All matter, and especially all the fragrant matter that finds its way into perfume bottles—from North Indian vetiver to the finest Provençal lavender to synthetic oudh to Ambroxan—exists somewhere along a spectrum of cosmic, “natural” transformation and so-called “synthetic” human creation. But to insist upon a categorical distinction is false.

Mother Nature may grow and breed roses on her own, but she never does so in parallel rows as far as the eye can see. Likewise, she never plucks their petals for the sole purpose of boiling them to extract their fragrant oil. Even if the roses in question were organically farmed, surely much of their life process, as well as their afterlife, is entirely synthetic.

Likewise while Michelle Pfeiffer and Gwyneth Paltrow are iconic actresses, as perfume saleswomen, each has built a wellness empire selling fear about “chemicals” and “toxins.” They and countless other fragrance brandrunners who hawk “clean” perfumes and other “non-toxic” wares would prefer you never learn the realities outlined above because fear sells, misinformation sells more and faster, by the time the majority realize you’re scamming them, your company has already been sold off to the highest bidder, and right now, they’ve got products (including candles that smell like their own meow!) for you to buy. It’s more profitable to lie to you. You are worth more as a customer when you are misguided and confused.