Concerned about endocrine-disrupting chemicals in your cleaning routine? We suggest checking specific ingredients and product evidence rather than choosing by scent or the word natural alone. If you do not need fragrance, a clearly described fragrance-free option can help you avoid added fragrance ingredients; it does not establish that every endocrine-active substance is absent.
We use these terms carefully. Fragrance-free describes a formula without ingredients added for fragrance; unscented describes the intended scent profile, but the specific label still matters. Neither necessarily means completely odourless, because raw materials can have a smell of their own.
When you choose a laundry product, we suggest looking beyond a single scent claim on the front of the pack. Check what it refers to, which product it describes and whether the ingredient and label information supports it.
Fragrance-free does not mean every ingredient is odourless
Surfactants, enzymes, plant extracts and other ingredients can have their own smell. A product without added fragrance may still smell faintly of its raw materials. Formulation and production information, rather than a sniff test alone, establish what has been added.
Unscented does not establish suitability for every person
Scent preference, sensitivity to odours, skin irritation and allergy are different questions. Disliking a strong scent does not by itself establish an allergy, and a fragrance claim does not rule out a reaction to another ingredient. Dose, rinsing, fabric and known sensitivities also matter.
An unscented label alone does not establish that a product suits every sensitive person or every baby’s clothing. Read the actual intended use and relevant product information. Seek appropriate advice for persistent skin problems rather than treating the scent label as a medical assessment.
Scent and cleaning performance are different things
Assess visible stains, body soil, musty smells after drying and whether clothes have rinsed properly. Also check the machine, dose, loading and programme. Fragrance can mask a smell but does not prove that a stain has gone; a lack of fragrance does not show that cleaning was ineffective.
Different products in one brand can have different scents
We do not extend a fragrance claim for one product to our entire range or to every previous version of a product.
We offer lavender-scented laundry powder as well as unscented laundry sheets. These are different products, so we describe the scent and formulation of each one separately.
What to check before choosing
- The full product name: distinguish an official scent name from a seller’s added keyword.
- The exact claim: unscented, fragrance-free and free from one particular fragrance ingredient do not mean the same thing.
- The directions: overdosing, overloading and inadequate rinsing can cause problems even with an unscented product.
- Your requirements: check ingredients you know you need to avoid and the product’s intended use. Stop if irritation occurs and seek advice when it persists.
- The result in use: for a new laundry product, start with a small suitable load and observe dissolution, rinsing and scent. A trial does not prove that no allergic reaction can occur.
How we describe our products
We explain the scent and formulation of each product individually, rather than extending one product’s characteristics to our entire range. Where a product is described as having no added fragrance, its raw materials may still have a slight smell.
Fragrance-free concerns the formula, unscented concerns the stated scent profile, and odourless describes a sensory impression. Read these descriptions together with the specific product label.
Read the original Chinese article
Reducing unnecessary exposure: what an endocrine-disruptor claim means
NIEHS explains endocrine-disrupting chemicals as substances that may mimic, block or interfere with hormones. They can be natural or manufactured, and exposure can come from several sources, including food, air, water and some consumer products. This is a question about particular chemicals and exposure, not a way to classify every synthetic fragrance as harmful or every plant ingredient as safe.
A practical checklist for cleaning-product choices
- Start with the actual product: check the current variant, ingredient disclosure, intended use and instructions. Ask about a named substance if you have a specific concern; a broad natural claim does not answer it.
- Separate cleaning from scent: if fragrance is not a feature you want, avoid adding scent-only laundry boosters or layering several fragranced products. This simplifies fragrance exposure; it is not a measured reduction in endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
- Check what fragrance-free means: essential oils used to scent a product are still fragrance materials. A botanical scent is not a substitute for a fragrance-free option.
- Use the directed amount: do not add more product just for stronger scent. Complete the washing and rinsing steps. These are use practices, not a home test for endocrine effects.
- Match evidence to the claim: for a free-from statement, check the substances covered, product or batch, date, method and detection limits. A test of selected substances is not a screen for every possible endocrine disruptor.
What does independent certification tell you?
EPA’s Safer Choice programme reviews product ingredients and other criteria. Its additional fragrance-free criteria address fragrance materials. When a product presents a certification, check that the exact product appears in the issuer’s records and read the scope. We cite these criteria as a way to understand labels, not as a certification of our products.
Choosing within our range
Our essential-oil laundry powders are scented products; our unscented laundry sheets are a different product option. If your goal is to avoid added scent, do not choose an essential-oil powder on the assumption that botanical means fragrance-free. Review our product facts and current pack information, or ask us about a specific ingredient or product. Neither a scent description nor a switch of detergent establishes a change in hormone levels or overall exposure.
Endocrine-disruptor and fragrance questions
Does fragrance-free mean free of endocrine disruptors?
No. Fragrance-free describes fragrance ingredients, not a comprehensive assessment of every substance that could affect the endocrine system. Check the specific formula and the scope of any supporting evidence.
Are essential-oil detergents automatically a lower endocrine-disruptor exposure choice?
No such conclusion follows from the ingredient origin. Essential-oil scented products are not fragrance-free. Comparing exposure requires information about the particular substances, formulation and use conditions.
Does not detected on a test report mean zero?
Not detected refers to the tested substances under the stated method and detection limits. It does not mean every possible substance was tested or that its concentration is exactly zero.
Written by our Twiggy team · Updated September 27, 2026.