# Plain Label Guide > Independent, ingredient-checked guides to fragrance-free body care, skin care, laundry and cleaning products. Every check is dated; "unscented" is never treated as "fragrance-free". Written by Plain Label Guide Editorial. Products are not hands-on tested; each page states its evidence basis and dates its checks. Affiliate links are marked. ## Baby - [Baby hub](https://plainlabelguide.com/category/baby/): Diapers, baby wash and nursery products - [Best fragrance-free diapers](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-diapers/): Two diapers pass our list check on browser-captured maker pages: Honest Wetness Indicator Diapers, which the maker says are made without fragrance (its list includes citrus extract and liquid chlorophyll as odor inhibitors), and Huggies Skin Essentials, whose 12-entry list has no fragrance-type entry. Neither has a certification check behind it. - [Fragrance-free packing list for a hospital bag](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/fragrance-free-hospital-bag/): The NHS hospital bag checklist lists toiletries, pads and nappies but does not mention scent. St. Joseph's Health Care London asks patients and visitors to avoid scented products during a stay. For a fragrance-free bag, read the maker's ingredient list for each item. - [A fragrance-free laundry routine for a newborn](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/fragrance-free-laundry-for-newborn/): A fragrance-free detergent, a small dose, an extra rinse and no fabric softener is a reasonable routine. HealthyChildren.org (AAP) says many parents use ordinary family detergent and only switch to a milder or fragrance-free one if the baby shows skin irritation. Ask a pediatrician about any rash. ## Body & bath - [Body & bath hub](https://plainlabelguide.com/category/body-bath/): Body wash, soap, deodorant, hand care and sanitary products - [Best fragrance-free body wash](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-body-wash/): Seven body and face-and-body washes pass our fragrance-free check: no fragrance, parfum, aroma, perfume or essential oil appears in the maker's own ingredient list. The shortest lists are Dove Ultra Sensitive Serum and Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, both 10 entries. Vanicream is included on its list alone, because its maker never uses the words "fragrance-free". - [Best fragrance-free deodorant](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-deodorant/): Each & Every Natural Deodorant (12 entries, wax and coconut-oil based) and Vanicream (5 entries, water-based) pass our fragrance-free list check. Only two products on this page have verified maker lists. Dove Deodorant Stick Sensitive Aluminum Free fails: its maker list includes Fragrance (Parfum). - [Best fragrance-free hand soap](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-hand-soap/): Five hand soaps pass our fragrance-free list check: ATTITUDE, Dr. Bronner's Unscented Pure-Castile, ECOS Free & Clear, Seventh Generation Free & Clean and Vanicream Liquid Cleanser. Vanicream and ECOS carry the shortest lists with no aloe or oat entry; Dr. Bronner's is the only true soap (saponified oils) rather than a synthetic-surfactant wash. - [Best fragrance-free soap](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-soap/): Three bars pass our list check: Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar (the only one where the maker says "fragrance-free" in its own product line), Dr. Bronner's Unscented Pure-Castile (shortest list, plant-oil based) and Vanicream Cleansing Bar (no fragrance-type entry, but the maker line we captured does not use the words fragrance-free). Pick by list type, not by badge. - [Is Dial fragrance-free?](https://plainlabelguide.com/is-dial-fragrance-free/): Only some Dial products are fragrance-free. Two Dial antibacterial hand soaps that carry a fragrance-free name show no fragrance term in the maker's lists, but both are OTC drug products, so this page does not recommend them. - [Is Dove fragrance-free?](https://plainlabelguide.com/is-dove-fragrance-free/): It depends on the product line. Four Dove items sold as fragrance-free (a lotion, two washes and a bar) list no fragrance in the maker ingredient lists we read, but two Dove deodorant sticks list Fragrance (Parfum), one of them marketed as unscented. - [Is Dr. Bronner's fragrance-free?](https://plainlabelguide.com/is-dr-bronners-fragrance-free/): Depends on the line. The maker lists we read for the Unscented Pure-Castile bar soap and liquid soap show no fragrance-type entry. That is two products, and we verified nothing else from the brand, so the evidence is thin. ## Cleaning - [Cleaning hub](https://plainlabelguide.com/category/cleaning/): Dish, home and surface cleaning - [A fragrance-free cleaning routine](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/fragrance-free-cleaning-products/): Swap the products that touch your skin and air most often first: dish soap, dishwasher detergent and laundry. Check each maker ingredient list, because EPA says "unscented" products can contain masking chemicals, and one study found "green" cleaners can still add fragrance chemicals to indoor air. - [Best fragrance-free dish soap](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-dish-soap/): Eight hand dish soaps (seven liquids and one foaming spray) have maker ingredient lists with no fragrance, parfum, aroma or essential oil. A product named "unscented" is not automatically fragrance-free, so we checked each list, not the front label. - [Best fragrance-free dishwasher detergent](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-dishwasher-detergent/): Five dishwasher detergents have maker ingredient lists with no fragrance, parfum, aroma or essential oil: two gels, two sets of packs and one powder. "Unscented" is not the same as fragrance-free, so we read each list, not the front label. - [Best unscented trash bags](https://plainlabelguide.com/unscented-trash-bags/): Two bags have a confirmed maker statement of "unscented", Seventh Generation Extra Strong Tall Kitchen and Glad ForceFlex Quick-Tie. Bags publish no ingredient list, so that statement is all there is, and it does not make them fragrance-free. ## Hair - [Hair hub](https://plainlabelguide.com/category/hair/): Shampoo, conditioner and styling - [Best fragrance-free hair products](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-hair-products/): Five hair products pass our fragrance-free test on the maker's own ingredient list: a dry shampoo (Batiste Fragrance Free Light), two shampoos (CeraVe Gentle Hydrating and Vanicream), a hairspray (Vanicream firm hold) and a styling gel (Vanicream). The spray is the only true hairspray verified; the gel is a gel, not a spray. - [Best fragrance-free shampoo](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-shampoo/): Seven shampoo and shampoo-and-wash products pass our fragrance-free test on the maker's own ingredient list: no fragrance, parfum, aroma, perfume or essential oil. Vanicream and the ATTITUDE Extra-gentle formula are the plainest matches, because each maker also states the fragrance-free claim in words. ## Laundry - [Laundry hub](https://plainlabelguide.com/category/laundry/): Detergent, softener and dryer sheets - [Best fragrance-free dryer sheets and fabric softener](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-dryer-sheets/): Four products pass our fragrance-free check on the maker's own ingredient list: Seventh Generation Free & Clear dryer sheets and liquid softener (lists read by our fetch), and Bounce Free & Gentle sheets and Downy Free & Gentle liquid (lists captured from the maker's page in a browser). None of the four lists names fragrance, parfum, aroma or essential oil. Only these four could be verified, so this is a short list, not a market survey. - [Best fragrance-free laundry detergent](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-laundry-detergent/): Six detergents pass our fragrance-free check on the maker's own ingredient list, retrieved 2026-11-11 and 2026-11-12: All Free Clear, Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Free & Clear, ECOS Free & Clear, Seventh Generation Free & Clear, Tide Free & Gentle and Charlie's Soap powder. A product marketed as unscented or free and clear is not the same thing, so check the list for fragrance, parfum or aroma. Several well-known brands could not be verified and are not recommended or rejected here. - [How to switch your laundry to fragrance-free](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/how-to-switch-to-fragrance-free-laundry/): Replace each laundry product that can carry scent (detergent, softener, dryer sheets, boosters, scent beads) with one whose maker list shows no fragrance ingredients, and read the list rather than the front label. One 2025 abstract reports that fragrance left on washed clothes was far below the level that triggered patch-test reactions; it does not cover dryer sheets or scent beads. - [Is Arm & Hammer fragrance-free?](https://plainlabelguide.com/is-arm-and-hammer-fragrance-free/): It depends on the product line. In the maker lists we read, the Sensitive Skin Free & Clear liquid laundry detergent has no fragrance ingredient, while the Essentials Unscented deodorant lists wood oils and a fragrance chemical, and the Fresh Scent detergent lists "Fragrances" and "Fragrance". - [Is Seventh Generation fragrance-free?](https://plainlabelguide.com/is-seventh-generation-fragrance-free/): Only the Free & Clear and Free & Clean lines were checked. Nine of them (laundry, softeners, dish, dishwasher, hand wash) list no fragrance on the maker site as of 13 November 2026. Seventh Generation's scented lines were not checked. - [Is Tide fragrance-free?](https://plainlabelguide.com/is-tide-fragrance-free/): Not as a brand. On the maker's SmartLabel pages read on 2026-11-11, the Tide Free & Gentle liquid (105 fl oz) lists no fragrance, while the Tide Original liquid (92 fl oz) lists 'Fragrances'. We verified only these two Tide products. ## Skin care - [Skin care hub](https://plainlabelguide.com/category/skin-care/): Moisturizers, cleansers, face and hand care - [Cerave vs Cetaphil](https://plainlabelguide.com/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. - [Best fragrance-free cleanser](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-cleanser/): Four facial cleansers have ingredient lists with no fragrance, parfum, aroma or essential oils, and each maker makes a fragrance-free statement (quoted below). Pick by format first, then by surfactants and preservatives on the list. - [Best fragrance-free eye cream](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-eye-cream/): Only two products pass our fragrance-free list check for this category: CeraVe Eye Repair Cream, a 41-entry list read by our fetch, and Avène Tolerance Control, a seven-entry list captured in a browser. The CeraVe page is the one that names the product for the eye area; the Avène page in our record does not. - [Best fragrance-free face cream](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-face-cream/): Seven products pass our fragrance-free list check: Vanicream Moisturizing Cream (shortest cream list, petrolatum-based), Avène Tolerance Control (seven entries), La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair, CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion, Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream and Clinique Moisture Surge 100H. Night-cream use is a matter of texture, not a separate category on these labels. - [Best fragrance-free face moisturizer](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-face-moisturizer/): Ten face moisturizers have ingredient lists with no fragrance, parfum, aroma or essential oil. Choose the texture first (gel, lotion or cream), then check the list for the extras you want to avoid, such as colorants, lanolin or plant extracts. - [Best fragrance-free hand cream](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-hand-cream/): Two creams pass our fragrance-free list check: Vanicream Moisturizing Cream (10 entries, petrolatum-based, no plant oils) and Cetaphil Intensive Moisturizing Cream for Dry Skin (23 entries, with plant oils and a benzyl alcohol preservative). Neither maker page we read presents the product as a hand cream, so this is a list comparison, not a hand-specific endorsement. - [Best fragrance-free lip balm](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-lip-balm/): Eight lip balms pass our list check: no fragrance, parfum, aroma, perfume or essential oil appears in the maker's ingredient list. Five maker pages were read by our fetch; three (Avène, ChapStick, La Roche-Posay) were captured from the maker's page in a browser. Claim wording varies, as quoted below. - [Best fragrance-free lotion](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-lotion/): On the makers' own ingredient lists, all seven lotions and creams below show no fragrance, parfum or essential oil entry. No body oil was verified, so none is recommended. If you want the shortest list, Vanicream Moisturizing Lotion or Cream (10 to 11 entries) is the plainest of the six; if you want a large pump-size body lotion, Dove lists 13 oz and 20 oz. - [Best fragrance-free moisturizer for dry skin](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-moisturiser-for-dry-skin/): None of the eleven products here lists fragrance, parfum or aroma on the ingredient list we read, but they differ a lot in format, oil base and list length. Choose by list type (petrolatum or mineral oil, plant oils, ceramides, oat, colorants), then confirm the list on the pack you buy. For a skin problem, see a clinician. - [Best fragrance-free moisturizer](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-moisturizer/): Five moisturizers pass our fragrance-free check on the maker's own ingredient list, retrieved 2026-11-11: Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer, Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Hand & Body Lotion, and three Aveeno lotions. Vanicream has the shortest list of added extras and no preservative named as such; check the label on your own tub, because lists change and 'unscented' does not mean fragrance-free. - [Best fragrance-free moisturizer for itchy skin](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-moisturizer-for-itchy-skin/): Seven creams and lotions pass our fragrance check on the maker's own ingredient list; Vanicream Moisturizing Cream has the shortest list at 10 entries. This page compares fragrance content on ingredient lists only. For itchy skin itself, ask a clinician or see the National Eczema Association. - [Best fragrance-free skincare](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-skincare/): Build the routine by step and check each label yourself. In our verified set the options are moisturizers (face gels and creams, richer creams, a recovery cream, and body-and-face lotions); cleanser and eye-cream picks are on their own pages because none were verified for this page. - [Best gentle fragrance-free cleanser for dry skin](https://plainlabelguide.com/gentle-fragrance-free-cleanser-for-dry-skin/): Four cleansers have maker ingredient lists with no fragrance, parfum, aroma or essential oils: Avène Tolerance Extremely Gentle Cleanser, CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser Fragrance Free and Neutrogena Hydro Boost Cleansing Gel Fragrance Free. They differ in their surfactants and what else is listed, which is the part you can compare. We report maker statements only and do not judge how any of them feels or performs on dry skin. - [Is Aquaphor fragrance-free?](https://plainlabelguide.com/is-aquaphor-fragrance-free/): Two Aquaphor lip products, Lip Repair and the Lip Repair Stick, have maker-published ingredient lists with no fragrance, parfum, aroma or essential oil entry as of 12 November 2026. Other Aquaphor products are not verified here, so there is no blanket yes. - [Is Aveeno fragrance-free?](https://plainlabelguide.com/is-aveeno-fragrance-free/): Depends on the product. The maker lists we read for the Skin Relief body wash and lotion, the Daily Moisturizing face lotion and the Calm + Restore gel moisturizer show no fragrance-type entry. Other Aveeno products claim "fragrance free" but we could not confirm a list. - [Is cerave fragrance-free?](https://plainlabelguide.com/is-cerave-fragrance-free/): Several CeraVe lines have a maker-published ingredient list with no fragrance, parfum, aroma or essential oil entry, as of 11 to 13 November 2026. That is a line-by-line finding: moisturising cream, hand cream, conditioner and several other products are not verified. - [Is cetaphil fragrance-free?](https://plainlabelguide.com/is-cetaphil-fragrance-free/): Depends on the product. Four Cetaphil lists we read on the maker site (a lotion, a cream and two cleansers, as of 13 November 2026) contain no fragrance, parfum or aroma entry. One body wash that claims to be fragrance-free lists heliotropine, so we hold it. - [Is Clinique fragrance-free?](https://plainlabelguide.com/is-clinique-fragrance-free/): By product line, not as a blanket yes or no. Eight Clinique lists read from the maker's pages show no fragrance, parfum or essential oil entry, but every one of them also lists colorants. Two items need review and five could not be verified. - [Is La Roche-Posay fragrance-free?](https://plainlabelguide.com/is-la-roche-posay-fragrance-free/): By product line, not as a blanket yes. The Toleriane Double Repair face moisturizer and the Cicaplast lip balm have captured maker lists with no fragrance entry. For the Lipikar wash and an Anthelios sunscreen, the maker only states "fragrance free" in a badge row. - [Is Neutrogena fragrance-free?](https://plainlabelguide.com/is-neutrogena-fragrance-free/): Not as a whole brand. Of the Neutrogena maker pages we read, several lists contain no fragrance entries (Hydro Boost face gel cream and cleanser, a lip balm, a loose powder), while the Hydro Boost body gel cream list names "Fragrance". - [Is vanicream fragrance-free?](https://plainlabelguide.com/is-vanicream-fragrance-free/): The verified Vanicream lotion, cream, washes, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant and hair-styling lists have no fragrance, parfum or essential oil entry as of 11-14 November 2026. Its SPF and antiperspirant lines were not confirmed. - [Vanicream vs Cerave](https://plainlabelguide.com/vanicream-vs-cerave/): On the maker lists we read (11-14 November 2026), neither brand shows a fragrance, parfum, aroma, perfume or essential oil entry in its verified lotion, cleanser or shampoo lines. They differ in coverage, wording and which gaps remain. - [Vanicream vs Cetaphil](https://plainlabelguide.com/vanicream-vs-cetaphil/): Neither brand is fragrance-free across the board. As of 11-14 November 2026, twelve Vanicream maker lists and four Cetaphil maker lists have no fragrance, parfum or aroma entry. A Cetaphil body wash that claims fragrance-free lists heliotropine. ## Sun & makeup - [Sun & makeup hub](https://plainlabelguide.com/category/sun-makeup/): Sunscreen, makeup and lip care - [Best fragrance-free lipstick](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-lipstick/): Four lip products pass our list check: Almay Color & Care Lip Oil in Stick and Clinique Almost Lipstick, where the maker itself says fragrance free, Clinique Pop Plush Creamy Lip Gloss (a gloss, not a stick), and Almay Lip Vibes Lipstick, whose maker does not make that claim and whose list includes "Flavor". All four rest on browser-captured maker pages. - [Best fragrance-free makeup](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-makeup/): Nine products pass our list check: four Almay eye products, two Clinique items, one Neutrogena loose powder and two Physicians Formula mascaras. The shortest lists are Almay Eyeliner Pencil and Neutrogena Mineral Sheers; the longest are the Clinique High Impact, Physicians Formula Eye Booster and Almay Thickening & Tint mascaras. ## Guides & situations - [Guides & situations hub](https://plainlabelguide.com/category/guides-situations/): Start-here guides and situation guides - [A fragrance-free bathroom, product by product](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/fragrance-free-bathroom/): Go category by category and read the maker's ingredient list for each one, because the FDA says even some products labeled "unscented" may contain fragrance ingredients. Soap, body wash, shampoo, deodorant and lotion each have a roundup on this site; toothpaste and antiperspirant are regulated as drugs. - [Fragrance-free for a dorm room](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/fragrance-free-dorm-essentials/): Switch the products you control first: laundry, body wash, deodorant and anything you spray or plug in. For shared bathrooms, floors and roommates, the two university documents we read describe talking to the other person and to housing or student affairs; neither promises a scent-free room. - [Fragrance-free gift ideas](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/fragrance-free-gifts/): Buy from a maker-published ingredient list, not from the word "unscented". The FDA says some "unscented" products contain masking fragrance. This guide covers three gift ideas that have at least three checked product records each, with the evidence level and date for each product. - [Fragrance-free hotel stays](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/fragrance-free-hotel-room/): The sources we read show no common definition of a fragrance-free hotel room. The one published chain standard we read, Scandic (2019), lists fragrance-free toiletries and strict cleaning procedures, so ask any hotel exactly what it covers and get the answer in writing. - [Fragrance-free perfume](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/fragrance-free-perfume/): DermNet describes a perfume as a liquid mixture used to emit a pleasant odour, so the phrase "fragrance-free perfume" does not fit that description. We found no source defining it, so read the ingredient list and treat the name as the maker's wording. - [Fragrance-free products - what the label does and doesn't tell you](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/fragrance-free-products/): The FDA says it has no regulations for "fragrance free" or "unscented", but a "fragrance free" cosmetic should contain no added fragrance ingredients. "Unscented" may still contain masking fragrance, so check the ingredient list. - [Fragrance-free on a budget](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/fragrance-free-products-on-a-budget/): Check the ingredient list of each product, whatever it costs. The FDA says "unscented" can hide masking fragrance, and the sources we read tie fragrance-free status to the list, not to a price tier. - [A fragrance-free travel kit](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/fragrance-free-travel-toiletries/): TSA says carry-on liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes go in containers of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less, in a quart-sized bag. Travel sizes need the same ingredient-list check as full sizes, because the FDA says some "unscented" products contain fragrance ingredients. - [Asking for a fragrance-free workplace](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/fragrance-free-workplace-policy/): CCOHS (Canada) says a scent-free policy should rest on workers' health needs, apply to everyone and cover more than perfume. JAN (US) says that under the ADA a total no-fragrance ban is probably not reasonable; it lists targeted accommodations instead. Neither source is legal advice. ## Ingredients & materials - [Ingredients & materials hub](https://plainlabelguide.com/category/ingredients-materials/): Plain-language explainers for ingredients, metals and materials - [Are essential oils fragrance-free?](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/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. - [The EU fragrance allergen list, explained](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/eu-26-fragrance-allergens/): 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. - [Why "fragrance" hides ingredients: US labelling rules](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/fda-fragrance-labeling-trade-secret/): 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. - [Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, explained](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/formaldehyde-releasers-in-skincare/): 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. - [Fragrance allergen names on ingredient labels](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/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. - [Fragrance-free vs unscented, and what masking fragrance is](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/fragrance-free-vs-unscented/): 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. - [How to read an ingredient list for fragrance, parfum and aroma](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/how-to-read-an-ingredient-list-parfum-aroma/): Read the full list, not just the top. US labels may say "fragrance"; EU labels use "parfum" or "aroma". Scan every position for Fragrance, Parfum, Aroma, Perfume or essential oils, because order and the 1 percent rules do not make position a safe guide. - [Is lavender oil a fragrance?](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/is-lavender-oil-a-fragrance/): Lavender oil is an essential oil, and the FDA says there is no regulatory definition of "essential oils". We found no source that settles whether it counts as "fragrance" on a label. On this site, a listed essential oil means a product is not fragrance-free. - [Why laundry scent lingers: encapsulated fragrance](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/laundry-scent-beads-microcapsules/): A review and a 2024 industry abstract say fragrance is encapsulated to slow evaporation and give controlled release, and that encapsulates are used in fabric softeners and liquid laundry products. The capsule holds fragrance, so it is still fragrance. - [National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance: what it is and what it does not tell you](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/national-eczema-association-seal-of-acceptance/): The Seal of Acceptance is a mark from the National Eczema Association. Its pages say a product must avoid Ecz-clusion List ingredients, pass safety testing and panel review, and be fragrance free. It is a programme decision, not a verdict on your skin. - [Parabens on ingredient lists](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/parabens-in-skincare/): Parabens are a group of preservatives. EU law sets maximum concentrations of 0.4% for a single ester and 0.8% for mixtures. They are not fragrance and are not on this site's fragrance list, which is our rule, not a regulator's. - [Sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate in fragrance-free products](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/sodium-benzoate-in-skincare/): The sources we read describe sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate as antimicrobial preservatives. Neither is listed as a fragrance ingredient, so on this site they do not fail a fragrance-free check. A few clinical sources do name sodium benzoate as an emerging allergen, so they are not risk-free for everyone. - [Tea tree oil in skincare products: what the sources say](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/tea-tree-oil-in-skincare-products/): NCCIH describes tea tree oil as an essential oil, and PubMed abstracts report contact allergy to it, with stronger reactions to oxidised oil in some reports. Our own rule: a product listing essential oils is not fragrance-free. - ["Unscented" and "sensitive" don't mean fragrance-free: what the ingredient lists show](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/unscented-and-sensitive-dont-mean-fragrance-free/): A word on a product name or maker page is not the ingredient list. On six maker pages we re-read on 14 November 2026, three products use "unscented" wording and four carry "sensitive" in the name or description (one has both), and every one lists "Fragrance" or "Fragrance (Parfum)" among its ingredients. The FDA says even some products labeled "unscented" may contain fragrance ingredients. - [What "hypoallergenic" means on a label (and what it doesn't)](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/what-does-hypoallergenic-mean/): On cosmetics, "hypoallergenic" has no Federal definition; the FDA says it means whatever a company wants it to mean, and makers need not send the FDA proof. It also does not mean fragrance-free, so read the ingredient list. - [What is in dryer sheets?](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/what-is-in-dryer-sheets/): A dryer sheet is a fabric sheet coated with softening agents, and some also list a clay (bentonite) or fatty acids. The two fragrance-free sheet lists we read name a sheet and a softener coating, and no fragrance. Scented sheets can add fragrance, so read the maker list. - [What is limonene in skincare and fragrance?](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/what-is-limonene/): Limonene is a fragrance chemical that DermNet NZ says is extracted from citrus peel; PubChem lists it as a monoterpene. Reviews say its air-oxidised form is the main allergen concern, and a label cannot show how oxidised it is. - [What is linalool?](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/what-is-linalool/): PubChem describes linalool as a monoterpenoid with a role as a fragrance. DermNet and several journal abstracts say it is an occasional sensitiser itself and, once exposed to air, forms hydroperoxides that are much stronger ones. - [What is methylisothiazolinone? What EU, US and journal sources say](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/what-is-methylisothiazolinone/): Methylisothiazolinone (MI) is a preservative, described by PubChem as a powerful biocide. EU Regulation 2016/1198 says the SCCS concluded 100 ppm in cosmetics is not safe for the consumer, and journal abstracts report contact allergy. It is not fragrance. - [What is "natural fragrance"?](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/what-is-natural-fragrance/): "Natural fragrance" means a scent ingredient from a natural extract rather than a synthesised one. It is still fragrance: DermNet says natural extracts are among established contact allergens, and a "natural" label can hide fragrance. - [What do "parfum" and "aroma" mean on an ingredient list?](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/what-is-parfum/): Under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, perfume and aromatic compositions and their raw materials are referred to by the terms "parfum" or "aroma", with certain Annex III substances listed in addition. US rules let fragrance be listed simply as "Fragrance". Per the sources, fragrance formulas are complex mixtures, so one entry can cover many ingredients. - [What is phenoxyethanol? What EU, PubChem and PubMed sources say](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/what-is-phenoxyethanol/): Phenoxyethanol is an ingredient described by PubChem as a preservative that is also used as a perfume fixative. The EU committee SCCS, in 2016, considered it safe as a preservative at a maximum of 1.0%. It is not on this site's fragrance flag list; that is our rule, not a regulator's. - [Why drug-labelled products are not on this site](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/why-drug-labelled-products-are-excluded/): This site does not recommend or rank any product that carries a drug claim or a Drug Facts panel. Such products may be named only as examples. That is our own editorial rule; FDA pages explain why these products fall under drug rules. ## Sensitive skin - [Sensitive skin hub](https://plainlabelguide.com/concern/sensitive-skin/): Products for skin that reacts to scented formulas - [Cerave vs Cetaphil](https://plainlabelguide.com/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. - [Best fragrance-free lotion](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-lotion/): On the makers' own ingredient lists, all seven lotions and creams below show no fragrance, parfum or essential oil entry. No body oil was verified, so none is recommended. If you want the shortest list, Vanicream Moisturizing Lotion or Cream (10 to 11 entries) is the plainest of the six; if you want a large pump-size body lotion, Dove lists 13 oz and 20 oz. - [Best fragrance-free moisturizer for dry skin](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-moisturiser-for-dry-skin/): None of the eleven products here lists fragrance, parfum or aroma on the ingredient list we read, but they differ a lot in format, oil base and list length. Choose by list type (petrolatum or mineral oil, plant oils, ceramides, oat, colorants), then confirm the list on the pack you buy. For a skin problem, see a clinician. - [Best fragrance-free moisturizer](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-moisturizer/): Five moisturizers pass our fragrance-free check on the maker's own ingredient list, retrieved 2026-11-11: Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer, Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Hand & Body Lotion, and three Aveeno lotions. Vanicream has the shortest list of added extras and no preservative named as such; check the label on your own tub, because lists change and 'unscented' does not mean fragrance-free. - [Best fragrance-free moisturizer for itchy skin](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-moisturizer-for-itchy-skin/): Seven creams and lotions pass our fragrance check on the maker's own ingredient list; Vanicream Moisturizing Cream has the shortest list at 10 entries. This page compares fragrance content on ingredient lists only. For itchy skin itself, ask a clinician or see the National Eczema Association. - [Best gentle fragrance-free cleanser for dry skin](https://plainlabelguide.com/gentle-fragrance-free-cleanser-for-dry-skin/): Four cleansers have maker ingredient lists with no fragrance, parfum, aroma or essential oils: Avène Tolerance Extremely Gentle Cleanser, CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser Fragrance Free and Neutrogena Hydro Boost Cleansing Gel Fragrance Free. They differ in their surfactants and what else is listed, which is the part you can compare. We report maker statements only and do not judge how any of them feels or performs on dry skin. - [Vanicream vs Cerave](https://plainlabelguide.com/vanicream-vs-cerave/): On the maker lists we read (11-14 November 2026), neither brand shows a fragrance, parfum, aroma, perfume or essential oil entry in its verified lotion, cleanser or shampoo lines. They differ in coverage, wording and which gaps remain. - [Vanicream vs Cetaphil](https://plainlabelguide.com/vanicream-vs-cetaphil/): Neither brand is fragrance-free across the board. As of 11-14 November 2026, twelve Vanicream maker lists and four Cetaphil maker lists have no fragrance, parfum or aroma entry. A Cetaphil body wash that claims fragrance-free lists heliotropine. - [What "hypoallergenic" means on a label (and what it doesn't)](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/what-does-hypoallergenic-mean/): On cosmetics, "hypoallergenic" has no Federal definition; the FDA says it means whatever a company wants it to mean, and makers need not send the FDA proof. It also does not mean fragrance-free, so read the ingredient list. ## Masking fragrance - [Masking fragrance hub](https://plainlabelguide.com/concern/masking-fragrance/): Unscented products that can still contain fragrance - [Fragrance allergen names on ingredient labels](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/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. - [Best fragrance-free laundry detergent](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-laundry-detergent/): Six detergents pass our fragrance-free check on the maker's own ingredient list, retrieved 2026-11-11 and 2026-11-12: All Free Clear, Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Free & Clear, ECOS Free & Clear, Seventh Generation Free & Clear, Tide Free & Gentle and Charlie's Soap powder. A product marketed as unscented or free and clear is not the same thing, so check the list for fragrance, parfum or aroma. Several well-known brands could not be verified and are not recommended or rejected here. - [Fragrance-free perfume](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/fragrance-free-perfume/): DermNet describes a perfume as a liquid mixture used to emit a pleasant odour, so the phrase "fragrance-free perfume" does not fit that description. We found no source defining it, so read the ingredient list and treat the name as the maker's wording. - [Fragrance-free vs unscented, and what masking fragrance is](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/fragrance-free-vs-unscented/): 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. - [How to read an ingredient list for fragrance, parfum and aroma](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/how-to-read-an-ingredient-list-parfum-aroma/): Read the full list, not just the top. US labels may say "fragrance"; EU labels use "parfum" or "aroma". Scan every position for Fragrance, Parfum, Aroma, Perfume or essential oils, because order and the 1 percent rules do not make position a safe guide. - ["Unscented" and "sensitive" don't mean fragrance-free: what the ingredient lists show](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/unscented-and-sensitive-dont-mean-fragrance-free/): A word on a product name or maker page is not the ingredient list. On six maker pages we re-read on 14 November 2026, three products use "unscented" wording and four carry "sensitive" in the name or description (one has both), and every one lists "Fragrance" or "Fragrance (Parfum)" among its ingredients. The FDA says even some products labeled "unscented" may contain fragrance ingredients. - [Best unscented trash bags](https://plainlabelguide.com/unscented-trash-bags/): Two bags have a confirmed maker statement of "unscented", Seventh Generation Extra Strong Tall Kitchen and Glad ForceFlex Quick-Tie. Bags publish no ingredient list, so that statement is all there is, and it does not make them fragrance-free. ## Babies and kids - [Babies and kids hub](https://plainlabelguide.com/concern/babies-and-kids/): Fragrance-free choices for babies and children - [Best fragrance-free diapers](https://plainlabelguide.com/fragrance-free-diapers/): Two diapers pass our list check on browser-captured maker pages: Honest Wetness Indicator Diapers, which the maker says are made without fragrance (its list includes citrus extract and liquid chlorophyll as odor inhibitors), and Huggies Skin Essentials, whose 12-entry list has no fragrance-type entry. Neither has a certification check behind it. ## Essential oils - [Essential oils hub](https://plainlabelguide.com/concern/essential-oils/): Why essential oils count as fragrance - [Are essential oils fragrance-free?](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/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. ## Certifications and labels - [Certifications and labels hub](https://plainlabelguide.com/concern/certifications/): What seals and label claims do and do not tell you - [National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance: what it is and what it does not tell you](https://plainlabelguide.com/guide/national-eczema-association-seal-of-acceptance/): The Seal of Acceptance is a mark from the National Eczema Association. Its pages say a product must avoid Ecz-clusion List ingredients, pass safety testing and panel review, and be fragrance free. It is a programme decision, not a verdict on your skin. ## News and fact-checks ## Trust and policies - [What "fragrance-free" means here](https://plainlabelguide.com/what-fragrance-free-means/): The test Plain Label Guide applies to every product: no fragrance, parfum, aroma, perfume, essential oils or fragrance chemicals in the listed ingredients. - [About](https://plainlabelguide.com/about/): About Plain Label Guide: an editorial website that checks products against their ingredient lists, earns affiliate commission, and does not test products itself. - [Editorial policy](https://plainlabelguide.com/editorial-policy/): How Plain Label Guide Editorial writes pages: what evidence we use, how health statements are handled, and how commission is kept out of decisions. - [Corrections policy](https://plainlabelguide.com/corrections-policy/): How to report a mistake on Plain Label Guide, and how corrections, changelog entries and removals are recorded. - [How we research](https://plainlabelguide.com/how-we-research/): How Plain Label Guide researches pages: maker ingredient lists, dated captures, evidence levels, and what we have not done. - [Affiliate disclosure](https://plainlabelguide.com/affiliate-disclosure/): How Plain Label Guide earns commission through Amazon links, how those links are marked, and what does not influence our picks. - [Contact](https://plainlabelguide.com/contact/): Contact Plain Label Guide to report a correction, ask a question or request a product removal. - [Privacy policy](https://plainlabelguide.com/privacy/): What Plain Label Guide collects: newsletter email addresses, optional analytics, and anonymous affiliate-click counts. Describes current practice. - [Terms of use](https://plainlabelguide.com/terms/): Plain-language terms for using Plain Label Guide: general information only, dated content, affiliate links and how the terms may change. - [Medical and legal disclaimer](https://plainlabelguide.com/medical-disclaimer/): Plain Label Guide gives general information only. It is not medical advice, and product information can change. - [Review criteria](https://plainlabelguide.com/review-criteria/) - [Removals](https://plainlabelguide.com/removals/)