Fragrance-Free Skincare: Why Skip Fragrance?

Why choose fragrance-free skincare?

Because fragrance is one of the most common causes of skin reactions, and it is the one part of a label you cannot see inside. Every other ingredient has to be named, but a fragrance blend can be listed as the single word "fragrance" or "parfum", even when it is made of many separate compounds. If your skin reacts easily, or you just want to know exactly what you are putting on it, fragrance-free removes that unknown.

What "fragrance" or "parfum" on a label means

Cosmetics sold in Australia have to list their ingredients from most to least. Fragrance is the exception that makes a label hard to read: the blend can appear as one word. That is legal and very common. It just means the label cannot tell you what is in that part of the product.

Fragrance is not always a villain. Plenty of people use scented products with no problem. But if you have ever reacted to a cream and could not work out why, the fragrance line is a good place to start.

Fragrance-free versus unscented

• Fragrance-free should mean nothing has been added for scent.
• Unscented sometimes means the product contains a masking fragrance to cover the smell of its other ingredients, so it smells of nothing.
• Essential oils are fragrance too. "Natural fragrance" and a list of essential oils can irritate sensitive skin just as easily as a synthetic blend.

The only reliable way to tell is to read the ingredient list, not the front of the pack.

How to check a label in ten seconds

1. Turn the product over and find the ingredient list.
2. Look for the words fragrance, parfum, aroma, or any essential oil (lavender, tea tree, citrus and so on).
3. Check the end of the list too. Fragrance is often near the bottom, but it is still there.

Our ten-second label test walks through the rest of a label the same way.

Why AusTallow is fragrance-free

AusTallow has three ingredients: Australian grass-fed beef tallow, beeswax and olive oil. No fragrance, no essential oils. A lot of tallow balms add scent to cover the smell of a fast, hot render. We render slowly and strain the tallow several times instead, so there is nothing to cover. You may notice a faint natural beeswax note in the jar. More on that in does tallow balm smell like beef?

Fragrance-free does not mean nobody will ever react. Anyone can react to anything, including natural fats and beeswax, so patch-test any new product on your inner forearm first.

AusTallow is a cosmetic moisturiser. It is not a therapeutic good and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or skin condition. Information on this page is general in nature. If you have a diagnosed skin condition, speak to your GP or dermatologist.