National Toxic Encephalopathy Foundation

is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
whose core purposes are to provide research, education and services to the growing segment of the population who are adversely affected by everyday chemicals and toxins in our environment.

Established in 1998.

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Updated: August 20, 2008

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Why are we concentrating on Clarins?

I have been asked numerous times why we are concentrating on Clarins and felt that it is easier to address it in all in one referenced source, rather than readdressing it in repetitive emails.

The NTEF is a watchdog foundation whose main object is to educate the public on the inherent dangers associated with everyday products such as fragrances, air fresheners, pesticides that they have been lead to believe are fully tested for safety, by initially de-formulating perfumes and other fragrances and disclosing the materials for their toxicological effects and the potential dangers associated with such chemicals, that have not been publicly disclosed.

It is extremely difficult to be effective by researching a broad group of toxic personal care products.  Additionally, it is difficult to speak with confidence when painting with a broad brush. We can speak with the highest degree of verifiable information regarding Angel Parfum by Theirry Mugler distributed into the United States by Clarins Paris aka Clarins USA. 

We have Clarins own test results on Angel Parfum and can speak with authority on the documented evidence that this fragrance does in fact cause damage the eyes, skewed  dermal assault testing and they did not do any respiratory testing on Angel.  We have independent inhalation testing documenting that this product does create respiratory problems. Angel Parfum has a high degree of known allergens that are not addressed on their label.

Our deformulation along with the disclosed ingredients by Clarins verify that a preponderance of the ingredients are known skin, eye and respiratory irritants. The only reason that Clarins is now referencing more ingredients is that they are required under European Union (7th Directive) to disclose known allergens for 26 ingredients, in concentrations greater than 100 parts per million (ppm).

The following are the ingredients that have been proven to be allergenistic:  Tree moss, Hydroxymethylpentylcyclohezene Carboxaldehyde (HMPCC), Oak Moss, Hydroxycitronellal, Isoeugenol, Cinnamic Aldehyde, Farnesol, Cinnamic Alcohol, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Eugenol, Coumarin, Lilial (Butylphenyl Methyl Propional), Amyl-Cinnamic Alcohol, Benzyl Cinnamate, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Methylheptin Carbonate, Amyl-Cinnamic Aldehyde, Hexyl-Cinnamic Adehyde, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Gamma-Methylionon, Benzyl Benzoate, Anisyl Alcohol.

Clarins has disclosed only the following ingredients by hiding under trade secrets regarding their fragrance/parfum reference:

Alcohol denatured, Fragrance (parfum), Purified water (aqua), Benzophenone-2, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Coumarin, Limonene, Linalool, Amyl Cinnamal, Geraniol, Citronellol, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citral, Eugenol, Isoeugenol, D&C Violet No. 2 (CI 60725) and FD&C Blue No. 1 (CI 42090).

Out of these 26 ingredients Angel Parfum has the following known irritants:

Eyes:  Denatured alcohol, Benzophenone-2, Coumarin (Hazardous), d-Limonene, Linalool, Amyl Cinnamal, Geraniol, Citronellol, Benzyl Salicylate, Citral (Hazardous), Eugenol, Isoeugenol, Violet 2, Blue 1.

Respiratory:  Denatured Alcohol, Benzophenone-2, d-Limonene, Linalool, Amyl Cinnamal, Geraniol, Citronellol, Benzyl Salicylate, Citral (Lung irritant), Eugenol (Toxic to lungs), Isoeugenol, Violet 2 (Lung irritant), Blue 1.

Skin:  Denatured Alcohol, Benzophenone-2, Buytlphenyl Methylpropional (Sensitizer with skin contact), Coumarin (Sensitizer with skin contact, and absorbed thru skin), d-Limonene (Sensitizer with skin contact, an allergic reaction which becomes evident upon reexposure. Prolonged repeated contact may cause defatting of the skin and dermis), Linalool (Sensitizer with skin contact), Amyl Cinnamal (Sensitizer with skin contact), Geraniol (Sensitizer with skin contact, hazardous with skin contact “permeator”), Citronellol (Sensitizer with skin contact, severe irritant), Benzyl Salicylate (Sensitizer with skin contact), Hexyl Cinnamal (Sensitizer with skin contact), Citral (Sensitizer with skin contact), Eugenol (Sensitizer with skin contact, slightly hazardous with skin contact “Permeator”), Isoeugenol, Violet 2, Blue 1.

Mutagen:  Benzophenone-2, Coumarin, Linalool, Citral, Isoeugenol.

            Reproductive Effectors:  Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Coumarin, Citral.

            Tumorigen: Coumarin, Isoeugenol, Citral.

            Possible Carcinogenic: d-Limonene, Eugenol.

From the 17 ingredients referenced on Angel's package,12 are classified as allergens, that equates to 70%, which the NTEF feels is highly unacceptable.

Fragrance allergies are increasing and the public is the victim of what we feel is the ultimate intentional act of harm by the cosmetic manufacturers.  They know that a majority of the ingredients they use have not been fully tested but that has not stopped them from incorporating them into their products. 

The following are ingredients in Angel Parfum which have not been fully tested:

Denatured Alcohol, Benzophenone-2, Butylphenyl methylpropional, Coumarin, d-Limonene, Linalool, Amyl Cinnamal, Geraniol, Citronellol, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citral, Eugenol, Isoeugenol, Blue 1.

From the 15 ingredients referenced on Angel's package, 12  which have not been fully tested for safety, equates to 80%, another extremely high unacceptable level.

Years ago, fragrances were made with natural ingredients, nowadays, they use synthetically derived chemicals, primarily from petrochemicals, to reduce their overhead and increase their overall profit.

Clarins has a very aggressive and concerted marketing campaign that utilizes a few of the more innocuous ingredients to sell their products.  The public is given the impression that their entire line is naturally and botanically based, which in our opinion comes across as deceptive sales and marketing practices.

There is a trend now, that consumers are looking for natural and healthy alternatives and this line it appears to target this segment of the population.

There is a major campaign for safer cosmetics that Clarins has intentionally refused to sign or to even address.  This campaign would confirm and justify Clarins marketing claims of natural and botanically based products.  According to the Safer Cosmetics Campaign: The companies ... have pledged to not use chemicals that are known or strongly suspected of causing cancer, mutation or birth defects in their products and to implement substitution plans that replace hazardous materials with safer alternatives in every market they serve.

Clarins cannot sign this as their products, especially Angel Parfum, are not safe:

Mutagen:  Benzophenone-2, Coumarin, Linalool, Citral, Isoeugenol

            Reproductive Effectors: Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Coumarin, Citral

            Tumorigen: Coumarin, Isoeugenol, Citral

            Possible Carcinogenic: d-Limonene, Eugenol

The NTEF has received documented evidence that Angel Parfum has disabled someone from a single application of this product. One person permanently disabled by this toxic product is one too many.

The science is available, unfortunately, the consumer mistakenly assumes that fragrances are fully tested for safety and it is our responsibility to inform the targeted audience of the non-verifiable safety testing on these products.

Fragrances do not just elicit a scent, but, are introduced directly into the persons vascular system and affects every cell in the body thru nourishment from the blood.

Industry wants the public to believe that fragrances do not create any health effects, again, this is a marketing ploy to deceive the consumer into making purchases.  They will make claims that manufacturers use only a "small amount" of questionable chemicals.  It is impossible to believe that if you keep adding, for example, small amounts of respiratory irritants into a product that it will not result in a major respiratory irritant. A simple visual analogy: take a glass of water and for every allergen add a drop of red food coloring, soon the clear water will become red.  Same with fragrances they will soon become toxic from all the chemicals and allergens in the mixture.

The NTEF has discovered that Clarins is making what we feel at this point in time unverifiable claims as to the safety of their Stretch Mark product.  Clarins box references that this product is allergy free and dermatologically tested on pregnant women.  Predicated on Clarins verified discredited dermal assault test on Angel Parfum we have now requested both thru Clarins Paris and Clarins USA all the testing done on this product.  As the disclosed ingredients discredit the intended claims referenced on the box.  We are specifically looking for the fetal toxicological testing to determine if this product is in fact safe for the developing fetus.

Clarins we have discovered is intentionally lying to consumers to queries regarding their products ingredients.  The NTEF was contacted by a consumer in India because they felt that Clarins did not provide them with a factual response to their question.  Which upon a basic search did confirm that Stearate Alcohol is known for skin related reactions which Clarins stated " has no effect on the skin what so ever".  This deceptive response is not acceptable and confirms our suspicion the lengths Clarins will go in order to hide any known problems associated with their products or ingredients.

Discrepancies such as these is why the NTEF has to concentrate on one corporation at a time to enact our intended purpose to create an informed and knowledgeable consumer.

The Food and Drug Administration has very clearly defined rules and regulations regarding labeling that Clarins and other fragrance manufacturers have refused to comply with.  As referenced above it is impossible to address every cosmetic and fragrance company with the full confidence that we have with our knowledge regarding Clarins. 

Angel De Fazio, B.S.A.T., President

As a side note, the NTEF has tried to contact Clarins upper management in Paris to address our concerns and was intentionally stalled and relegated to discuss our issues with their consumer relations manager.  The NTEF extended an offer to personally meet with Clarins management, such as Christian Courtin-Clarins, to discuss our concerns regarding their products and to date, this invitation, has neither been acknowledged or declined. This ostrich with their head in the sand approach leads one to believe they can not refute our concerns and allegations.

I, therefore, will publicly reiterate our offer; Christian, the NTEF would like for you and your Director of Research to come to Las Vegas, meet with our people to discuss your claims and test results regarding the safety and effectiveness of your products. This meeting preferably with a press represented audience. If your products are as you claim, then you should have no problem in a public venue having this addressed and discussed, we anxiously await your response.

"Toilet water was meant to be FLUSHED not WORN" -Angel De Fazio

"Homeostasis can not be maintained by the chronic and intentional assault of toxic chemicals in our environment" -NTEF

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