Aside from clear red flags like red, itchy skin, concerns about the long-term safety of fragrances sprayed on skin—and later absorbed by the bloodstream—are leading many to avoid the ingredients altogether. Fragrance-Free and Unscented: DecodedUnfortunately, skipping scent is easier said than done. In some cases, products labeled “unscented” contain fragrance not to create scent, but to mask a strong odor in the formula, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. “Fragrance-free,” on the other hand, can mean that no extra fragrances were added to change the product’s naturally occurring aroma, although fragrant (and potentially irritating, but otherwise safe) ingredients might well be in the original formula. Some especially sneaky brands stretch the definition even further: “I’ve seen companies who said their products were fragrance-free, and then listed fragrance components like linalool, citronellol, and citral on the label separately,” says New Jersey-based cosmetic chemist Ni’Kita Wilson. And, finally, some products sporting the fragrance-free labels really do contain no fragrance whatsoever. How To Tell What’s Really In Your ProductsHow can you tell if a product has potentially irritating fragrances? After checking the label for “fragrance,” where the specific compounds used are guarded by trade secret laws, remember these two rules:
Give it a sniff. If it smells like strawberries, coconuts, or any other perfume-like scent, you don’t need a label to tell you it has fragrance in it—drop it. If you can’t smell a thing, put it to the final test.Check the label for sneaky fragrances. According to the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, the following 26 fragrance chemicals are the ones you need to screen the label for. If the product in question is free of all 26, it’s earned a place in your medicine cabinet. Too complicated? Download these two free beauty apps that read the label for you.
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