Deodorants with essential oils that purify, sanitize or refresh our home would not be safe. This is what the magazine 60 Million consumers said in its latest issue published Thursday, May 24.

Twelve aerosols and sprays as well as five passive diffusers (impregnated sticks, pebbles ...) "representative of the market" were tested by the magazine. Many of these products would be harmful to health. In fact, they participate in indoor air pollution and expose the skin and respiratory tract to allergenic and irritating substances. And the statistics are worrying: a spray on two would be outweighed!

People with allergies or asthma are the most vulnerable to these products.

Up to 23 harmful ingredients in some products

Many potentially allergenic molecules are present in essential oils, such as limonene, geriatric or linalool. But their presence in these products is not always indicated on the packaging. Some sprays release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) sometimes too much, says the magazine.

In total, the latter has identified up to 23 potentially harmful ingredients in two of the products tested: Baccide, a purifying spray with essential oils, and Puressentiel, a spray with 41 essential oils.

At the end of this study, 60 million consumers demand mandatory double-labeling, "on the one hand to signal the presence of potentially allergenic substances - as is the case for cosmetics (...) Other on the other hand, to help identify the products that emit the least amount of VOC, just like the environmental labeling now in place for paints and decorative materials ".

The National Institute of Consumer Affairs has sent this request to the ministries concerned and to various consumer organizations.