More sustainable perfume choices – what to look out for
Written by:Elena Chow
Read time:xxx
1662
Posted:06/10/2022
Are you conscious of the impact your choices have on the environment when shopping? Or are you looking for a gift for the eco-conscious person in your life? The good news is that brands and entire industries are listening to you, innovating their methods, with an emphasis on sustainability (including the world of fragrance!) The bad news is that it still requires a lot of label-checking, internet searching, and logo-hunting, to uncover the green from the red.
With perfume practices evolving with every new release, we’ve seen a shift in recent years. Whether you’re on the hunt for a more sustainable perfume that is paving the way for the rest or want to learn howeco-friendly perfume brands are updating your favourite formulas for the better, we’re here to answer some of your most asked questions.
What makes a sustainable perfume?
What makes a product sustainable is forever evolving. It is important to know that there is currently no legal definition of the term ‘sustainable’ in the beauty world, but there’s still a lot to think about! When it comes to a ‘sustainable perfume’, there are several factors to consider, including:
Ingredients – are they responsibly sourced and harvested in fair partnership with the communities who grow and gather them?
Production – are steps taken to reduce the environmental impact of its production processes, including CO2 emissions?
Packaging – can the perfume bottle and its packaging be recycled, reused, upcycled or biodegraded?
Social Impact – does the brand and perfume champion humanitarian values?
(And this is just the start!)
As you can see, when it comes to creating your favourite eco-friendly perfume, it’s not just down to the finished product. So, here at The Perfume Shop, we will continue working towards providing you with clear and transparent information so you can shop consciously with confidence.
So, what else is there to know?
Can you get perfume bottles refilled?
In short, the answer is yes! Instead of throwing your bottle away or upcycling it, some eco-friendly perfumes are designed to stand the test of time. Look out for perfumes with refillable options, meaning you simply unscrew the top when you have enjoyed the last spray, refill and reuse the vessel again and again.
The undisputed pioneer and industry game-changer in refillable perfumes came in the form of Mugler’s Angel back in 1992. Not only did this eco-friendly perfume create a brand-new olfactory group (ambery gourmand, which leveraged patchouli and a blend of delicious berries, vanilla, and chocolate notes), but it came complete with a Mugler ‘Fountain’ which you can still use in most of our stores today to refill your empty Mugler fragrance.
Recently other moresustainable fragranceshave followed Mugler’s example. D by Diesel, not only features a cellophane-free box (more on that later…) but the ‘eco-designed’ bottle is said to save 45% glass, 43% cardboard and 75% metal when you use a 150ml refill (back in stock soon!) with a 50ml refillable bottle (when compared to 4 x 50ml bottles).
Boasting that it ‘reinvents fine fragrance for a more sustainable future’, My Way by Giorgio Armani hits all the right notes. With a seamless refill system that features recyclable components, keep an eye out for the restock of the refill bottle which uses 64% less plastic and 55% less glass.
Lancôme’s floral chypre fragrance Idôle takes an ultra-slim and sleek form with its refillable bottle design. It’s simple but makes a BIG statement.Looking for a refill for your Idôle perfume? You can pick it up in selected The Perfume Shop stores.
What’s the first thing you do when you open your new perfume? You rip open the perfume packaging, including the cellophane, and throw the plastic sleeve away, right? Well, not anymore in some cases. Certain brands, in their commitment to putting an end to the use of single-use plastics, are sending their boxes of perfumes off into the retail world naked – without a shiny jacket you might say!
Fragrances like theREPLICA collection byMaison MargielaandD by Diesel are reducing their perfume packaging by stripping off their plastic wrapper, letting the cardboard box steal the show.Diesel claims that this small and bold packaging choice helps “limit useless plastic consumption” and will have a “positive impact on our planet”.
How mindful are manufacturing & fragrance ingredients?
When you spritz your favourite fragrance, you don’t see the journey it’s had to get into your hands. But every scent has its story. For example, did you know that La Vie Est Belle by Lancôme is produced in a factory run by 100% renewable energy? By supporting brands with mindful manufacturing methods, you may find your more eco-friendly perfume gives you an extra boost of feel-good vibes.
Ingredient lists are also becoming more and more transparent, with brands listing notes as well as the country of origin. When a note is responsibly sourced from its origin country, it might make for a more sustainable fragrance journey. Simply check out the descriptions of some of your favourite scents and you’ll soon notice where the brands are plucking the notes from.
The reinterpretation of Giorgio Armani’s iconic scent Acqua di Gioboasts more ‘sustainably-sourced’ ingredients, including green mandarin hand-picked in southern Italy, clary sage harvested in Provence, geranium bourbon from Madagascar, and patchouli from Guatemala which is sustainably harvested via programmes that support the local communities. While Sì Intense, showcases a stunning note of Isparta rose, harvested directly from Turkey’s ‘city of roses’.
You sure can! Making conscious perfume purchases is one way you minimise your impact on the planet, but another way is to recycle your bottle after its last spritz. A lot of perfume bottles are recyclable these days and here at The Perfume Shop, we’re happy to help with the process with our in-store recycling service.
Our Recycling service not only takes your empties off your hands, but for every bottle we receive we donate the cost of planting a tree in collaboration with Eden Reforestation Projects. And as a thanks from us to you, we give you 10% off to use in-store that very day!
Elena is a creative copywriter who’s been around the beauty block for more than a decade, writing for brands and glossy magazines. A self-proclaimed fragrance addict (her ‘open’ collection is at 14 bottles, but who’s counting?), it’s no wonder she loves penning pieces on our newest releases and trending notes. Her signature scent? Elle by Yves Saint Laurent.
More sustainable perfume choices – what to look out for
Are you conscious of the impact your choices have on the environment when shopping? Or are you looking for a gift for the eco-conscious person in your life? The good news is that brands and entire industries are listening to you, innovating their methods, with an emphasis on sustainability (including the world of fragrance!) The bad news is that it still requires a lot of label-checking, internet searching, and logo-hunting, to uncover the green from the red.
With perfume practices evolving with every new release, we’ve seen a shift in recent years. Whether you’re on the hunt for a more sustainable perfume that is paving the way for the rest or want to learn how eco-friendly perfume brands are updating your favourite formulas for the better, we’re here to answer some of your most asked questions.
What makes a sustainable perfume?
What makes a product sustainable is forever evolving. It is important to know that there is currently no legal definition of the term ‘sustainable’ in the beauty world, but there’s still a lot to think about! When it comes to a ‘sustainable perfume’, there are several factors to consider, including:
(And this is just the start!)
As you can see, when it comes to creating your favourite eco-friendly perfume, it’s not just down to the finished product. So, here at The Perfume Shop, we will continue working towards providing you with clear and transparent information so you can shop consciously with confidence.
So, what else is there to know?
Can you get perfume bottles refilled?
In short, the answer is yes! Instead of throwing your bottle away or upcycling it, some eco-friendly perfumes are designed to stand the test of time. Look out for perfumes with refillable options, meaning you simply unscrew the top when you have enjoyed the last spray, refill and reuse the vessel again and again.
The undisputed pioneer and industry game-changer in refillable perfumes came in the form of Mugler’s Angel back in 1992. Not only did this eco-friendly perfume create a brand-new olfactory group (ambery gourmand, which leveraged patchouli and a blend of delicious berries, vanilla, and chocolate notes), but it came complete with a Mugler ‘Fountain’ which you can still use in most of our stores today to refill your empty Mugler fragrance.
Mugler
Angel
Eau de Parfum Refillable Spray
50ML – €115.00
Mugler
Angel
Eau de Parfum Refill
100ML – €135.00
Recently other more sustainable fragrances have followed Mugler’s example. D by Diesel, not only features a cellophane-free box (more on that later…) but the ‘eco-designed’ bottle is said to save 45% glass, 43% cardboard and 75% metal when you use a 150ml refill (back in stock soon!) with a 50ml refillable bottle (when compared to 4 x 50ml bottles).
Diesel
D By Diesel
Eau de Toilette Refillable Spray
30ML – €24.00
Diesel
D By Diesel
Eau de Toilette Refillable Spray
50ML – €39.00
Boasting that it ‘reinvents fine fragrance for a more sustainable future’, My Way by Giorgio Armani hits all the right notes. With a seamless refill system that features recyclable components, keep an eye out for the restock of the refill bottle which uses 64% less plastic and 55% less glass.
Armani
My Way
Eau de Parfum Refillable Spray
30ML – €61.00
Armani
My Way
Eau de Parfum Refillable Spray
50ML – €88.00
Armani
My Way
Eau de Parfum Refillable Spray
90ML – €120.00
Lancôme’s floral chypre fragrance Idôle takes an ultra-slim and sleek form with its refillable bottle design. It’s simple but makes a BIG statement. Looking for a refill for your Idôle perfume? You can pick it up in selected The Perfume Shop stores.
Lancôme
Idôle
Eau de Parfum Spray
25ML – €64.00
Lancôme
Idôle
Eau de Parfum Spray
50ML – €105.00
–
Can perfume packaging be reduced?
What’s the first thing you do when you open your new perfume? You rip open the perfume packaging, including the cellophane, and throw the plastic sleeve away, right? Well, not anymore in some cases. Certain brands, in their commitment to putting an end to the use of single-use plastics, are sending their boxes of perfumes off into the retail world naked – without a shiny jacket you might say!
Fragrances like the REPLICA collection by Maison Margiela and D by Diesel are reducing their perfume packaging by stripping off their plastic wrapper, letting the cardboard box steal the show. Diesel claims that this small and bold packaging choice helps “limit useless plastic consumption” and will have a “positive impact on our planet”.
Maison Margiela
When The Rain Stops
Eau de Toilette Spray
30ML – €75.00
Diesel
D By Diesel
Eau de Toilette Refillable Spray
30ML – €24.00
Diesel
D By Diesel
Eau de Toilette Refillable Spray
50ML – €39.00
Diesel
D By Diesel
Eau de Toilette Refillable Spray
100ML – €63.00
How mindful are manufacturing & fragrance ingredients?
When you spritz your favourite fragrance, you don’t see the journey it’s had to get into your hands. But every scent has its story. For example, did you know that La Vie Est Belle by Lancôme is produced in a factory run by 100% renewable energy? By supporting brands with mindful manufacturing methods, you may find your more eco-friendly perfume gives you an extra boost of feel-good vibes.
Lancôme
La Vie Est Belle
Eau de Parfum Refillable Spray
30ML – €67.00
Lancôme
La Vie Est Belle
Eau de Parfum Refillable Spray
50ML – €88.00
Lancôme
La Vie Est Belle
Eau de Parfum Refillable Spray
100ML – €123.00
Ingredient lists are also becoming more and more transparent, with brands listing notes as well as the country of origin. When a note is responsibly sourced from its origin country, it might make for a more sustainable fragrance journey. Simply check out the descriptions of some of your favourite scents and you’ll soon notice where the brands are plucking the notes from.
The reinterpretation of Giorgio Armani’s iconic scent Acqua di Gio boasts more ‘sustainably-sourced’ ingredients, including green mandarin hand-picked in southern Italy, clary sage harvested in Provence, geranium bourbon from Madagascar, and patchouli from Guatemala which is sustainably harvested via programmes that support the local communities. While Sì Intense, showcases a stunning note of Isparta rose, harvested directly from Turkey’s ‘city of roses’.
Armani
Acqua Di Gio
Eau de Parfum Refillable Spray
75ML – €110.00
Armani
Acqua Di Gio
Eau de Parfum Refillable Spray
125ML – €135.00
–
–
–
Can I recycle my empty perfume bottle?
You sure can! Making conscious perfume purchases is one way you minimise your impact on the planet, but another way is to recycle your bottle after its last spritz. A lot of perfume bottles are recyclable these days and here at The Perfume Shop, we’re happy to help with the process with our in-store recycling service.
Armani
Acqua di Gioia
Eau de Parfum Spray
30ML – €78.00
Yves Saint Laurent
Libre
Eau de Parfum Spray
30ML – €78.00
Our Recycling service not only takes your empties off your hands, but for every bottle we receive we donate the cost of planting a tree in collaboration with Eden Reforestation Projects. And as a thanks from us to you, we give you 10% off to use in-store that very day!
Want to recycle your old perfume bottles?
Find out how
About Elena Chow
Copywriter
Elena is a creative copywriter who’s been around the beauty block for more than a decade, writing for brands and glossy magazines. A self-proclaimed fragrance addict (her ‘open’ collection is at 14 bottles, but who’s counting?), it’s no wonder she loves penning pieces on our newest releases and trending notes. Her signature scent? Elle by Yves Saint Laurent.
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