Essential oils
This concern is thin. One published page covers it: [are essential oils fragrance-free?](/guide/are-essential-oils-fragrance-free/)
The page reports that no regulator or society statement was found that equates essential oils with fragrance. It cites DermNet, which says perfume is formed from fragrant essential oils and that essential oils can cause allergic contact dermatitis.
The rule on this site is our own, and the page says so: a product that lists essential oils is not fragrance-free here.
Related explainers sit in the ingredients area. [Is lavender oil a fragrance?](/guide/is-lavender-oil-a-fragrance/) reports that the FDA has no regulatory definition of "essential oils". [Tea tree oil in skincare products](/guide/tea-tree-oil-in-skincare-products/) reports what NCCIH and PubMed abstracts say about contact allergy to it. [What is "natural fragrance"?](/guide/what-is-natural-fragrance/) covers scent from natural extracts.
These pages report sources and do not give medical advice.
What the evidence says
One guide reports DermNet and FDA statements and PubMed abstracts. There is no regulator definition that settles whether an essential oil counts as fragrance on a label, so the site's rule is stated as our own.
Study types are labelled on each source. This is educational information, not medical advice; see the medical disclaimer.
What we don't fully know
- No source found that settles whether an essential oil counts as fragrance on a label.
- No product page covers essential-oil products.
Guides and explainers
- 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.