L'Eau Naturel: An Eco-Friendly Fragrance Guide

The rise of perfume bans in doctor's offices and workplaces is evidence of the growing number of fragrance allergies in the population—but it has us wondering: Can fragrance really be that bad? After all, isn't it made with fragrant rose petals, orange rinds and other items that we're exposed to on an everyday basis?

In fact, the term "fragrance" is given a score of eight (with 10 being the worst) on Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, the Bible for those looking to learn more about the ingredients in their beauty products. EWG says this high rating is because "fragrance" is a generic word for a chemical cocktail that often contains ingredients that cause allergic reactions and disrupt hormone function.

Most fragrances contain a mix of natural ingredients and synthesized chemicals, and all of these chemicals aren't necessarily disclosed on the label.

Check out the brands in this gallery for unique, natural, ethically-made scents.

NHR Organic Oils, $13-34 each, nhrorganicoils.com.