Unscented vs. Fragrance Free: What’s The Difference
When did we decide that clean should have a smell? It’s shocking how many people still don’t realize how toxic fragrance can be and the multitude of chemicals that can hide behind that one word. However, clean or fresh-smelling products win customers over and over again because scent is a sort of sorcery.
If you’re reading this post, then you’re probably nodding in emphatic agreement, but did you know that there’s a difference between products labeled as unscented and those labeled fragrance free? Yep, the powers that be are sneaky like that.
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Unscented vs. Fragrance Free
In this post, I’m going to share about the differences between unscented and fragrance free products, so you can make a truly informed product decision for you and your family.
The next time you shop, you’ll know exactly how to spot hidden fragrances.
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What Does Unscented Mean?
An unscented product may not have a noticeable smell, but that’s no indication of it being free of masking agents. Unscented products can contain small amounts of chemicals or essential oils to hide any base ingredient smells from oils, waxes, or surfactants.
What Does Fragrance Free Mean?
Fragrance free means that a product contains no fragrance at all, not even masking agents. The only fragrance comes from the natural ingredients that are in the product.
Fragrance free skincare and personal care products are a better option for those with sensitive skin or allergies, they are not a panacea, because the naturally occurring scents of ingredients in the product could be problematic for those with sensitivities to fragrance or prone to severe allergic reactions.
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What Is The Difference Between Unscented And Fragrance Free?
Unscented products have no scent.
However, chemicals can be used to neutralize the odor of the product’s ingredients.
Fragrance-free products contain no added scent.
The ingredients in the product influence the smell of the product, so it’s possible that if lavender is used as a functional ingredient that the product could have a scent, even though it’s technically fragrance-free.
How To Know If A Product Is Fragrance Free
If you have a sensitivity or an allergy to a particular ingredient, it’s important to check a product’s ingredient list and packaging carefully, before deciding if it’s safe or not. For example, say you are allergic to citrus, you may assume that a product labeled as fragrance free is safe, but it may not be.
If a product is fragrance free, then citrus couldn’t be used to scent the product, but it doesn’t mean that citrus isn’t used in a different capacity in the product.
Check the ingredient list
Fragrance ingredients include: fragrance, perfume, parfum, aroma, or essential oils. However if you’re trying to avoid all scent, you may find an ingredient such as Benzyl alcohol which has a pleasant scent in a fragrance-free product, but as a preservative.
Look for labels or badges on the product
Most products will have explicit labeling on the front of the package that indicates whether a product is fragrance free or unscented. Be forewarned that a product may say “no perfume” but that doesn’t mean it’s fragrance-free, that just means it’s unscented and could still contain masking agents.
Look for certifications or logos
Has the product been certified by a third-party organization?
For example, if a product has the AllergyCertified or the National Eczema Association seal, then you know that the product is fragrance-free because this is one of their requirements for certification. If a product has the EWG Verified™ seal it can contain fragrance, even though the product meets the Environmental Working Group’s strictest standards for health and transparency.
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