FRAGRANCE-FREEPlain Label Guide
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November 2026 edition · Updated 14 November 2026

Fragrance-free, checked against the label.

We read ingredient lists, record when we read them, and tell you when a product only claims to be fragrance-free. No hands-on testing claims; every page says what its evidence is.

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Plain Label Guide Editorial Latest review: 14 November 2026 How we research Criteria v1.1 No paid placements

The one thing to know

Fragrance-free vs unscented, and what masking fragrance is

They are not the same thing on a label. The FDA says even some products labeled "unscented" may contain fragrance ingredients, added to mask the smell of other ingredients, so the ingredient list is the better evidence than either front-of-pack word.

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9 areas, each with the pages we have written and how the lists were read.

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Latest research

  • A vintage scene featuring a magnifying glass on a handwritten letter, crumpled papers, and an old clock
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    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.

  • Interior of contemporary bathroom with towel hanging on rack under lights on ceiling with sink near mirror
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    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.

  • Detailed close-up of an open book with a magnifying glass and eyeglasses, emphasizing discovery and exploration
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    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.

  • Hand holding magnifying glass over vintage USA map, capturing exploration and discovery theme
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    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.

  • Close-up of gloves using a magnifying glass to inspect postage stamps on a work desk
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    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.

  • A close-up of a vintage map, magnifying glass, and notebook, perfect for research themes
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    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

Product image: Dove Ultra Sensitive Serum Body Wash With 10 Ingredients

Shortest ingredient list

Dove Ultra Sensitive Serum Body Wash With 10 Ingredients

Dove · Price band $ · Manufacturer data

The maker calls it "our fragrance-free body wash, made with only 10 ingredients", and the 10-entry list it publishes has no fragrance entry.

Status: Fragrance-free per listed ingredients as of 13 November 2026

Size on the maker page
18.5 oz/547 mL source (checked 13 November 2026)
Ingredient list (maker)
Water (Aqua), Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Hydroxystearic Acid, Stearic Acid, Cocamide MEA, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid. source (checked 13 November 2026)
Maker's claim (explicit), quoted
"our fragrance-free body wash, made with only 10 ingredients" source (checked 13 November 2026)

Check live price at Amazon (opens Amazon, affiliate link)

Image: Amazon listing image, linked from Amazon.

Read the full guide: Best fragrance-free body wash

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 Lip Repair

    Aquaphor · $

The Fragrance-Free Home: a room-by-room guide

A free, original guide to reading ingredient lists and swapping scented products room by room. Get the guide.

79 guides and reviews · 111 products in The Label Shelf · 14 hubs. Counts are computed from the same database as the pages.