Fragrance | What to Look for on Labels

What I've learned:

➡️ not something I automatically trust on a label

➡️ transparency matters more than the word itself

➡️ I’m only comfortable with it when brands fully disclose what’s actually in it

Quick overview.... full breakdown below ⬇️

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Generally speaking, fragrance isn’t something you typically want to see on a label.

It can also look like: parfum / fragrance / flavor

The issue: it’s an umbrella term that can contain up to 4,000+ ingredients under “trade secrets” which means the company does not have to disclose what’s actually in it.

That’s why this is something to be aware of...

When something is hidden behind a general term, you don’t actually know:

➡️ what ingredients are being used

➡️ how they were sourced or processed

➡️ or how your body may react to them

That means it can include things like:

➡️ endocrine disruptors

➡️ carcinogens

➡️ allergens

AND there’s no way to filter that out just by reading the label unless the company lists it. Not every fragrance is automatically “bad,” but without transparency, there’s just no way to evaluate it.

So even if you’re trying to be intentional about what you’re using, this is one of those areas where you can’t always see the full picture.

BUT… here’s where it gets a little more nuanced

I have personally seen:

  • brands list “fragrance” with full transparency underneath ✅
  • brands provide a full ingredient breakdown when emailed ✅

This is not as common, but it DOES happen. So for me, transparency is really the deciding factor.

If a company responds vaguely like: “our ingredients are clean, non-toxic, etc”… that’s not enough for me. I want to be able to make my own decision based on what’s actually in it.

➡️ This also applies to: natural fragrance, natural flavors, flavors

It’s also worth noting that some brands do use safer synthetic fragrance components or essential oils. And when those are disclosed, it gives you the ability to actually evaluate them.

At the end of the day, I just want to know exactly what I’m using so I can make an informed decision for me and my family.

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➡️  Click here to see my full Instagram post on fragrance + examples

You can check out a few other ingredients like this too.

Lead → HERE
Mica → HERE

Hi, I’m Destiny. 

I break down ingredients and share low-tox swaps in a simple, no-overwhelm way. I personally check every ingredient list before I share anything, so you can feel confident in what you’re choosing. Mom of 3, so I keep things realistic.

If you want to see what I use and recommend, you can browse my Top Picks here →