Save Oakmoss (and perfumery in general)

If you love perfume, please take a few minutes to read this comprehensive article concerning the proposed oakmoss ban. I've heard many people take the position that the ban will not seriously harm perfumery because there is a synthetic oakmoss substitute available. According to the esteemed noses who were quoted, that's bunk. Furthermore, the article suggests that the EU commission won't be content with merely banning oakmoss and has contemplated restrictions on rose essence and lavender components as well.

We were originally under the impression that the ban was a fait accompli. However, the article notes that the EU commission responsible for evaluating the oakmoss "problem" has been reshuffled, thereby delaying the decision. While there's still time to act, please sign and share the petition opposing the oakmoss ban. Many thanks to all of you who have already done so.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/features/will-a-ban-on-oakmoss-kill-the-french-perfume-industry-9868986.html

Petition:

http://www.parfumo.com/petition/

Cryptic 11 years ago

Good point about the average perfume buyer. Assuming they're even aware of it I don't think members of the general perfume public are terribly concerned with the oakmoss measure because chypres aren't the thing these days, being too beautiful for this world, IMHO. What they fail to realize is that the Lyral ban will cause a lot of grief if passed. Lily of the Valley can't be extracted or tinctured so the only way to recreate the smell is with synthetics, and there aren't a lot of realistic ones available. Lyral is part of many popular favorites and there will be reformulations aplenty if it's banned.

Dulcemio 11 years ago

We can only hope. If only the average fragrance consumer cared as much as we do, then they'd have more motivation to present a more united front. As you once pointed out, if these bans go into effect, we might see the epicenter of fine perfumery shift to the US!

Cryptic 11 years ago

Dulce, I wish the perfume industry would fight fire with fire and hire a few of those dirty lobbyists in order to level the playing field a bit. Thanks for your comments, ladies.

Dulcemio 11 years ago

Oy, the word "lobbyist" made my blood boil! Someone is on the take. And BTW, eczema comes from the inside out and can be fixed with diet modifications and a whole body approach. More importantly, people with skin sensitivities KNOW they're sensitive and should just abstain. What#s wrong with just labeling the offending frags as such, like they label food containing peanuts, and the skin-sensitive among us can simply avoid them? The fact this sensible approach won't be taken just proves to me the dirty lobbyists have done their job and lawmakers are on the take. Greed, ugly greed.

ScentFan 11 years ago

It's hard to comprehend that such a fundamentally wrong thing may become law. The manufacturers of synthetics are rejoicing.

Save Oakmoss (and perfumery in general)

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