Early puberty is not just a psychological bump in the road. Yes, it can be an isolating event for a child, but it also poses real health risks. We’re seeing an increased risk of cancer and cardiovascular issues among kids who go through puberty early.

So what’s causing this in the first place and what can we do to protect our children? Well, scientists think they’ve found one chemical constituent that triggers a girl’s body into going into early puberty. The ingredient in question? Musk Ambrette.

So today, we’re going to talk all about Musk Ambrette – what it is, where it’s found, and how you can spot this ingredient in your products. This episode highlights another reason I’m adamant about avoiding synthetic fragrances. If you haven’t listened to episode 2 (how synthetic fragrances have hijacked our hormones) or episode 58 (on botanical alternatives to synthetic musk), those episodes are good additions to your understanding!

In today’s episode, we’re chatting about:

• The Study on Early Puberty and Musk Ambrette
• Understanding Synthetic Fragrance and Its Risks
• Regulatory Challenges in the US
• Practical Tips for Avoiding This Chemical

What is Musk Ambrette?

Musk ambrette is a synthetic chemical created to replace animal-based musk in perfumes and colognes. It used to use secretions from the glands of animals like musk deer, and that is expensive and problematic, and people find it unethical. 

To get away from that, synthetic musks were created. You can make a plant-based musk. There are ambrose seeds that come from a hibiscus flower that’s grown in South America, Indonesia, and India, so high-quality perfumers use plant-based musk. It is super expensive so it’s a lot cheaper to use synthetic musks. Synthetic musks have been used for decades, but companies in the European Union, Canada, and Japan banned them decades ago because of their toxicity. It’s linked to all kinds of neurotoxic issues, not just early-onset puberty. 

You won’t find synthetic musks in personal care products in other countries, but it is a concern in the United States, especially in these products:

• Perfume
• Cologne
• Air freshener
• Cleaning products
• Body wash
• Shampoo

The Problem With Musk Ambrette

This has been all over the news and social media this week. People are claiming to know what causes early puberty in kids. 

I want to caution that that’s actually not what the study said. It didn’t say we know that this is what causes early puberty. What they did say, and what was so groundbreaking about the science, is they found a direct mechanistic connection between synthetic musk ambrette and triggering hormone production that is responsible for puberty. It’s not groundbreaking that musk ambrette is a hormone disruptor. 

It’s been banned since the 1990s in the European Union and Canada bans it in their cosmetics. It’s highly toxic. The fact that this ingredient is problematic and impacts hormones is not a surprise. We’ve known that for decades, but what is new in this research is they were actually able to show that musk ambrette can attach itself to receptors in the brain linked to puberty and trigger the release of the hormones that are responsible for sexual maturation (estrogen and testosterone). They found it could accelerate the onset of puberty in both girls and boys. This study was conducted by somebody who works in the regulatory world, which I love.

Avoiding Synthetic Fragrance

Here’s the kicker about musk ambrette – you can’t read it on a label. The word ‘fragrance’ is there and that’s it. I’ve talked about this a lot – there’s the potential for over 3,000 different ingredients to be included in the word ‘fragrance’ on a product label. Musk ambrette is one of those hidden ingredients. This is why you just avoid synthetic fragrances completely. Anything that just says fragrance on a label but doesn’t explain what it is or produces every single ingredient has a risk of musk ambrette. 

I don’t think parents realize the health impacts of early puberty. We see increases in cancer and cardiovascular issues. There’s the psychological and emotional impact of early puberty. It causes long-term health issues. 

So how can you protect your kids from early puberty? Avoid synthetic fragrances completely in everything.

I know even that simple statement can feel overwhelming. Check out my Toxin Free Shopping Guide to explore the products I’ve personally vetted. You’ll have the confidence to know those products are clean and safe.

If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please:

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Related Episodes:

Episode 2: The Fragrance Dilemma: How an Entire Industry Hijacked Your Hormones

Episode 44: Safe Synthetics in Perfume vs. Natural Scents: Cracking the Fragrance Code, Part 1

Episode 58: Leaving the Toxins Behind: From Big Fragrance to Botanical Fragrance w/ Seda & Amanda of ESAS Beauty