Ingredient dictionary

Parfum

Also listed as: Fragrance, Aroma, Parfum/Fragrance

Parfum is the scent blend added to a product to give it its smell, often a mix of many natural and lab-made aroma materials. It is on the label of 77 products in our library. 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 Parfum does

Gives a product its scent
Masks the odor of other ingredients
Makes the product pleasant to use

Parfum is a blend of many aroma materials. Some come from plants, such as essential oils, and others are made in a lab. Perfumers mix them to build a specific scent. The exact recipe is usually kept private, so the label groups it under one name.

Formulators use it to give a product a pleasant, steady smell and to mask the odor of other ingredients. In a shampoo, lotion or deodorant, it shapes how the product feels to use. Its main effect is sensory, so it adds scent but does not moisturize or cleanse.

Good for

Shoppers who enjoy a scent in their routine and have skin that 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 parfum the same as fragrance?

Yes, on most labels they mean the same thing. Both name the scent added to the product. Parfum is the INCI term, the standard name used across ingredient labels worldwide.

Is parfum bad for sensitive skin?

It can be for some people. Fragrance is the most common cause of cosmetic contact allergy. If your skin is sensitive, eczema-prone or rosacea-prone, a fragrance-free product is usually the better choice.