In the 90s when I worked at Saks Fifth Avenue in NYC, I owned tons of designer fragrances.

I could barely afford groceries, but I was wearing $200 fragrances. (in 1990s dollars!)

Every time a fragrance launched, we would get one for free.  I gave all the women’s scents to family and friends, but I kept the rest in big plastic bins for myself.

Then later, I owned a chain of bath and skincare stores, and we custom created hundreds of fragrances in products.

Little did we know that fragrance can be harmful to our bodies depending on how it is sourced or manufactured.

Now to be perfectly honest, sometimes I still indulge in a little spritz on a Friday or Saturday night.  I mean, I am GenX so there isn’t much you can still do to me that I haven’t endured. LOL.

And, you gotta live a little.

But I am more mindful of the amount that I put on my body and who I buy it from.

And when it comes to skincare, I do insist on FRAGRANCE FREE because we apply skincare all over our body and face.  That’s a lot of surface area that we need to protect.

Let’s break it down.

1. Fragrance & Hormonal Health

“Fragrance” or “parfum” on an ingredient list can represent dozens — sometimes hundreds — of undisclosed chemical compounds like harmful phthalates.

Many synthetic fragrance ingredients have been identified as potential endocrine disruptors, meaning they may interfere with hormone signaling. That matters for teenagers navigating hormonal shifts, adults balancing stress and metabolism, and anyone concerned with long-term wellness.

This is IMPORTANT because…

Skin is not a barrier in the way we once thought — depending on the compound, it is an absorption pathway.

2. The Masking Fragrance Loophole

Even more concerning? Some brands add “masking fragrances” to neutralize the natural scent of raw materials — and they aren’t always transparent about it.  Effective, raw ingredients can be stinky.

We want them to work on our skin, but no one wants a cloying or rotten aroma.

Because fragrance formulas are protected as trade secrets, companies are not required to disclose their individual components.

The label may say “fragrance free,” yet still contain scent-altering agents hidden under vague terminology.

3. Essential Oils: Not Automatically Exempt

There’s also confusion around essential oils. If an essential oil is added above 1% purely to scent a formula, it does not truly qualify as fragrance free.

Essential oils can also cause inflammaging (that’s inflammation that leads to premature aging)

Sometimes essential oils are included in a formula to provide a therapeutic benefit.

Lavender added for calming inflammation is different from lavender added for aroma. Intent and concentration matter.

4. Fragrance & Inflammation

Fragrance is one of the most common causes of contact dermatitis and subclinical inflammation.

Even if you don’t see redness, your skin may be experiencing low-grade inflammatory stress — accelerating what we call inflammaging.

Fragrance can quietly compromise the barrier, increasing sensitivity over time.

So… Are Any Fragrances OK?

New CLEAN perfume companies are popping up lately that promise fragrances without any of the harsh side effects, like PHLUR.  Check them out.

I like their concept.  I personally haven’t found a fragrance there that trips my trigger.  But I am hopeful that the fragrance industry will be following their lead and formulating for the better over time.

In skincare? Fragrance offers no performance benefit.  Only some risk, especially when you remember that you are spreading that fragrance over large parts of your skin, not a little spritz on the wrist.

At SKIN AT WORK, we formulate without synthetic fragrance, masking agents, or decorative essential oil blends. Every ingredient must earn its place through clinical function — not sensory appeal.

Because skincare should work for your skin — not against your biology.