Fragrance

Description: Fragrance — scent.

All Functions: scent

Quick Facts:

• Category: fragrance
• Also Known As: Parfum, fragancia, perfume, duftstoffe, fragrance
• Comedogenic Rating: 0/5

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Fragrance is a major factor in how consumers choose skincare and cosmetic products
• Fragrances mask unpleasant odors from oils and other common cosmetic ingredients
• Essential oils used as natural fragrances may offer skin benefits beyond just smell
• Fragrances are a common cause of allergic contact dermatitis in Europe and North America
• Fragrance allergies can range from mild contact urticaria to more serious systemic reactions

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🧪 Fragrance

Fragrance

CAS Number: —

Also Known As: Parfum, fragancia, perfume, duftstoffe, fragrance

Category: fragrance

Korean Name: 향료

Fragrance is a fragrance ingredient used in skincare formulations.

🌍 Regulatory Status

📊 Comedogenicity

0/5

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Fragrance serves multiple roles in skincare formulations beyond simply smelling good. According to *Molecules* (2021), fragrances are integral to cosmetic product selection and play a considerable role in masking undesirable odors from fatty acids, oils, and surfactants commonly found in formulations. Essential oils—plant-derived fragrances like citrus, lavender, eucalyptus, and tea tree oil—represent a growing category in the industry. *Molecules* notes that #1: essential oils can act as preservatives and active agents while imparting pleasant aromas, and #2: specific fragrance components like linalool, geraniol, limonene, citronellol, and citral are widely used in different cosmetic products. The trend toward natural fragrances has accelerated partly due to concerns about potential health risks from artificial fragrance chemicals.

However, there’s an important safety consideration: #3: fragrances are a common cause of allergic contact dermatitis in Europe and North America, according to *Dermatitis* (2014). These reactions can affect people at any age and range from contact urticaria (hives) to systemic contact dermatitis. *Dermatitis* emphasizes that improved allergen identification, labeling, and consumer education are being pursued to help prevent sensitization. Individual fragrance components have undergone toxicological review—for example, *Food and Chemical Toxicology* (2012) evaluated 2-phenyl-2-propanol, one fragrance ingredient in the Aryl Alkyl Alcohols class, examining its safety profile including skin irritation and sensitization data. If you have sensitive skin or a history of fragrance reactions, the sources suggest this is worth discussing with a dermatologist.

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

Derived from this ingredient’s irritancy potential and comedogenicity rating against the needs of each skin type — e.g. oily and acne-prone skin are marked down for pore-clogging ingredients, sensitive skin for irritants. A starting heuristic, not a dermatological verdict.

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

🧴 Products Containing Fragrance

• Old Spice Swagger
• Floressance, Léa Nature Huile 100% naturelle Avocat
• Kneipp Pflegeölbad Mandelblüten Hautzart
• Kneipp Intensivbalsam 10 urea
• Kneipp 2 in 1 Dusche Lemongras Guarana
• Kneipp Sensitiv Handcreme Mandelöl
• Kneipp Soin Lèvres Menthe aquatique – Aloe Vera
• Rituals Serenity Indian Rose & Sweet Almond Oil
• Speick Rasierseife
• Speick Men After Shave Balsam Sensitiv
• ANNEMARIE BÖRLIND mild shampoo
• Tabac Deodorant Stick
• Gehwol, Gehwol med Fußbad
• Henkel,Syoss Power Shampoo for Men
• Henkel, Göt2b Matt-Paste Strand Matte
• Logona Shampooing soin brillance
• Logona Nettoyant 3 en 1
• DR. Hauschka Kosmetik, Dr. Hauschka Lait crème pour le corps lavande bois de santal
• Lavera Anti-Schuppen-Schampoo
• Lavera Shampooing anti-pelliculaire

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Sharmeen JB et al. (2021). Essential Oils as Natural Sources of Fragrance Compounds for Cosmetics and Cosmeceuticals. Molecules.
• Storrs FJ (2007). Fragrance. Dermatitis.
• Cheng J et al. (2014). Fragrance allergic contact dermatitis. Dermatitis.
• Beck MH (2000). Fragrance allergy. Br J Dermatol.
• Scognamiglio J et al. (2012). Fragrance material review on 2-phenyl-2-propanol. Food Chem Toxicol.

📰 Recent News

• Gap Dreams Up a New Take on Its ’90s Fragrances (Allure)
• These Summer Fragrances Capture the Season in a Single Spritz (Oprah Daily)
• Okay, We’ll Bite: Fruity Perfumes Are Cool (Allure)
• Update to RIFM fragrance ingredient safety assessment, propenylguaethol, CAS Registry Number 94-86-0 (PubMed)
• Fragrance in Dermatology: Revisiting Sensitization and Clinical Use (PubMed)