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Fragrance

What Fragrance is & what it does

An undisclosed mix of scent ingredients used to perfume a formula or mask raw-material odors. It provides sensory appeal but is a frequent trigger for sensitive skin.

What is Fragrance / Parfum in an ingredient list?

"Fragrance" (or "Parfum") is a catch-all term for the blend of scent ingredients added to make a product smell pleasant or to mask the raw smell of the other ingredients. The individual components are not listed because the blend is treated as a trade secret.

Is Fragrance bad for your skin?

Not for most people, but fragrance is one of the more common causes of irritation and allergic contact dermatitis, especially on sensitive or compromised skin. If you are prone to reactions, a fragrance-free sunscreen is the safer choice.

Why is fragrance added to sunscreen?

Mainly for user experience. UV filters and emollients can smell unappealing on their own, and a little fragrance masks that. It plays no role in sun protection, so fragranced and fragrance-free sunscreens can protect equally well.

Is Fragrance natural?

It depends on the blend. Fragrance can be natural essential oils, synthetic aroma molecules, or a mix, and the label word covers all of them without saying which. Natural fragrance is not automatically gentler; essential oils can be just as irritating or allergenic as synthetics.

Is Fragrance safe to use during pregnancy?

Fragrance has no specific pregnancy restriction, but if pregnancy leaves you more sensitive or queasy, a fragrance-free sunscreen is a comfortable choice. If your skin reacts easily, fragrance-free is the safer pick generally.

Sunscreens with Fragrance

We rate 3583 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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