Heidi Norton
The terms fragrance-free, unscented, no fragrance added, and no scent added are often used interchangeably by cosmetic companies, but they can have different meanings. Fragrance-free products do not contain any fragrance chemicals, whether natural or synthetic, that are added with the specific purpose of giving a product an aroma. However, a product can be fragrance-free and still have a scent if its ingredients naturally have a smell. Unscented products, on the other hand, may have had their scent masked or may not have had any scent added, whether synthetic or natural.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | No additional (synthetic) fragrance has been added to the product. |
| Natural Ingredients | Products with natural ingredients may have a scent but are still considered "no fragrance added" if no extra fragrance chemicals are added. |
| FDA Regulation | The FDA treats shampoos, lotions, and moisturizers as cosmetics rather than medicines, so these products are not strongly regulated. |
| Phthalates | Phthalates are harmful chemicals that companies add to cosmetics. The FDA does not require premarket approval for cosmetic products and ingredients, except for color additives. |
| Labeling | Companies may use the term "no fragrance added" loosely, and products labeled as such may still contain fragrance chemicals. |
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What You'll Learn
'No fragrance added' does not mean a product has no scent
The terms "unscented" and "fragrance-free" are often used interchangeably, but they mean different things. Unscented products are formulated to have no smell, but they can contain ingredients that have a smell that has been neutralized by other components. In other words, "unscented" products often contain chemicals that eliminate odors. For example, if a product is formulated with lavender, but some chemical is added to mask the smell, the product can be labeled as "unscented".
On the other hand, "fragrance-free" means that no fragrance has been added to a product. However, a "fragrance-free" product can still contain ingredients that have a scent, as long as they are not added to impart a smell. For example, if a cream is made with an oil that has a smell, it could still be labeled as "fragrance-free" because the purpose of the oil is to act as an emollient, not to impart a scent.
It's important to understand the difference between these terms, especially if you have allergies or sensitivities to certain fragrances. For example, someone who is allergic to lavender may still be allergic to a product in which the lavender scent is masked, but they may not realize that the allergen is present because of the "unscented" designation.
Additionally, it's worth noting that even products labeled as "fragrance-free" may still contain fragrance compounds due to a lack of strict regulation. The FDA treats shampoos, lotions, and moisturizers as cosmetics rather than medicines, resulting in less stringent regulation of these products.
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Fragrance-free products may still contain fragrance chemicals
The term "fragrance-free" is often used to describe products that do not contain any fragrance chemicals. However, it is important to note that this term is not always used accurately and consistently. In theory, "fragrance-free" means that no chemicals have been added to a product with the specific purpose of giving it an aroma, even if that aroma is a neutral one. Still, some cosmetic companies use the term loosely, and it is not strongly regulated.
One study examined 174 best-selling moisturizers from popular retailers and found that 45% of the products labeled "fragrance-free" contained fragrance chemicals. This discrepancy can be attributed to the fact that many ingredients used in skincare and cosmetic products have their own natural aromas, and these products can still be labeled as "fragrance-free" as long as no additional fragrance chemicals have been added. For example, natural ingredients like aloe vera have their own unique scent, so products containing aloe vera can be fragrance-free while still having a noticeable scent.
The lack of consistent standards and definitions for the term "fragrance-free" contributes to the confusion. Currently, there are no federal regulations governing the use of this term, and it is left to the discretion of companies to decide what it means. This situation can be challenging for consumers, especially those with fragrance sensitivities, who rely on accurate labeling to make informed choices.
To address this issue, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed the Safer Choice label, which includes a "fragrance-free" certification for products entirely free of any fragrance materials. However, even with this certification, the EPA acknowledges that products may still have a scent due to the natural odors of certain ingredients and solvents. Therefore, it is essential for consumers to understand that fragrance-free products may still contain fragrance chemicals, and they should carefully review product labels and choose reputable brands to make informed decisions about their purchases.
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Unscented products may have been synthetically 'de-scented'
While )"fragrance-free" products are not supposed to contain any fragrance chemicals, they may still have a scent if the ingredients used have a natural aroma. For example, products containing aloe vera can be fragrance-free, assuming no extra fragrance chemicals are added, and still have a noticeable pleasant scent.
On the other hand, "unscented" products are formulated to have no smell but can contain ingredients that have a smell that has been neutralized by other components. In other words, unscented products may have been synthetically de-scented. These products often contain chemicals that eliminate odors, making them "odor-masking". For example, if a product is formulated with lavender, but some chemical is added to mask the smell, the product can be labeled as "unscented".
The distinction between the two terms is important because someone who is allergic to a certain ingredient, such as lavender, can still be allergic to a product in which the smell is masked, but they may not realize that the allergen is present because of the "unscented" designation.
It is worth noting that there is no exact definition for "fragrance-free" or "unscented", and the terms can be used loosely by cosmetic companies. Therefore, it is important to carefully review the ingredients of a product to determine if it is truly fragrance-free or unscented.
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No scent products are made with ingredients that don't emit a smell
The terms "fragrance-free" and "unscented" are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Fragrance-free products are those that do not contain any fragrance ingredients, whether synthetic or natural. In theory, this means that no chemicals have been added with the specific purpose of giving a product an aroma, even if that aroma is a neutral one. However, some companies use the term "fragrance-free" loosely, and their products may still contain fragrance chemicals. This is because there are no Federal standards or definitions that govern the use of these terms, and the FDA treats shampoos, lotions, and moisturizers as cosmetics rather than medicines, resulting in less stringent regulation.
Unscented products, on the other hand, are formulated to have no smell but can contain ingredients that have a smell that has been neutralized by other components. For example, if a product is formulated with lavender, but some chemical is added to mask the smell, it can be labeled as "unscented." This distinction is important because someone who is allergic to lavender, for instance, may still be allergic to a product in which the smell is masked but may not realize that the allergen is present because of the "unscented" designation.
It is important to note that even fragrance-free products may have a scent. This is because all ingredients in skincare products have a natural smell, and it is entirely possible for a fragrance-free item to have a scent if its ingredients naturally have a pleasing aroma. For example, aloe vera is a natural skincare ingredient with a unique aroma, so products containing aloe vera can be fragrance-free (assuming no extra fragrance chemicals are added) and still have a noticeable pleasant scent.
Some people experience allergy-like reactions after coming into contact with fragrance ingredients, leading to an increase in companies offering fragrance-free products. Adults and children with eczema should also avoid using fragranced skincare products as they can cause flares. Additionally, over 50% of the general population prefers workplaces, healthcare facilities, hotels, and airplanes to be fragrance-free.
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No fragrance added products may contain natural scents
The terms "fragrance-free" and "unscented" are often used interchangeably, but they mean different things. A product labelled as "fragrance-free" should not contain any added fragrance chemicals, although it may still have a scent if its ingredients have a natural odour. For example, a product containing aloe vera can be labelled as fragrance-free, assuming no extra fragrance chemicals are added, because the scent comes naturally from the plant.
On the other hand, "unscented" products are formulated to have no smell. However, they may contain ingredients with a smell that has been neutralised by other components. For example, if a product is formulated with lavender, but a chemical is added to mask the smell, it can be labelled as "unscented".
The lack of standard definitions for these terms can cause confusion for consumers. A study of 174 best-selling moisturizers from Amazon, Target, and Walmart found that 45% of the products labelled "fragrance-free" contained fragrance chemicals. This is because the FDA treats shampoos, lotions, and moisturisers as cosmetics rather than medicines, so they are not strongly regulated.
Fragrances in consumer products can be made up of hundreds of natural and synthetic components, and these individual compounds do not have to be listed by name on labels. Some compounds can cause adverse reactions in people, especially those with respiratory problems, and they can also react with compounds in the air to generate secondary pollutants. For example, limonene and pinene, which are used to impart lemony or pine odours to cleaning agents or air fresheners, can react with indoor ozone to produce formaldehyde, glycol ethers, or hydroxyl radicals, which are all irritants.
Therefore, it is important to understand the difference between "fragrance-free" and "unscented" products, especially if you have allergies or respiratory problems.
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Frequently asked questions
Fragrance-free means that no chemicals have been added to a product with the purpose of giving it an aroma. However, some companies use the term loosely, and their products may still contain fragrance chemicals.
Unscented products may have been synthetically "de-scented", meaning the smell has been masked, or no synthetic or natural scent has been added. "Fragrance-free" products, on the other hand, may still have a scent if the ingredients used have a natural aroma.
Synthetic fragrances are added to mask the unpleasant odours of certain ingredients. However, synthetic scents can cause allergies, asthma, and irritations of the skin, lungs, and sinuses.
Synthetic fragrances include phthalates, solvents, and other potentially harmful ingredients.
