What Does Fragrance Mean | Sniffing Out the Problem With This Ingredient

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), fragrance is the #1 allergen in skincare. It is a leading cause of contact dermatitis ranking up there with poison ivy.

Let's dive into this wily little ingredient that continues to pop up in skincare products.

What does fragrance mean?

Fragrance is defined by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) as “any natural or synthetic substance or substances used solely to impart an odor to a cosmetic product.” (link)

The FDA exempts the term fragrance (sometimes listed as perfum, perfume) from having to be more specific. This is because of the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act passed in 1966. An act intended to protect the trade secrets and proprietary perfumes of companies like Coty & Chanel No.5.

Why are fragrances a problem?

Unfortunately for consumers, this regulation allows companies to hide ingredients that might contain synthetics, preservatives, or allergens under the catch-all term of fragrance.

"Synthetic fragrances are especially prone to wreak havoc on the skin."

This can be a big problem for people with sensitive or reactive skin. Synthetic fragrances in particular are especially prone to wreak havoc on the skin.

This can lead to a range of problems from dermatitis to disruption of skin barrier function, and exacerbate conditions such as eczema and rosacea. Yikes!

So what can you do?

Look for products that clearly disclose their ingredients and if there is a scent, plainly state what that is by listing the name of the ingredient as it appears in the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients  (INCI). 

This makes weeding out synthetic fragrances much easier. If you have sensitive skin avoid anything that contains ingredients like perfume, parfum, and fragrance.

You will also want to avoid certain essential oils like lemon which can cause photo sensitivity and irritation in certain people.

Our formulations do not include any synthetic fragrances.

At TellurideGlow we pride ourselves on creating formulas that are free of any synthetics and safe for your skin, it's in our GLOWPromise™. We take it a step further and ban (from our formulas) over 2,000 chemicals that are often found in skincare and cosmetic products.

For those with sensitive skin, our Purist Delicate Skin Serum is specifically formulated to be free from any fragrance allergens. Including naturally occuring scents from essential oils.

And if you love your skincare to have a scent but want to avoid synthetic fragrances, The Alpine Phytonutrient Serum is imbued with skin-fortifying essential oils like alpine lavender, Roman chamomile, and Frankincense.