Lemony-fresh. Pine-scented. Clean cotton. These smells we associate with cleaning products are rapidly becoming part of the old guard and making way for a cleaning aisle that smells more like the beauty aisle. Now, cleaning products tout scents like “basil” and “geranium.” Unfortunately, the presence of these trendier fragrances doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll be more privy to the fragrance ingredients in a product.
According to the Wall Street Journal:
“Mass brands are also taking steps to promote their scents and environmental street cred. On Tuesday, Clorox Co. said it will list a “palette” of fragrance ingredients for all its cleaning products on its website. It may not have the exact percentage, but every ingredient is in there,” says Donald Knauss, Clorox chief executive. It follows Clorox’s move to disclose active ingredients in its Green Works line in 2008 and for all its cleaning products a year later.
That’s further than some boutique brands go. “Right now we don’t do a full disclosure on fragrance ingredients” other than to guarantee that certain toxic ingredients aren’t used, says Don Frey, vice president of product development for Method Products Inc., San Francisco, with products ranging from cucumber multi-surface wipes to almond wood cleaner.”
Ingredient disclosure doesn’t only help a company’s “environmental street cred,” it also helps consumers trust that they aren’t bringing toxic chemicals into their homes. To find cleaning products that fully disclose their ingredients, including those used as “fragrance,” check out the household cleaners’ ratings on GoodGuide.







