Parfum (fragrance)

Parfum (fragrance) stands for a mixture of scent substances. The label does not name them all. Some of them cause contact allergy, so people with sensitive skin and parents of babies often look for products without it.

What it is

Parfum appears in creams, shampoos, soaps, deodorants and many baby products. "Aroma" is the matching word for flavourings in food.

How IngrediScan rates it

These levels come from the fixed rules in the IngrediScan app. A low level means the rules found little or no concern for that profile. It does not mean the ingredient is safe for everyone.

ProfileSkin (cosmetics)
AdultMedium
ChildMedium
InfantMedium
DogNo concern found
CatNo concern found

A fragrance mixture is unspecified and can hold sensitisers, so the app flags it for skin use. A product that names its fragrance allergens gives you more information than one that lists only parfum.

Basis of the ratings: published studies.

Possible concerns: Allergenic.

The app's rationale (exact text)

Rules and use

The EU requires fragrance allergens to be named when they exceed 0.001 % in leave-on products or 0.01 % in rinse-off products. Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 grew the list from 26 to 82 substances.

Read the guide: Fragrance allergens in cosmetics

Sources

Related ingredients

Last reviewed: 2026-10

The assessment is for information only. It does not replace the manufacturer's label or advice from a doctor or vet. Text recognition (OCR) can miss part of a label. No result does not mean the product is safe.