Baby Cologne: Not All It's Cracked Up To Be

August 08, 2014 • Baby Cologne • Healthy Living • Johnson & Johnson • JOHNSON’S® Baby Cologne • Organic Living • Think Dirty • Think Dirty App

Have you ever smelled a baby? Fresh, clean, and pure, their aroma is simply delicious. Not only is a baby’s natural scent yummy enough to eat, it is also chemically and physically beneficial to the mother and child. A study from University of Montreal indicates that mothers feel a stronger connection to their babies when they can smell their child’s natural scent, as it activates the mother’s neurological reward circuit and creates ‘feel-good’ dopamine hormones. Awesome… right?

It seems like Johnson & Johnson doesn’t feel this way. Despite all the beneficial rewards of a baby’s natural odour, the ‘family friendly’ company has created a baby perfume to eliminate and replace this scent with their own synthetic fragrance. For reference, here is the full list of ingredients:

Water, Polysorbate 20, Trideceth-9, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Fragrance, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Propylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Simethicone, Ext. Violet 2, Blue 1.

The Think Dirty team was originally tipped off to JOHNSON’S® Baby Cologne by a concerned user who wanted to know more about the product. When examined in the Think Dirty app, the cologne ranked 10 out of 10 on the apps’ Dirty Meter – the highest ‘dirty’ rating. Despite being alcohol-free, toxic chemicals still exist in the product. One of the most notable ingredients in the formula is PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, a petroleum-based compound that is commonly contaminated with carcinogens (see: ethylene oxide) in the manufacturing process. Why would anyone risk putting possible carcinogens on their newborn child?

As stated on the Today Show, pediatrician Dr. Jay Gordon says: “Babies … should not wear fragrance [as] there are chemicals and toxins … in these products that can cause children to have respiratory reactions.” But the trend is still catching on, as Dolce & Gabbana, Bulgari, and Burberry all have their own designer baby perfume as well. Who knows – maybe in the future we will have perfumes designed to hide the natural smell of flowers. But for now, keep your babies away from these so-called ‘safe’ perfumes and use fragrance-free products instead. If you are still on the lookout for cleaner alternatives to Johnson & Johnson, the following three unscented lotions are perfect for you and your family: