Spicy, sweet and floral are all the scents promised by the original formula Be Delicious perfume by Donna Karen New York, or DKNY. Touted as having notes of apple, grapefruit, tuberose, muget, orchid, white lily, sandalwood, amber and more, this scent and product packaging, reminiscent of an apple, are rumored to have been inspired by New York City or "The Big Apple," the hometown of the fragrance's designer.
Synthetic Fragrances
The label for DKNY Be Delicious has a dubious listing of “DKNY Be Delicious Fragrance (Parfum).” The term fragrance can refer to a mixture of up to 4,000 different synthetic scents, as stated by “Cosmetics Unmasked.” DKNY touts the perfume as a mixture of apple, flowers and wood scents. Butylphenyl methylpropional, listed among the ingredients, is an aldehyde-based fragrance with a strong floral smell, according to “The Green Beauty Guide.” Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde is another aldehyde fragrance reminiscent of the Lily of the Valley flower. This chemical is also known under the trade name Lyral. Alpha-isomethyl ionone is a synthetic ingredient known for its wood-inspired, orris or violet-reminiscent tobacco-like scent, as outlined by The Good Scent Company's website. Though approved by the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, the ingredient was restricted by the International Fragrance Association. The material safety data sheet for alpha-isomethyl ionone states that the chemical may irritate the skin and eyes and may cause more lasting effects to the spleen, kidney, liver, thyroid and bone marrow.
Naturally Occurring Fragrances
Geraniol and citronellol are derivatives of roses and geraniums, and have a similar scent to their natural components. It is considered an organic chemical, found in nature, but is chemically modified from its original form. Linalool is another organic chemical derived from rosewood or cinnamon. It has a spicy floral smell. Hydroxycitronellal is found naturally among tangerines, limes and sandalwood, but as with geraniol and linalool, it has been altered from its original state for use in DKNY Be Delicious. Because it has immunotoxic effects, it was banned in fragrances manufactured in the European Union, according to “Cosmetics Unmasked.” Isoeugenol is a volatile fragrance oil synthesized from the spice nutmeg, as outlined in “A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients."
Other Ingredients
Denatured alcohol is the first ingredient listed for DKNY Be Delicious perfume. It is the substance that carries the fragrance, as stated by “Milady's Dictionary of Skin Care and Cosmetic Ingredients.” Alcohol evaporates quickly, leaving only the perfume behind. DNKY Be Delicious also contains purified water, adding to the consistency of the perfume product.
References
- "Cosmetics Unmasked: Your Family Guide to Safe Cosmetics and Allergy-Free Toiletries"; Stephen Antczak, Gina Antczak; 2001
- "The Green Beauty Guide: Your Essential Resource to Organic and Natural Skin Care, Hair Care, Makeup, and Fragrances"; Julie Gabriel; 2008
- "Milady's Skin Care and Cosmetic Ingredients Dictionary"; Natalia Michalun; 2009
- Bedoukian Research: alpha-isomethyl ionone MSDS
- "A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, 7th Edition"; Ruth Winter; 2009
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