Fragrance Complex / Perfume / Allergen
Fragrance in skincare is listed as "fragrance" or "parfum" on ingredient labels, often representing a complex mixture of dozens to hundreds of individual chemical compounds. It is the single most common cause of allergic contact dermatitis in cosmetics. The 26 most allergenic fragrance chemicals identified by the EU must now be listed individually at concentrations above 0.001% (leave-on) or 0.01% (rinse-off). Natural (essential oil-derived) fragrances are not inherently safer than synthetic ones — many essential oils are highly allergenic.
Fragrance serves no functional skincare purpose and carries allergy risk — particularly problematic for rosacea, eczema, and sensitive skin. For any compromised or reactive skin, the safest choice is fragrance-free formulations. "Unscented" is not the same as fragrance-free — masking fragrances may still be present.
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