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Ingredient dictionary

Fragrance

Also listed as: Parfum, Aroma

Fragrance is a blend of scented ingredients added to a product to give it a pleasant smell. Checked against our library November 6, 2026.

The catch: fragrance is the most common cause of cosmetic contact allergy, so sensitive, eczema-prone and rosacea-prone skin usually does better without it.

  • Fragrance. Fragrance is the most common cause of cosmetic contact allergy. Sensitive, eczema-prone and rosacea-prone skin usually does better without it.

What Fragrance does

  • Gives the product a pleasant scent
  • Covers the smell of other ingredients
  • Makes products more enjoyable to use

Fragrance is a mix of aroma ingredients. Some are made in a lab, and some come from natural sources such as flower, citrus or wood oils. Perfumers blend these to create a particular scent. Because the exact recipe is often kept private, the label may just say Fragrance, even when the blend holds many separate ingredients.

Formulators add fragrance so a product smells pleasant, which many shoppers look for in shampoo, lotion or deodorant. A good scent can also cover the natural smell of other ingredients. In a finished product, fragrance is usually present in small amounts.

Good for

Good for people who enjoy a scent in their routine and whose skin tolerates added fragrance well.

Be careful if

Fragrance is the most common cause of cosmetic contact allergy, so sensitive, eczema-prone and rosacea-prone skin usually does better without it.

Frequently asked questions

Is fragrance bad for skin?

Fragrance suits many people, but it is a common cause of contact allergy. Skin that is sensitive, eczema-prone or rosacea-prone often does better with products that have no added fragrance. If your skin reacts to a product, try a fragrance-free version and see whether the irritation settles.

Is fragrance-free the same as unscented?

Fragrance-free means no fragrance has been added. Unscented can still contain a small amount of fragrance to cover the natural smell of the base ingredients. If you react to fragrance, look for fragrance-free on the label rather than unscented.