Fragrance-Free vs Unscented: What's the Difference for Sensitive Skin?

If you've ever picked up an "unscented" product thinking it would be gentle on sensitive skin and then had a reaction anyway, you're not alone. "Unscented" and "fragrance-free" sound like the same thing. They aren't.

What "unscented" can mean

"Unscented" means the product doesn't have a noticeable smell. It doesn't promise that nothing was added to get there. Some manufacturers use masking ingredients to cover the natural smell of the raw materials, and those can still be fragrance ingredients.

What "fragrance-free" means

Fragrance-free means no fragrance ingredients were added. That includes perfumes, masking fragrances and essential oils used for scent. The product may still smell a little like its base oils or butters, because nothing is covering that smell up.

Why the difference matters if your skin is reactive

Fragrance ingredients are among the most common causes of skin reactions to personal care products. Two things make them hard to avoid:

• On many labels, a single word like "fragrance" or "parfum" can stand in for a whole blend of ingredients that the company doesn't have to list individually.
• Sensitivity can build over time. A product you tolerated for years can start to bother you.

If you have a known fragrance sensitivity, or you're working through skin issues with a dermatologist, ask them what's right for you.

Are essential oils a safer choice?

Not automatically. Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts, and many contain the same naturally occurring compounds that show up on fragrance allergen lists, like limonene and linalool. Lavender, citrus, tea tree and peppermint oils are all common examples. Citrus oils can also make skin more sensitive to sun.

For someone who reacts to fragrance, the source (lab or plant) often doesn't matter. This doesn't mean essential oils are a problem for everyone. Plenty of people enjoy and tolerate naturally scented products. But if you're trying to avoid fragrance completely, essential oils used for scent count.

More on this: Why Essential Oils Are Better Than Synthetic Fragrances in Cleaning Products

How to read a label

Front-of-package claims can be vague, so go to the ingredient list. Watch for these words:

• Fragrance, parfum, perfume, aroma
• Masking fragrance
• Essential oils listed by name, such as lavender oil, citrus oil, peppermint oil or eucalyptus oil

"Fragrance-free" and "no added fragrance" are the phrases to look for. If you see "unscented" with essential oils or "natural fragrance" in the ingredients, it isn't fragrance-free.

More on this: How to Read Product Labels Like You Actually Know What You're Doing

"Natural" doesn't settle it

Plenty of natural products are scented with a generous amount of essential oil. That's a fine choice for some people and a poor one for others. The word "natural" on the front doesn't tell you which kind you're holding, so check the ingredients.

More on this: Natural Soap for Sensitive Skin: Why "Natural" Ingredients Aren't Always Gentle

Tips for shopping fragrance-free

• Read the whole ingredient list, not just the front label.
• Look for the words "fragrance-free" or "no added fragrance," not just "unscented."
• Scan the list for essential oils by name.
• Patch test new products on a small area before regular use.
• Choose brands that list every ingredient.

If you're switching

Fragrance-free products often smell a little earthy, oily or neutral, depending on the oils and butters in them. That's the ingredients themselves. Many people find that after a while, scented products they used to ignore start to smell much stronger.

How we handle this at Sea Spray Soap

Sea Spray Soap uses essential oils only, never fragrance oils. Many of our products come in scented versions and an unscented version, and the unscented ones contain no essential oils and no masking ingredients. Our unscented collection is where to look if you want to skip scent entirely.

You'll sometimes see us use the word "unscented" on product pages because that's the term most people search for. When we use it, we mean nothing was added for scent.

If you're not sure which product suits you, send us a note and we'll help you read the ingredient list.

The short version

"Unscented" describes how a product smells. "Fragrance-free" describes what's in it. If you react to fragrance, the ingredient list is the only place to settle it.

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Want to skip scent altogether? Browse our unscented products. Every ingredient is listed on the product page. Questions? We're happy to help.