A growing number of perfumiers are rounding on Brussels, claiming proposals to remove certain ingredients from fragrances could be “the death of perfume” by ruining the multi-billion pound industry.
EU bosses have suggested 100 new ingredients should be either banned or restricted, as they cause consumers allergies, reported Reuters.
However perfumiers argue removing components of these classic perfumes would destroy them completely.
The iconic scent may be threatened by the new regulations
Tree moss and oak moss, which provides the rich woody undertones of Chanel No 5 and Miss Dior, are on the list of possible ingredients to be banned.
“Chanel No 5 never did harm to anyone,” Sylvie Journet of the French Perfumiers' Society told The Times
"It is the death of perfume if this continues. The more you use natural ingredients, the more there is a risk of allergies.
"Lemon, jasmine, bergamot all contain allergenics."
Perfumers have vowed to fight the regulations
The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) have advised the European Commission to restrict citral, found in lemon and tangerine oil, along with coumarin, found in tropical tonka beans, and eugenol, found in rose oil.
Francoise Montenay, the non-executive chairwoman of Chanel was outraged by the plan, telling Reuters: "It would be the end of beautiful perfumes if we could not use these ingredients."
The Commission is due to consult with consumer groups to find out how many people are affected by perfume allergies. It will then produce new regulations in 2014.