not use ingredients restricted in those regions, such as certain phthalates.

However, without access to testing data, it’s unclear if Bath & Body Works specifically screens for or measures the level of phthalates present in products. Their public statements do not reveal if they have found phthalates during any internal testing. The company simply affirms that all products meet safety standards and legal requirements.

Calls for Bath & Body Works to Remove Phthalates

In recent years, there have been growing calls for Bath & Body Works to remove phthalates from their products. Consumer advocacy groups such as Women’s Voices for the Earth have launched petitions urging the company to disclose all fragrance ingredients and remove harmful chemicals.

In 2015, over 500 Bath & Body Works customers signed a petition calling on the company to remove phthalates and disclose fragrance ingredients. The petition stated that many Bath & Body Works shoppers are teenage girls and young women who are disproportionately exposed to phthalates that can disrupt hormone function.

Despite the petitions and consumer concern, Bath & Body Works has continued to use phthalates in many of its products while refusing to disclose all fragrance ingredients. The company states that all products comply with safety regulations, but has not made any specific commitments to removing phthalates across all product lines.

Advocacy groups continue to pressure Bath & Body Works through social media campaigns, letter writing, and protests outside retail locations. However, the company maintains that current industry practices regarding fragrance disclosure and phthalate use are appropriate, citing safety assurances from political and regulatory bodies.

Stance of Parent Company L Brands

Bath & Body Works is owned by L Brands, a large consumer retail corporation that also owns Victoria’s Secret, among other brands. L Brands has faced scrutiny over the years regarding the safety of ingredients used in its fragranced products.

In response, L Brands has taken steps to address concerns about controversial chemicals. The company has said it is committed to “product safety and ingredient transparency.” It has pledged to eliminate certain chemicals from products when evidence suggests even trace amounts may be harmful.

For instance, in 2012, L Brands announced plans to phase out phthalates, parabens, and triclosan from its products. It vowed to remove these ingredients even though they were considered safe by regulators at the time. L Brands said it wanted to “exceed basic safety standards.” The company claimed to have removed phthalates from 70% of its products by 2014.

L Brands notes on its website that it shares product ingredients with consumers except for fragrances, which are considered trade secrets. However, it says it requires suppliers to follow International Fragrance Association guidelines and prohibits certain chemicals.

Options for Phthalate-Free Fragrances

While phthalates allow fragrances to last longer and project a stronger scent, there are natural, phthalate-free fragrance options available. Essential oils extracted from plants are a popular alternative for synthetic fragrance chemicals like phthalates. Many smaller natural cosmetics companies use essential oil blends to create fragrances without any phthalates or other potentially harmful chemicals.

For a large company like Bath & Body Works with many different fragrance lines, reformulating all their products to use natural essential oils instead of synthetics would be a major undertaking. It would require extensive research and development to find essential oil blends that meet their desired scent profiles and performance standards across their many product formulations from candles to body lotions. However, it is certainly feasible with proper investment and commitment. L Brands would need to be convinced that going completely phthalate-free is worthwhile for their brand image and meeting consumer demand.

Conclusion

After reviewing Bath & Body Works product lines and ingredients, there is no conclusive evidence that the brand’s products currently contain phthalates. B&BW does not disclose all fragrance ingredients due to trade secret protections, so it’s impossible to fully verify if phthalates are present. However, L Brands, the parent company of Bath & Body Works, has stated a commitment to phasing out the use of phthalates, and many B&BW products are now labeled phthalate-free.

For consumers looking to avoid phthalates, experts recommend purchasing Bath & Body Works products marked phthalate-free, or requesting an ingredients list for other products. Contacting customer service is another option to inquire about the use of phthalates. Consumers can also reduce exposure from fragrances by avoiding spraying perfumes directly on the skin.

As for Bath & Body Works, continued transparency about fragrance ingredients and expanding phthalate-free labels would satisfy consumer concerns. Formulating all products without phthalates, as some competitors have done, would demonstrate industry leadership. The company could also conduct independent testing to verify no traces of phthalates. These measures would reassure consumers and address rising demand for safer cosmetics.