Here at Woohoo, we skip synthetic fragrances in all our natural pit, skin and hair creations. And we have some good nose-worthy reasons.
But some of us need to go further than skipping synthetic fragrances. Some of us have to be wary of ALL fragrances… even natural ones. But it’s not as easy as you think!
Did you know there is a difference between “Fragrance-Free” and “Unscented”?
And that there might be scents hidden in your “unscented” products?
Below, we break down every *odor* you need to know about fragrances in your beauty products.
The science behind perfumes
Fragrances are complex mixtures that do more than make products smell divine (or occasionally give you a headache!). According to the smart folks at International Journal of Cosmetic Sciencethey contain a mixture of essential oils, aromatic compounds and stabilizers, both natural and synthetic.
Their primary goal? Making that lotion or potion irresistibly fragrant, or sometimes just *not* stinky. However, this blend may not always be skin or allergy friendly.
The downside of scented cosmetics
If you have allergies (or just a sensitive nose), you understand how uncomfortable using scented products can be. It is not uncommon to experience migraine headaches, respiratory problems and other health problems after using products containing fragrances.
Research from Journal of Contact Dermatitis also associates perfumes with skin disorders such as irritation, redness or dermatitis.
And this isn’t just for sensitive skin—anyone can experience a fragrance setback.
If you must use fragranced skin care products, your best bet is to avoid synthetic fragrances altogether and instead reach for products that contain natural fragrances (such as essential oils, natural food flavors, and hydrosols), provided you’re not allergic to them!
Understanding the Terms
This is where it can get really confusing. “Scent-free” and “scent-free” do NOT mean the same thing, and “scent-free” does not necessarily mean that it is free of fragrance-related allergens.
Let’s clarify the terms:
- Unscented: Contains no added fragrances, either synthetic or natural. It has no synthetic fragrances or essential oils.
- Unscented: Contrary to its name, this means that a product may still have fragrances (natural or synthetic) added to mask other odors. Even if you can’t detect a fragrance, the product may not be completely free of fragrance chemicals.
- Without essential oils: This omits natural essential oils, but can still accommodate synthetic fragrances or other flavoring agents.
- No synthetic fragrance: Synthetic fragrances are excluded, but may include natural essential oils or natural fragrances.
So as you can see, for those of us who are triggered by scents, the only way to avoid every possible fragrance allergen is to go Fragrance Free.
The Woohoo Way
With Woohoo, you’re in for a great line of products that have your back… and face, and bums, and hair, and body… and, well, you Geddit! We’ve carefully curated our skin, deo and hair delights to ensure every sniff is a pleasurable experience with no side effects.
All of our products fall into one or more of the fragrance buckets:
- No synthetic fragrance – these are ALL our products (yes!). This is because even when we use fragrance, it comes from natural essential oils or natural food flavors. There are no synthetic fragrances to be found here!
- Without Essential Oils – We have a whole range of products that do not contain essential oils. See them here. This range includes some products that are lightly flavored with natural food flavors or hydrosols, as well as those that are unscented at all.
- No fragrance – Our fragrance-free products are 100% free of anything that can irritate your skin, including essential oils, natural flavors and hydrolyzates. Absolute all-time best-sellers in this category include: Mellow Natural Deodorant, You Crack Me Up Lip Balm, FG Serum 1 – Glow and Manpit Detox Mask! Check out the unscented range here.
- No fragrance – We have *one* product that falls under the “Unscented” category – our best-selling moisturizer, Over the Moon Rich Repair Cream. It is unscented because we used Rose Hydrosol to mask the natural scent of another ingredient. Even though we added rose, it doesn’t smell like rose because we only used a small piece.
Woohoo Natural Deodorant & Anti-Chafe Stick (Mellow) 60gr
$16.95
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‘You make me laugh!’ Lip Balm
$11.95
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Pssst… Wondering what Hydrosol is? Hydrosols are water-based products made by distilling fresh flowers, leaves, fruits, and other plant materials. They are often known as “flower waters” and we like to use them occasionally to add subtle scents to our creations.
So remember, while a heavily scented lotion or potion may seem like a slice of heaven, for some of us the risks may not be worth the sniff.
Always make sure to do your research, or better yet, explore Woohoo’s fragrance-free + fragrance-free and essential oil ranges 😀
“Respect My Roots” natural shampoo and conditioner pack.
$55.90
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‘FG’ Serum 01 – Glow (aging skin)
$64.95
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