It’s no secret that most skincare brands load up their formulas with things your skin doesn’t really need. But the truth is, a lot of these extras actually cause more harm than good. Fragrance is, unfortunately, a perfect example of this.
We get it. Your soap smells indulgent, and that’s the whole point, right - to stay fresh? In reality, though, brands use fragrance to mask chemical smells and to trick you into thinking you’re getting a better product than you really are.
So why is fragrance in skincare bad? It not only takes a toll on your skin, but there’s reason to believe it could be linked to other health risks as well. Once you understand the risks of fragrance in skincare, you can’t go back.
Dryness, irritation, and flare-ups from synthetic fragrance are a tale as old as time. So why continue to put up with it when something better is just a few clicks away?
At Oshun we believe simplicity is the best approach when it comes to skincare. We’ve stripped away the nonsense to bring you just 11 of the best ingredients from Mother Earth in our goat milk soap - things your skin recognizes and responds to.
One handmade bar replaces all the fragrance-laden products the beauty industry has convinced you are essential (spoiler alert: they lied to you). Indulge in skincare simplicity at Oshun.
What is Fragrance?
Fragrance is a catch-all term that can legally cover hundreds of undisclosed chemicals. That’s where our issues with this ingredient class start. Lack of transparency & traceability for you, the consumer.
It looks harmless on the label, but it’s how brands hide potential allergens, hormone-disrupting compounds, or harsh synthetics. You might also see it referred to as “parfum.”
But no matter what phrasing is used, you never really know what’s going on your skin. Mind you, your skin is your body’s largest organ. Anything you put on your body makes its way into your body. Food for thought!
Why Skincare Brands Put Fragrance in Their Formulas
Unlike active ingredients like goat milk or shea butter - things your body has always known - fragrance serves no nutritional or protective purpose. It’s there for one reason: smell. That’s the main reason you’ll find it in skincare formulas, from soaps to shampoos and everything else.
Masking Chemical Odors
Take a look at some of the products in your regimen right now. The laundry list of ingredients probably features quite a few chemicals you can’t pronounce. The sinister truth is those things smell…well, like the chemicals they are.
Most lab-made surfactants and preservatives reek of their origins: harsh, plasticky, or medicinal. Instead of improving the formula itself, brands mask it with perfume so the product feels good in the moment. They hope you don’t ask questions or second-guess what you’re getting.
The Marketing Angle
But there’s also the illusion of luxury associated with fragrance. A foamy cleanser that smells like “fresh linen” or “tropical fruit” seems indulgent, even if the actual ingredients are drying detergents or cheap fillers.
Brands know scent ties directly to memory and emotion. If a lotion smells soothing, people are more likely to believe it’s effective, regardless of what it’s really doing underneath the surface.
This creates an aspect of loyalty. The “signature scent” of a product line is part of its branding and what keeps customers coming back for more. You buy again and again, not because the product is doing anything transformative (quite the opposite, in fact). It’s just familiar.
This is the biggest plot twist of all. The best luxury soap doesn’t have more ingredients in it. It has fewer. The real irony here is that with fewer ingredients, you can actually rely on fewer products in your skincare routine.
To understand why, we need to really answer the question - why is fragrance in skincare bad?
Is Fragrance in Skincare Bad, Though?
Synthetic fragrance might smell nice (if you’re into that type of thing). But it’s the least necessary ingredient in skincare. It brings you zero benefit and more than a few risks. From irritation to deeper, long-term health concerns, this is why you need to rethink your routine.
Why is Fragrance Bad For You?
So, why is fragrance in skincare bad for you? There are two main reasons: 1) what it does to the skin itself and 2) the bigger health picture.
The Skin Toll
The first place fragrance takes its toll is your skin barrier. Synthetic fragrance compounds often act as irritants, disrupting the outer layer of your skin that keeps moisture in and harmful bacteria out.
That’s why so many people struggle with dryness, redness, or flare-ups after using fragranced products. It’s a vicious cycle, too. You think, oh, I need to moisturize! But your moisturizer has fragrance in it, too. That’s by design. The skincare industry thrives on keeping your skin in a state of disarray, so you just have to keep adding more and more junk to your routine.
Fragrance makes conditions like sensitive skin, acne, eczema, or rosacea even harder to manage. Even “masking fragrances” in so-called “unscented” products can create the same problem. Rather than nourishing or protecting, they just agitate.
The Endocrine Disruption Concerns
The issue goes deeper than surface-level irritation, though. A lot of the chemicals hidden under the term “fragrance” are classified as endocrine disruptors. These are compounds that work against your body’s hormones, the chemical messengers that control growth, metabolism, fertility, mood, and more.
This is to say, anything that can be called an endocrine disruptor needs to be tossed in the trash. It’s going to mimic or block natural hormones and confuse your system. These types of ingredients have been linked to reproductive health concerns, thyroid dysfunction, and even increased risk of certain cancers.
The tricky part? You won’t see these compounds spelled out on the label. The word “fragrance” gives companies legal cover to include phthalates, parabens, and other chemicals that have raised red flags in scientific studies.
Phthalates for example, are often used to make scents last longer. Research has associated them with altered reproductive development and hormone imbalance.
Your skin absorbs whatever you put on top of it. That means these chemicals work their way into your bloodstream, and are then circulated throughout your entire body.
So, ask yourself - is it really worth smelling like a synthetic rose garden, or a dryer sheet?
The Prevalence of Allergies and Sensitivities
Fragrance is also one of the most common causes of contact dermatitis worldwide. A lot of skin allergies can be traced back to fragrance, sometimes more than preservatives or dyes.
Symptoms can range from mild redness and itching to painful rashes and swelling. What makes this frustrating is how unpredictable it can be. You may have tolerated a fragranced product for years before suddenly developing a sensitivity.
Worse, you can’t really pinpoint the problem since fragrance formulas can contain dozens of undisclosed chemicals. This is why the safest path for anyone with sensitive or allergy-prone skin is simply to avoid fragrance altogether.
But the truth is, everyone should be steering clear of fragrance in skincare!
Who Should Avoid Skincare Products With Fragrance?
Obviously, people with sensitive skin, eczema, rosacea, acne, or a history of allergies should say goodbye to products containing fragrance. But the reality is, anyone can benefit from avoiding these products.
Babies and children are especially vulnerable because their skin barrier is still developing. Pregnancy is also high-risk since endocrine disruptors can affect both mom and baby. People managing hormone-related conditions, like thyroid disorders or reproductive health issues, have even more to lose by keeping fragrance in their daily routine.
There’s not a single individual who gains anything from fragrance. It doesn’t hydrate, protect, or restore your skin. It only masks chemical odors and sells you on a feeling. So how can you tell if it’s present in your skincare routine right now?
Is ALL Fragrance in Skincare Bad?
There’s one exception to our stance on fragrance: essential oils. These can be good for you depending on traceability, and could even bring aromatherapy benefits to your ritual. But the key word here is traceable.
When essential oils are ethically distilled, properly diluted, and used for therapeutic benefit (not a marketing shortcut), they can elevate your experience without overwhelming your skin. The problem comes when “essential oil blend” becomes another disguise for cheap fillers or irritants.
Common Terms Brands Use to Disguise Fragrance
Anytime you see the word “fragrance” on the label, you need to dig deeper and make sure you’re not getting mystery chemical slop bundled into one vague term. Essential oils can be fine in the right context.
The problem is, brands don’t always call it fragrance. They know people are catching on, so they’ve come up with a whole vocabulary to make formulas look “cleaner” than they are.
That’s why an “unscented” lotion still makes your skin flare up. Here’s what you need to know.
“Fragrance-Free” and “Unscented” Are Not the Same
“Fragrance-free” means no fragrance was added to the formula. “Unscented,” on the other hand, can mean fragrance was added, just not for scent. But, a lot of “unscented” products actually include masking fragrances to cover up chemical odors.
Your nose might not pick it up, but your skin will. This is why dermatologists steer sensitive patients toward true fragrance-free products, not ones that only appear neutral.
Look Out for These Labels
Along with parfum, there are a few other labels you’ll see fragrance hidden behind. Some of the most common include:
- Aroma
- Masking fragrance
- Nature-identical oil
- Perfume
- Essential oil blend
These terms all serve the same purpose - they’re a legal loophole to avoid transparency. Ask yourself: if the brand is confident about what’s inside, why hide behind umbrella language?
Real transparency looks like Oshun. We make soaps for sensitive skin that list every ingredient, its origin, and its purpose.
Natural Doesn’t Always Mean Safe
A common trick is to swap synthetic fragrance for essential oils and call it “natural.” But high concentrations of essential oils like citrus, peppermint, or lavender can still cause irritation, dryness, or allergic reactions.
Natural doesn’t equate to gentle, and it definitely doesn’t guarantee compatibility with your skin. The bigger issue is that these oils are still being used for the same reason synthetic fragrance is: to make a formula smell appealing, not to nourish or protect your skin.
The good news is you can take the next step towards fragrance-free, halal beauty here at Oshun and avoid the stress and uncertainty of choosing products your skin responds to.
Simplify Your Skincare Ritual and Avoid Fragrance Altogether With Oshun
Give your skin whole ingredients it actually recognizes with every luxurious lather. Our bar is built on 11 purposeful, fragrance-free ingredients:
- Nubian Goat milk: Hydrates and gently exfoliates with natural lactic acid.
- Olive Oil 407 mg Polyphenols: Deep moisture plus antioxidant protection.
- Manuka Honey UMF +20: Locks in hydration and fights bacteria.
- White Willow Bark: Clears pores with naturally derived salicylic acid.
- Cosmetic Grade Pearl Powder: Smooths texture and brightens tone.
- Raw Shea Butter: Cushions skin and strengthens its barrier.
- Virgin Coconut Oil: Purifies while leaving skin soft.
- Kaolin Clay: Detoxifies without stripping.
- Citric Acid: Balances pH and supports renewal.
- Mica Powder: Adds a natural, healthy glow.
- Himalayan Pink Salt: Infuses minerals and illuminates skin.
It’s not just the smarter way to cleanse your skin. It’s the best moisturizing bar soap, and it replaces toners, serums, masks, and spot treatments as well. Learn more about how to simplify your skincare routine with Oshun today.
Final Words on the Fragrance in Skincare Risks
So, is fragrance in skincare bad? Not only does it do nothing for your skin, but it actively works against it. Hidden under labels like “parfum” or “unscented,” it can trigger irritation, allergies, and even disrupt your hormones.
If you’re going to use fragrance in skincare, it should be sourced from essential oils. These can be good for you depending on traceability, and could even bring aromatherapy benefits to your ritual.
The truth isn’t complicated. An ingredient doesn’t belong in your routine if it’s not serving your skin. Choosing fragrance-free skincare is a safer, more transparent approach to nourishing your body’s largest organ.
Oshun was built on that principle: 11 whole, purposeful ingredients, and nothing extra. Feel the difference yourself and say goodbye to fragrance for good.