Hugo Boss Bottled Eau de Toilette
At a glance
Summary
Hugo Boss Bottled Eau de Toilette scores 9/100. A men's woody-spicy designer fragrance from Coty. Critical issues: (1) declares Hexamethylindanopyran (Galaxolide) at ~9% concentration per the brand's own MSDS — one of the highest disclosed levels of any polycyclic synthetic musk in a mass-market fragrance. Galaxolide is a confirmed endocrine disruptor that bioaccumulates in human fat, breast milk, umbilical-cord blood, and surface waters globally; classified PBT (persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic) by ECHA; added to the EU 26 allergen list in 2023; (2) Acetyl Cedrene at ~4.4% — classified as a Category 1B skin sensitizer (H317) and very toxic to aquatic life (H410) on its safety data sheet; (3) eight IFRA / EU-declared dermal sensitizers including cinnamal — one of the strongest EU 26 sensitizers — plus eugenol; (4) two coal-tar synthetic dyes (Blue 1, Yellow 5) for the bottle. Among the worst men's designer formulas reviewed.
Key ingredients 16
Parfum (Fragrance)Very Bad
Trade-secret blanket term that legally conceals dozens to hundreds of individual aromachemicals. Designer fragrance blends almost always contain synthetic polycyclic musks (Galaxolide, Tonalide) — endocrine disruptors that bioaccumulate in human fat tissue, breast milk, and wastewater — alongside Ambroxan, Iso E Super, and historically DEP phthalate solvents. No disclosure obligation in the US.
See more about Parfum (Fragrance) →Hexamethylindanopyran (Galaxolide)Very Bad
Polycyclic synthetic musk on the EU 26 allergen list (as of 2023 update). Confirmed endocrine disruptor: anti-estrogenic in cell assays, bioaccumulates in human fat tissue, breast milk, and umbilical-cord blood. Persistent environmental pollutant detected in surface water and wildlife globally. EPA and ECHA have flagged it as PBT (persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic).
See more about Hexamethylindanopyran (Galaxolide) →CinnamalVery Bad
EU 26 fragrance allergen — one of the strongest dermal sensitizers in the IFRA standards. IFRA imposes strict use-level caps in leave-on products precisely because cinnamaldehyde causes high rates of contact dermatitis.
See more about Cinnamal →Acetyl CedreneBad
Synthetic woody-amber aromachemical used at high (~4%) concentration in this formula per supplier data. Classified as hazardous to aquatic life (H410, very toxic with long-lasting effects) and a Category 1B skin sensitizer (H317) on its safety data sheet.
See more about Acetyl Cedrene →Benzyl BenzoateBad
IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen and known dermal sensitizer; SCCS has flagged repeated leave-on exposure as a concern.
See more about Benzyl Benzoate →CitralBad
IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen with strong sensitizing potential — IFRA restricts maximum use levels in leave-on products specifically because of its high contact-allergy rate.
See more about Citral →CoumarinBad
IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen. Category 2 skin sensitizer; the EU SCCS has flagged it for cumulative exposure risk across multiple fragranced products.
See more about Coumarin →EugenolBad
IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen. Clove-derived; documented strong dermal sensitizer with IFRA-restricted use levels in leave-on products.
See more about Eugenol →GeraniolBad
IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen with rose-like odor. Documented skin sensitizer; oxidation products are even more reactive.
See more about Geraniol →LimoneneBad
IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen. Oxidizes on skin and in the bottle into stronger sensitizers; one of the top causes of fragrance contact dermatitis. Required label disclosure means it is present above 0.001% in this leave-on product.
See more about Limonene →LinaloolBad
IFRA / EU-declared fragrance allergen. Air-oxidized linalool hydroperoxides are confirmed contact sensitizers — exposure is high in spray-on fragrance.
See more about Linalool →CI 42090 (FD&C Blue 1)Bad
Coal-tar triphenylmethane dye added for bottle color. Documented dermal absorption in topical use; aesthetic-only addition with no consumer benefit.
See more about CI 42090 (FD&C Blue 1) →CI 19140 (FD&C Yellow 5)Bad
Coal-tar azo dye (Tartrazine) added for bottle color. Frequent contact-sensitizer in topical products; aesthetic-only addition. FDA-banned in foods in California (2024) for behavioral effects.
See more about CI 19140 (FD&C Yellow 5) →AlcoholNeutral
Ethanol-based solvent carrier (~80% of formula). Drying to skin but otherwise inert.
See more about Alcohol →Aqua (Water)Neutral
Solvent; safe.
See more about Aqua (Water) →Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol) CitrateGood
Cleaner light-stabilizer / antioxidant (Tinogard Q) used to slow oxidation of fragrance dyes and aromachemicals. Generally well-tolerated and considered a safer alternative to BHT.
See more about Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol) Citrate →Get the full breakdown in the Scout appTake Scout shopping
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