Glossier You is the brand’s most popular perfume, and it’s described as “the ultimate personal fragrance.” Glossier claims that the perfume smells “perfectly different on everyone” and that it has notes of sparkling pink pepper and fresh iris.
But does Glossier’s perfume contain ingredients that may be harmful to human health? Are there natural alternatives to commercial fragrances that may be healthier? Is Glossier You healthier or less healthy than other popular perfume brands like Juliette Has A Gun?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Glossier You to give our take on whether or not the product is healthy.
We'll also feature a video showing how to make a healthier perfume at home, and compare the healthiness of Glossier You to other popular perfume brands.
Key takeaways:
- Fragrance is harmful to human health
- Brand website has best price
- Possible to make healthier and cheaper perfume at home
Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in Glossier You are shown above.
Farnesol is a plant-derived fragrance compound found in peaches and chamomile that may actually have health benefits.
A medical review published in the Molecules journal found that farnesol had “therapeutic effects” against cancers and inflammatory disorders, although these effects haven’t necessarily been proven when the compound is applied to skin like in a perfume.
A 2021 clinical trial suggested that farnesol may be effective against acne when applied topically, which is a potential secondary benefit of this perfume.
While this naturally-derived ingredient may have health benefits, there are a few ingredients in Glossier You that we consider questionable from a health perspective.
Fragrance, which is unsurprisingly one of the most common ingredients in perfumes, is a broad categorical term that fails to describe the specific fragrance compounds used.
As we documented in our review of another cosmetic product containing this ingredient called Carotone Cream, fragranced consumer products may be harmful to human health and to the environment according to clinical studies.
Hydroxycitronellal and limonene are additional fragrance ingredients, the former of which is described as a “dermatologic irritant and allergen” by PubChem.
Based on the ingredients highlighted above, we don’t recommend Glossier You from a health perspective.
Can You Make a Healthier Perfume at Home?
A YouTube creator named “WholeElise” has a video on making natural perfume using essential oils that has over 700,000 views:
Glossier You vs. Popular Perfume Brands
Here's how Glossier You compares to other popular perfume brands in terms of healthiness, in our opinion:
Juliette Has A Gun
"Not a perfume" by Juliette Has A Gun has a simpler ingredient list than Glossier You: just alcohol, perfume and water.
The lack of additional fragrance ingredients gives it a slight edge from a health perspective.
Winner: Juliette Has A Gun
Bath & Body Works
This famous personal care products brand has a large number of perfumes, many of which have additional ingredients beyond fragrance that we consider unhealthy.
We generally recommend avoiding this brand due to these inactive ingredients, as we discussed in our is Bath and Body Works bad for you article.
Winner: Glossier You
Escentric Molecules
The popular "Molecule 01" has the exact same formulation as Juliette Has A Gun (though the chemical compounds used in the fragrance likely vary).
We give it the health edge for the same reason described above.
Winner: Escenteric Molecules
Glossier You Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Contains a potentially health-promoting ingredient
- Most online customer reviews are favorable on the scent
- Aesthetic packaging
- Free shipping from brand’s website
- Inexpensive considering product category
Cons:
- Contains fragrance
- Contains potential skin irritants
- Brand doesn’t respond to all customer complaints
