As I have mentioned in previous posts, I am all about fragrance! Unfortunately, most perfumes are toxic and contain hormone disruptors, which means they could mess with your reproductive system and potentially cause cancer. That’s too big a price to pay to “smell nice”. So, what’s a fragrance obsessed woman to do?

Well, I’m glad to report that I have found two companies which produce great smelling, non toxic fragrances and the best part…They both sell samples so you can test them out before committing to a full bottle. 

The first non-toxic fragrance company I discovered is Henry Rose. 

Founded by Michelle Pfeiffer, this company states that they are cruelty free, hypoallergenic, dermatologist tested and do not contain:

• Parabens
• Pthalates
• Formaldehyde
• Known Carcinogens
• Known Endocrine Disruptors

I decided to purchase a sample set, in which 12 scents are offered. My favorites are Sheep’s Clothing and Fog (they layer so well together), Char and Torn. Their newest release is called “Dave” which wasn’t available in the sample set I purchased, but based on the description (vanilla gourmand), I think it would smell very nice. In my opinion, these perfumes do smell more like “traditional” perfumes. This is not necessarily a bad thing; I do enjoy how they smell, but they smell like perfumes you get at a department store counter and I happen to prefer more natural smelling scents. That being said, Henry Rose scents are not overpowering and do not linger the way artificial scents do and I am complimented whenever I wear them. The sample set is just $45 so it’s worth a try, especially if you’re looking for a healthier way to smell divine! If you do indulge in the full sample set, you get a $20 coupon to put towards a full bottle, which is priced at $120 for 50ml.

Here’s a description of each of the Henry Rose scents:

1. Char – Smoky Amber

Tonka Bean Absolute and Ivory Coast Ginger blend with a hint of Moroccan Orange Flower to create a smoky, enticing cocktail of a fragrance.

My take: I really like this scent, though it’s definitely more of an autumn fragrance. The smokiness is there, but it’s not too heavy.

2. Dark is Night – Woody Spicy

The woodiness of patchouli blends with the richness of vanilla bean for a decadent finish.

My take: Quite masculine and strong. I’m not a fan of it for myself, but it might smell great on my husband.

3. Flora Carnovora – White Floral

Earthy vetiver meets soft jasmine, tuberose and bright orange flower. 

My take: VERY floral/soapy. If you like that kind of thing, you’ll love it. If not, it’s a hard pass. For me – hard pass.

4. Fog – Earthy Vetiver

The lightness of vetiver wood is cut with a soft musk to create a perfectly balanced freshness.

My take: I LOVE this! It’s musky, but clean. You smell freshly showered. It’s slightly on the masculine side, which is why I layer over Sheep’s Clothing, and together they smell amazing! If I wore it alone, it would be for a night out. I think it’s a bit much for everyday wear.

5. Jake’s House – Marine Citrus

Watery clean freshness encounters honeyed neroli for a light and clean musky finish.

My take: A bit too citrusy for me, and smells like a naturally scented house cleaner. It’s definitely not one of my favorites.

6. Last Light – Woody Musk

Musk and patchouli come together with a subtle burst of peach to create a smooth woody effect.

My take: I usually like patchouli, but this smells like a cheap men’s cologne. I’m not a fan.

7. Menace – Aquatic Musk

Deep marine notes crash against invigorating lime heart, anchored by musk and Mediterranean cypress.

My take:  A bit too masculine for my taste, but my husband took the sample and it smells fresh and clean on him. I love the way he smells wearing it.

8. Queens and Monsters – Amber Gourmand

The freshness and zest of petitgrain balances the fluid sensuality of vanilla and sandalwood to create a woody aroma. 

My take: This is a nice scent if you’re into vanilla, but not sweet smelling vanilla. It’s less intense.

9. Sheep’s Clothing – Floral Woody

A rose, revealed. The unexpected burst of pink peppercorn creates a perfect juxtaposition within the softness of Turkish Rose Absolute and amber woods.

My take: Not too “rosie” or floral. Just the right hint of softness. It’s like you just stepped out of the shower using an all natural soap. I layer it with Fog to soften it up and together they are perfect!

10. Smyth – Green Apple/White Woods

Crisp green apple is rounded with watery notes and sheer white woods for a bright finish. 

My take: This is a fruity, spring fragrance. Heavy on the apple. A bit too sweet for me for everyday wear.

11. Torn – Spicy Vanilla

The richness of vanilla bean blends with the earthiness of vetiver roots to create an aroma that’s both warm and spicy.

My take: This has a sweetness to it that is nice, but I wouldn’t want to smell like it all day. A bit too sweet for my taste.

12. Windows Down – Citrus Bergamot

Bright grapefruit and bergamot encounter honeyed neroli and soft Earl Grey tea for a light and floral finish.

My take: Smells like soapy green tea (in a good way!). I like this one a lot.

The second non-toxic fragrance company I discovered is by/Rosie Jane.

This company offers seven non toxic scents.  They state their products do not contain

• Parabens
• Sulfates
• Phthalates
• Silicones
• Artificial dyes
• Formaldehydes
• Oxybenzone
• Octinoxate
• Hydroquinone
• Triclosan
• Coal tar
• Methylisothiazolinone

They offer a sample pack for $25. I tried a travel size bottle of Rosie, a scent that is described as a “barely there white musk and sweet rose”. It is the perfect everyday scent and everywhere I wear it, I receive compliments. I loved it so much that I ordered the sample pack to test out the other scents. Tip: If you order it through Nordstroms, you save on shipping as long as you pick up your order in the store. 

The scents arrived in a beautiful box and each one was more amazing than the next. Rosie is definitely the cleanest scent. It’s like you, but “fresher”, without smelling “soapy”. My favorite scent for summer is Madie (it’s like Coppertone Sunscreen as a perfume), but unfortunately the company has decided to discontinue it! I’m not even sure why it was included in the sampler! The other two scents I liked had a seasonal feel to them: James is a great autumn scent with notes of fig, amber woods and gardenia petals. Dylan has notes of bergamot blossom, guaiac wood and amber silk. I found it to be a bit heavy on the woodsy scent, but I do like it a lot. Descriptions and links to the scents are provided below.

These perfumes smell more “natural” to me. They do not have that “sold at the beauty counter” perfume smell and for this reason alone, I favor them. Also, at $80 per 50 ml bottle, they are $40 cheaper than those sold by Henry Rose. 

If you’re a fragrance freak like myself, you may just have to bite the bullet and buy samplers from both companies to check it all out for yourself. The good thing is, either way you’re putting something on your skin which is seemingly a lot healthier than what is sold elsewhere.

So, here’s to smelling good without the harsh chemicals!

By/Rosie Jane Scents and Descriptions:

1. Dulce: Creamy vanilla – brown sugar – warm hinoki wood

My take: Like walking into a bakery, but in a good way, as it’s light.

2. Dylan: Bergamot blossom – guaiac wood – amber silk

My take: Very woody, but I think it’s a great winter scent.

3. James: Fig – amber woods – gardenia petals

My take: Beautiful autumn scent. 

4. Lake: Vanilla – lakeside lemon – soft cedar

My take: Kind of heavy. I would wear this for a night out as it’s too light for the office.

5. Leila Lou: Juicy pear – sweet jasmine – tangerine skin

My take: Too sweet! Smells a bit like candy.

6. Missy: Toasted Coconut – juicy pineapple – frangipani (floral)

My take: Beachy vibe, but not as good as the discontinued “Madie” scent. That was definitely like a day at the beach in a bottle!*

*I was recently asked by the company to test out their new body spray, which is called “Beach Baby” and I LOVE it! It’s perfect for summer and makes you feel like you spent a day in the sun at the beach without ever having left your house.

7. Rosie: White musk – sweet rose

My take: Absolutely perfect for everyday. I don’t smell much rose/floral hints at all. Clean and light. I absolutely LOVE it! 

And the winner is…

If I were hard-pressed to choose which scents I like better, I would say the ones from by/Rosie Jane won me over. They also seem to last a bit longer as well. That being said, I’m not sure that they are as non-toxic as the scents from Henry Rose, as Henry Rose claims to omit every known carcinogen and hormone disruptor. Ultimately, it’s up to you, but I hope this post at least inspires you to move beyond the chemical laden scents sold in most stores and move toward something more human-friendly.

Enjoy!