WHAT DOES "FRAGRANCE-FREE" MEAN?

"Fragrance-free". You see it on more and more skincare products. But what does it actually mean – and why does it matter?

At a time when skincare is expected to be effective, sensorial and "clean", it has become increasingly important to understand what we're actually putting on our skin. 

When a product is fragrance-free, it means that no perfume or essential oils have been added for the purpose of creating a scent.

On the ingredient list (INCI) you therefore won't find:

• Perfume
• Fragrance
• Essential oils (eg. lavender oil or citrus oil)
• Fragrance allergens such as limonene, linalool, geraniol (unless they occur naturally in very small amounts)

The product may still have a mild natural scent from its raw ingredients, plant oils, ferments or active ingredients. The difference lies in the intention: no fragrance has been added simply to make the product smell a certain way.

Why should we avoid fragrance?

Fragrance is one of the most common causes of contact allergy in skincare. And this applies to both synthetic fragrance and natural essential oils.

"Natural" does not necessarily mean skin-friendly.

The skin barrier and the skin's microbiome work closely together as part of a complex, living ecosystem. This means the skin can be sensitive to what we apply to it.

You might be thinking, "I'm not allergic to fragrance". But even though many people tolerate fragrance well, it isn't an ingredient the skin actually needs. 

Contact allergy can also develop over time. 
What you tolerate today isn't necessarily what you'll tolerate 5 or 10 years from now.

Just because something is "fragrance-free" doesn't necessarily mean it's "gentle". 

It's important to remember that other ingredients can also make a product potent, agressive, or "too active".

For example, hight concentrations of acids, retinoids, preservatives or other bioactive ingredients can still irritate the skin.

Fragrance-free, gentle skincare may be especially beneficial for:

• Sensitive skin
• Rosacea
• Eczema
• Babies and children
• Pregnancy, as the skin can be more reactive

That said, I believe everyone can benefit from products without added fragrance.

My approach

My approach to skincare is much like my approach to nutrition. The skin should be nourished, strengthened, supported and treated well every day. No quick fixes :)

All of my products are made without unnecessary chemicals and, of course, without  added fragrance or essential oils.