Teens Protest A&F Perfume for Harmful Chemicals

The college fraternity-esqe clothing that appeals to the high school teen masses has met another legal pitfall. Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F), a brand synonymous with cool teens, has been reported to carry harmful ingredients in their male cologne, Fierce.

According to a study by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, A&F's leading perfume, Fierce "contains many hidden chemicals that post a health risk."

The report, published in May called "Not So Sexy: The Health Risks of Secret Chemicals in Fragrances," looked at 17 fragrances, including Fierce. The study found that 11 chemicals in the fragrance are not listed on the label due to protecting "trade secrets." However, eight of those 11 can trigger allergic reactions, such as wheezing, coughing, and headaches. The fragrance also contains a synthetic solvent called diethyl phthalate, which has been found to cause DNA damage in human sperm, male's sex hormones and genitalia. Ironic, considering the fragrance uses extremely sexual advertisement assuring patrons that its "warm musky subtleness … will naturally draw her curiosity because of its seductive nature."

Sounds like an expensive lawsuit to me.

The mega clothing corporation, with Hollister and Gilly Hicks also part of the conglomerate mix, has been a clothing staple on high school and college campuses for generations. The moose logo has been worn proudly on young adults' chests including my own during my heyday. But with influence comes a price.

Accused for supporting a racial hierarchy in their staff favoring Caucasians over Asian minorities, A&F paid a hefty $50 million settlement back in 2005. Then their quarterly catalog that featured teens in sexually explicit pictures to promote clothing (with no clothes on) was picketed and banned ferociously by concerned parents wondering why a clothing store sold sex manuals. Now, the corporation may be facing another lawsuit, this time over their signature scent.

Within a few feet from the entrance of any A&F store you will smell the heavy notes of citrus and musk. Employing a "fierce" marketing technique, employees are required to spray all the rooms and clothes of the store with the fragrance every 20 minutes so that patrons may automatically connect the Fierce scent to the brand.

Last week, about a dozen teens from the Teens Turning Green organization protested at the A&F branch in San Francisco's Westfield mall. They wore gas masks, carried picket signs and chanted, "Hey, hey, ho, ho, these toxic fumes have got to go."

The store called the police and was closed down momentarily, while the picketers continued to chant outside. A&F hasn't made any statements regarding the fragrance issue, but the retailer defended the safety of the fragrance on their Facebook page. As their signature cologne, the fragrance reportedly has brought in over $190 million in sales. Doesn't seem A&F will let their #1 fragrance go without a fight.

By Sharon J. Yi