All 12 fabric fragrance beads found to contain allergenic fragrances: Consumer Council

The Consumer Council released its monthly magazine CHOICE today (Nov. 15), revealing the results of a test on 12 types of fabric fragrance beads available in the market. All samples were found to contain various types and concentrations of fragrance allergens.

Notably, the Member's Mark brand by Sam's Club was found to contain a total of eight types of allergens. Additionally, four brands, including DoDoMe and ar FÜM, were found to contain synthetic musk compounds, which are not easily biodegradable and may have long-term detrimental effects on marine ecology.

The Consumer Council tested 12 types of fabric fragrance beads priced between HK$38 and HK$179, with six of them labeled as having fabric-softening properties. For a laundry load of 6 kg or more, the suggested usage according to product labels, or one capful per use, costs from HK$3 to HK$21 per use. Assuming usage four times a week, annual spending could range from HK$621 to HK$4,358.

According to a report by the American Contact Dermatitis Society, fabric care products are a significant cause of allergic contact dermatitis. The test results showed that all 12 fabric fragrance bead samples contain fragrance allergens, with total concentrations ranging from 0.0023% to 0.672%.

Furthermore, samples with beads of different colors generally had a wider variety of detected allergens; two-colored samples averaged six types, while single-colored samples averaged nearly four types.

The Consumer Council noted that musk is not easily biodegradable and is highly toxic to marine life. Continuous increases in its discharge could pose risks to marine ecology. Various countries have already widely detected synthetic musk compounds in wastewater, making the environmental impact of products containing these compounds a serious concern.

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