Fragrance-free, checked against the label.

Start here

• What we mean by fragrance-free

  The definition we check every product against, and why unscented is not the same.

• How to read an ingredient list

  Five minutes that make every other guide easier to use.

• Not sure where to begin?

  Answer two questions and get a shortlist to read about.

Latest research

• Ingredients & materials

  Are essential oils fragrance-free?

  We found no regulator or society statement that equates essential oils with fragrance. DermNet says perfume is formed from fragrant essential oils and that essential oils can cause allergic contact dermatitis. Our own rule: a product listing essential oils is not fragrance-free.

• Skin care

  Cerave vs Cetaphil

  On the maker lists we read (11 to 13 November 2026), the CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion and Hydrating Facial Cleanser and four Cetaphil lotion, cream and cleanser products show no fragrance-type entry. This compares documented lists and claims, not performance or skin results.

• Ingredients & materials

  The EU fragrance allergen list, explained

  The official text of Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 says 24 fragrance allergens are individually labelled today, that the SCCS identified 56 more, and that the new labelling duty applies above 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products. The older "26" comes from a 1999 committee opinion.

• Ingredients & materials

  Why "fragrance" hides ingredients: US labelling rules

  US regulations let cosmetic makers list fragrance ingredients simply as "Fragrance". The FDA page explains that the labelling law cannot be used to force companies to reveal trade secrets, and fragrance formulas are the components most likely to be treated as such.

• Ingredients & materials

  Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, explained

  Formaldehyde releasers are preservatives that give off formaldehyde, a known skin sensitiser. They are not fragrance ingredients, so fragrance-free does not mean releaser-free. A 2026 meta-analysis puts contact allergy to individual releasers at roughly 1.2% to 2.8% of dermatitis patients tested.

• Ingredients & materials

  Fragrance allergen names on ingredient labels

  This guide covers citronellol, geraniol, coumarin, eugenol, benzyl salicylate, hexyl cinnamal and benzyl alcohol. For each we give what PubChem and PubMed abstracts say, and where a source is missing we say so. We found no source for how any of them is spelled on a label.

All articles (archive)

Editor's pick

Read the full guide: Best fragrance-free body wash

Browse by concern

• Sensitive skin

  Products for skin that reacts to scented formulas

• Masking fragrance

  Unscented products that can still contain fragrance

• Babies and kids

  Fragrance-free choices for babies and children

• Essential oils

  Why essential oils count as fragrance

• Certifications and labels

  What seals and label claims do and do not tell you

Category hubs

• Baby

  Diapers, baby wash and nursery products

  3 guides

• Body & bath

  Body wash, soap, deodorant, hand care and sanitary products

  7 guides

• Cleaning

  Dish, home and surface cleaning

  4 guides

• Hair

  Shampoo, conditioner and styling

  2 guides

• Laundry

  Detergent, softener and dryer sheets

  6 guides

• Skin care

  Moisturizers, cleansers, face and hand care

  23 guides

• Sun & makeup

  Sunscreen, makeup and lip care

  2 guides

• Guides & situations

  Start-here guides and situation guides

  9 guides

• Ingredients & materials

  Plain-language explainers for ingredients, metals and materials

  23 guides

The Label Shelf

Products selected from label, certification and published-specification data. Not hands-on tested. See all 111.

• All Free Clear for Sensitive Skin Liquid Laundry Detergent

  All ·

• Almay All-Day Intense Gel Eyeliner

  Almay · $

• Almay Color & Care Lip Oil in Stick

  Almay · $

• Almay Eyeliner Pencil

  Almay · $

• Almay Intense Liquid Liner

  Almay ·

• Almay Lip Vibes Lipstick

  Almay · $

• Almay Thickening & Tint Mascara

  Almay ·

• Aquaphor Aquaphor Lip Repair

  Aquaphor · $