Fragrance-Free and Unscented (What do these terms REALLY mean?)

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" Fragrance-Free " and " Unscented "

(What do these terms REALLY mean?)

_http://www.ourlittleplace.com/terms.html_

(http://www.ourlittleplace.com/terms.html)

Source:

_URL: http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-225.html_

(http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-225.html)

U. S. Food and Drug Administration

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

Office of Cosmetics Fact Sheet

December 19, 1994

FRAGRANCE FREE & UNSCENTED

The terms " fragrance free " and " unscented " are presently used by the

cosmetic industry virtually without restriction, since the expressions have no

legal

definitions. The majority of consumers consider these terms to be equivalent

and interchangeable and understand these terms to mean that a cosmetic

product so labeled has no perceptible odor.

Many raw materials used in the manufacture of cosmetics have characteristic

odors that may be considered offensive to consumers. Because of this

undesirable odor, cosmetic manufacturers add ingredients to their products to

both

cover any offensive odor originating from ingredients and to impart a fragrance

for marketing purposes. In the case of products labeled as " fragrance free "

or " unscented, " manufacturers generally add fragrance ingredients to cover

the offensive odor, but less than what is needed to impart a noticeable scent.

According to the law, all cosmetics offered for sale must include on the

label a list of ingredients in descending order of predominance. While most

ingredients must be listed by their chemical names, fragrances or flavors may

be

listed simply as " fragrance " or " flavor " . Although the cosmetic regulations

do not require the listing of fragrance ingredients present at low levels to

cover the off-odor of other ingredients, most manufacturers choose to list

them on the label.

In most cases, consumers may be able to purchase " unscented " or " fragrance

free " cosmetic products by examining the label to confirm the absence of the

word " fragrance " in the list of ingredients. By reading the ingredient

listing, consumers may be able to avoid cosmetic products which contain

ingredients

to which they are sensitive or otherwise wish to avoid.