Increasing awareness of sensitive and allergic skin conditions is driving the fragrance-free product market forward into the mainstream.
Skins Matter’s Alex Gazzola went along to the Natural Health Trade Summit held at Ashton Gate Stadium in south-west Bristol in September to make some unscented discoveries in both the cosmetics and household sectors ….
Household cleaning is a chore for most of us, and one way manufacturers of cleaning and sundry products for the home make housework slightly more enjoyable is to add fragrance — something to breathe in and enjoy while you scrub.
But for many, that fragrance is a headache — literally — or else a rash or a wheeze or another unpleasant symptom typical of allergy or sensitivity or merely a straightforward dislike.
UK B Corp Certified brand BioD, a key exhibitor at the NHT Summit in Bristol, understands this well.
They have a number of fragrance-free products in their range which are approved by Britain’s major allergy charity Allergy UK — including washing-up liquid, toilet cleaner, fabric conditioner and laundry liquid.
Unlike a number of mainstream or supermarket brands, who make fragranced products their ‘main act’ and fragrance-free products almost an afterthought or token add-on, BioD put their allergy-friendly products front and centre.
Yes, they have soap bars in plum and mulberry and cleansing handwash in lime and aloe vera, but they are clearly proud of their extensive unscented options for those who need them.
And it was terrific to discover some new launches of personal care products from BioD at the Summit too — Fragrance Free Body Wash, Shampoo and Conditioner (pictured right). Each has a simple formulation of only eight ingredients or fewer, which is always appreciated by those who need to avoid not only one ingredient or set of ingredients, but multiple others too.
We were pleased to see other cosmetic and skincare exhibitors at the show as well, including some names familiar to us.
Australian brand Hope’s Relief, distributed for many years in the UK by Mahi Naturals, has won multiple Awards for its eczema- and dermatitis-friendly products over the years, including several Free From Skincare Awards.
Not all of their products are fragrance-free, but their vegan Moisturising Lotion fits the bill — and contains olive oil, glycerin, mango butter, shea butter, rosehip and calendula.
And so is their soap-free Cleansing Bar — containing Manuka Honey, aloe vera, calendula and glycerin.
Another previous Free From Skincare Awards winner in attendance at the Summit was Salt of the Earth, who produce 100% natural origin deodorants of wide diversity and formats, and have also won multiple awards for them.
Their Unscented Natural Deodorant Spray is hugely popular formulation based on various deodorising salts, but unscented options are also available in other formats — for instance, as a Roll On, as a Stick, as a Balm, and as a pure potassium alum crystal, which is also available in a kids’ version.
Several of these options are refillable.
Salt of the Earth are one of those brands for whom the fragrance free options may be outnumbered by their perfumed products, but are not merely an add-on, instead a core feature that sits proudly among their multiple fragranced options.
It’s always good to see smaller ‘one woman’ brands at trade events. It has been a tough few years for new independent brands and start-ups, and supporting them has never been more vital.
Derma Warrior, founded by Abeola (Abbey) Johnson, is perhaps the best example at this year’s summit. Abbey founded her brand after grappling for many years with eczema and topical steroid withdrawal (TSW) (Read more about her story here.)
She offers a Cocoa Butter with added vanilla extract (which gives the product a nice ‘smell’ but not a ‘fragrance’ per se), as well as a Zinc Barrier Balm, with a mix of natural oils such as castor, olive and jojoba, and extracts including plantain, comfrey and yarrow.
Her Gentle Balm is perhaps the simplest and most allergy-friendly option she offers — it contains only mango seed butter, rice bran wax and oil, castor oil and sunflower oil — though the Oat Soak arguably beats it, with only oat flour, sodium bicarbonate, cocoa butter and zinc oxide! The range is well worth getting to know for people with problem skin conditions.
Cheeky Panda are certainly better known for their tree-saving bamboo-based toilet paper, which includes an unbleached option, as well as kitchen roll and other dry wipes, but did you know they produced cosmetics in the form of wet wipes too?
We at Skins Matter certainly didn’t, and were pleased to learn that some fragrance-free options were included — the Baby Wipes, for your little ones, and Bamboo Face Wipes, which come in Unscented, but also Coconut, which is not considered a fragrance and will be suitable to many with fragrance sensitivities.
For the home, they also have Antibacterial Multi-Surface Cleansing Wipes, and Bamboo Handy Wipes.
The NHT Summit takes place three times annually in Bristol, Manchester and Dublin. The first event of 2027 is at Kimpton Clocktower, Manchester. See the NHT Summit Website for more information.