We stop to consider a number of things in our lives against their eco-friendliness. We have eco-friendly energy suppliers, organic foods, eco-friendly and non-profit mobile phone networks, but have you ever considered how eco-friendly is your purchase of a discount perfume?

When buying any cosmetic items do we ever consider this? Not really, I hear you answer with slight guilt. But should we consider it at all? Let’s break our purchase into all the different processes the item goes through from manufacture to arrival on our doorstep and whether there is any alternative.

In manufacture we have to consider several issues. Packaging – glass bottle most likely and then a paper box. Most Glass can be recycled so we are ok there. Paper packaging – which you are most likely going to throw away (especially the shiny ones impossible to recycle) are a bit of a throwback straight off. Not many know perfume houses pride themselves for using recycled packaging.

The actual liquid inside is created in a fairly long process which is mostly industrialized; the oils containing the fragrance are extracted (solvents) or steam distilled based on the ingredient.

Journey from manufacture to supplier/shop: Here you have shipping bulk deliveries either by air or by road. Packaging is also involved, but most manufacturers are aware of using recycled packaging. Both delivery options require the use of fuel, which as we all know, is not the friendliest factor to the environment. As the manufacturers often ship internationally, the items have to cover longer distances and therefore are more of a danger to the environment. However, the world we live in at the moment, it is not as easy as cutting the middleman and therefore decrease the environmental effects.

Ordering online and delivery to your door: The same applies here in terms of delivery impact on nature. Most retailers are aware of recycling their packaging rather than creating unnecessary waist. Also, most retailers post the items using local or national couriers so your discount perfume will be delivered to your door in a car rather than having to be flown by a plane.

Then again, is it not the same as jumping in your own car and driving to your local shopping centre to pick up a bottle of your favourite perfume?

In conclusion, shopping for fragrance online is no more or less harming than shopping online for anything else.