Why You Should Skip Synthetic Fragrances in Skincare

February 20, 2025 Courtney MacDougall

When shopping for skincare products, the word “fragrance” on an ingredient label might seem harmless—even enticing. After all, who doesn't want their skin to smell amazing? But what if we told you that a single word could be hiding a cocktail of harmful chemicals?

In this blog, we’ll explain why skipping synthetic fragrances is so beneficial for your skin, your health, and even the planet.

The Shocking Lack of Regulation in Fragrances

Did you know fragrance ingredients are almost completely unregulated by the FDA? This stems from a loophole in the 1973 Federal Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, which was designed to protect trade secrets. Because fragrances are considered proprietary formulas, companies are allowed to simply list “fragrance” or “parfum” without disclosing the hundreds of potentially harmful chemicals used in the blend.

This means that every time you apply a fragranced product, you might be unknowingly exposing yourself to allergens, endocrine disruptors, and even carcinogens. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has flagged synthetic fragrances as some of the most concerning ingredients in personal care products. So, what’s really hiding behind that pleasant aroma? Let's take a look.

The Hidden Toxins in Synthetic Fragrance

Because brands aren’t required to disclose the full list of fragrance chemicals, here are just a few of the harmful substances often lurking behind that one innocent-sounding word:

Phthalates – Used to make scents last longer, these chemicals are known endocrine disruptors, interfering with hormone function and potentially contributing to reproductive issues.
Parabens – Often used as preservatives, parabens found in fragrances have been linked to hormone disruption and breast cancer concerns.
Benzene Derivatives: Benzene is a well-documented carcinogen, and exposure to benzene derivatives has been linked to an increased risk of leukemia and other blood disorders. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies benzene as a Group 1 carcinogen, indicating that there is sufficient evidence of its carcinogenicity in humans.
Toluene: Found in some fragrances, toluene can impact the nervous system, resulting in headaches, dizziness, and brain fog.
Styrene – A neurotoxin and possible carcinogen often found in synthetic fragrance blends.
Synthetic Musks – These bioaccumulative chemicals are linked to hormone disruption and have been detected in both human breast milk and fatty tissue.

How Synthetic Fragrances Harm Your Skin

Beyond the health concerns, synthetic fragrances can wreak havoc on your skin in several ways:

Irritation & Sensitization: Fragrance is one of the top culprits behind contact dermatitis, which leads to redness, rashes, and inflammation. Even if you don’t have sensitive skin, you might experience irritation, breakouts, or allergic reactions—sometimes without even realizing it’s the fragrance causing it.
Dryness & Barrier Disruption: Many fragrance chemicals can strip your skin of its natural oils, leaving it feeling dry, flaky, and more vulnerable to environmental stressors. This can lead to a weakened skin barrier that’s less equipped to protect you.
Premature Aging: Synthetic fragrances can trigger inflammatory reactions that break down collagen in your skin, speeding up the formation of fine lines and wrinkles over time.

The Environmental Impact of Synthetic Fragrance

It’s not just your skin that suffers. Our planet does too. Many synthetic fragrance chemicals, like musks and phthalates, don’t break down easily in the environment. Instead, they build up in our oceans, harming marine life and disrupting ecosystems.

This is a cause close to our hearts, which is why we partner with SEE turtles, a program dedicated to grassroots sea turtle conservation and ocean cleanup. Every product you buy saves at least one baby sea turtle and help clean up oceans and beaches around the world.

Learn more about the sea turtle programs we support in this blog.

How to Spot & Avoid Synthetic Fragrances in Skincare

Avoid products that list “fragrance” or “parfum” – Unless it explicitly states natural fragrances only and discloses where the scent comes from (ie: essential oils), you can assume that pleasant scent is made from synthetic chemicals.
Watch out for misleading terms – Labels like “unscented” or “hypoallergenic” don’t always mean fragrance-free. Some contain masking fragrances to neutralize an unpleasant smell.
Create a truly natural skincare routine – Look for fragrance free skincare brands (like Blue Heron Botanicals!) that use only botanical extracts, essential oils, and other natural ingredients for a safe scent.

Choosing Fragrance-Free, Skin-Friendly Alternatives

At Blue Heron, our synthetic-fragrance-free products are handcrafted with 100% natural, certified organic, and sustainably harvested ingredients - many of them grown and harvested right on our Founder, Theora's off-grid property in California. We use zero synthetic fragrances or synthetic ingredients of any kind. Plus, we disclose the origin of every ingredient on our website. Because transparency is everything when you're looking for products and brands you can trust.

And the good news is, all your favorite scents - citrusy, sweet, fruity, musky, gourmand - are found in nature. There's no need to create a toxin-laden synthetic version when nature contains the pure, undiluted aromas that synthetics try to imitate. And the best part? Essential oils don’t just smell incredible—they offer real, science-backed benefits for the mind and body, from soothing stress, promoting relaxation, reducing pain and inflammation, improving sleep, and boosting energy and focus.

When you smell our deeply nourishing and restorative Lip Balms and Skincare, you'll see why synthetic fragrance is 100% not necessary for a delicious, intoxicating scent. Each product takes you on a sensory journey, from the rich, grounding aroma of organic plant extracts, the fresh zest of citrus peels, and the delicate floral notes of hand-harvested blossoms. We use 100% organic and sustainably sourced essential oils, derived from nature’s most fragrant botanicals—never synthetic imitations.