The EcoWaste Coalition has issued a public warning ahead of Father’s Day, urging consumers to avoid giving perfumes and other personal care products that may contain butylphenyl methylpropional (BMHCA), a synthetic fragrance ingredient banned in several jurisdictions due to health concerns.
The group appealed to families—particularly wives, daughters, and sons—to be cautious in choosing gifts for fathers and father figures, noting that some perfumes in the market may still contain the substance despite regulatory bans.
BMHCA, also known as p-BMHCA, lilial, lily aldehyde, lysmeral, or 2-(4-tert-butylbenzyl) propionaldehyde, is prohibited under the European Union’s Cosmetic Products Regulation and the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive. The ban has been in effect in the EU since 2022, while ASEAN’s prohibition took effect in 2024 through FDA Circular No. 2023-007.
Despite these restrictions, EcoWaste Coalition said monitoring efforts continue to detect the presence of BMHCA in some commercially available perfume products, particularly imitation or “copycat” versions of well-known brands.
A sampling conducted in February 2025 reportedly identified 35 perfume products priced between ₱75 and ₱300 that contained the banned chemical. A follow-up check on June 19 found similar products still being sold in Binondo, Manila.
The products cited included imitation fragrances bearing names associated with brands such as Bulgari, Calvin Klein, Chanel, Clinique, Davidoff, Escada, Eternity, Lacoste, Salvatore Ferragamo, Versace, among others.
According to the European Union classification, BMHCA is considered a “reproductive toxicant,” which may affect fertility and reproductive health in both men and women. Exposure can occur through skin absorption and inhalation.
The EU has warned that the substance may pose risks to reproductive health and fetal development, with pregnant women, women of childbearing age, and couples planning pregnancy identified as particularly vulnerable groups.
EcoWaste Coalition also noted that BMHCA may be present in other grooming products marketed for men, including deodorants, facial washes, hair care products, and skin tonics.
The group advised consumers to carefully check product labels, prioritize FDA-authorized items, and avoid products listing BMHCA as an ingredient. It also cautioned that the substance may be hidden under the generic term “fragrance.”
Consumers were likewise urged to avoid counterfeit or imitation products, with warning signs including unusually low prices, poor packaging, incomplete labeling, and spelling or grammatical errors.