WHY BE FRAGRANCE FREE?
Part of EBMC's mission is that we are rooted in diversity and committed to building inclusive community. This is an ongoing invitation to a practice of openness, compassion and constant learning.
An increasing number of people in our community are harmed by a variety of common chemicals and fragrances -- due to allergies, asthma or other chemical sensitivity, they may have difficulty breathing, migraine headaches, flu-like symptoms and more. When we come to EBMC having used products on our bodies or clothing that include fragrances or chemicals, those who are allergic or sensitive are faced with the choice to stay and get sick or leave and be excluded.
Please practice with this awareness at EBMC, and help us make EBMC accessible to all by coming to EBMC fragrance free. May we all be healthy and free from harm.
HOW TO BE FRAGRANCE FREE?
Important things do:
- Wear clothes laundered in fragrance-free laundry detergent
- Avoid laundry softeners such as “Bounce.”
- Use fragrance-free soap, shampoo and hair products
- Use fragrance-free lotion
- Avoid cologne, aftershave lotion, and perfume
- Read the ingredient labels on all products used on your body or clothing
- Test each product with your nose or ask a friend with a good sense of smell. Many products are mistakenly marked “unscented” or “fragrance-free” (but actually contain masking scents that can be very harmful).
- Don’t be afraid to trust your naturally occurring pheromones rather than using added-on scents!
For more information about being fragrance free, please read the articles and resources linked in the right-side column of this page.
(PARTIAL) LIST OF FRAGRANCE-FREE PRODUCTS
This is not meant to be a comprehensive list -- new fragrance-free products are emerging every day.
Please note that many products are made by manufacturers who also make scented products. Be sure to buy the unscented or fragrance-free variety!
An excellent all-around product for use in washing body, hair, laundry and housecleaning is Dr Bronner's Organic Pure-Castille Liquid Soap - Unscented. It's very concentrated and only a small amount is used by diluting it in water. This is the soap used at EBMC.
- Shea butter with no fragrance added -- available at Ashby Flea, and online at www.back2africa.com
- Unscented Shea Butter Lotion from Sungold
- SunFood Nutrition Shea Butter; available at www.vitacost.com
- Nourish Skin Organic Raw Shea Butter Intensive Moisturizer; available at GNC or at www.vitacost.com
- "Organic Essence" Pure Organic Shea Butter-- fairly traded, fragrance free; available at www.vitacost.com
- Out Of Africa Organic Shea Butter Body Oil Unscented; avail at www.walgreens.com
- Coconut oil or sweet almond oil -- great for hair and skin, widely available
- Fierce Bodies -- "non-toxic products for fierce bodies." Has some great products specifically for POC hair. fiercebodies.com
- Beijaflores -- great shea butter hair lotions and pomades. You can request that she make it scent free when you order. (available from Etsy)
- Darcy's Botanicals -- nice shea based cremes and pomades (available from Etsy)
- Every Man Jack pomades, available at Walgreens, beauty supply, and online
- Fragrance free Dreadlock care from Vital Good -- if you don't see it up on the site, she is happy to make some for you if you request it (available from Etsy)
- Oyin handmade -- "really nice Black-owned indie natural/handmade bodycare line. Their body oils, deodorants and Shea Puddings come unscented." www.oyinhandmade.com
- Queen Helene cocoa butter stick and plain cocoa butters.
- Jojoba oil, fragrance free, available at Food Mill in Oakland, 3033 Macarthur Blvd, Oakland - (510) 482-3848
- A, D & E lotion, fragrance free (body lotion that can be used on hair), available at Body Time, 2 locations: (a) 5521 College Avenue, Oakland, CA 94618 - (510) 547-4116; (b) 1942 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA - (510) 841-5818
- Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding. "Black owned hair product line; the 'sensitive sniffer' curly creme is unscented. People have wildly different opinions on Miss Jessie's- some love it, some think it's super drying and overrated." Avaialble online at www.missjessies.com and at Target, and some Walgreens. Their toll-free number is 1-888-JESSIE-6.
- Naani products, available at http://www.naani.com/store . Click on “fragrance free” in the “Shop naani products” column. Fragrance-free products include shea butter crèmes and a lotion spray.
- Alba Botanica Very Emollient Unscented Original Body Lotion; can be used on dry or curly hair and scalp (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- Eucerin Calming Creme, Fragrance Free; can be used on dry or curly hair and scalp (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
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SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER & DETANGLER
- AVALON ORGANICS Olive & Grape Seed Moisturizing Shampoo
- DESERT ESSENCE organic fragrance free pure shampoo & conditioner (available at Berkeley Bowl)
- Druide Pur and Pure Shampoo
- EARTH SCIENCE Pure Essentials fragrance-free shampoo & conditioner
- JASON Daily Shampoo Fragrance Free and Fragrance-Free Conditioner (available at Berkeley Bowl)
- Logona Free Shampoo
- Magick Botanicals Oil Free / Fragrance Free Shampoo and Conditioner
- Magick Botanicals Fragrance Free Hair Detangler and Shine
- Sungold fragrance-free shampoo (available only online)
- Unicure Natural Shampoo Sensitive Skin Formula
- Unicure Hair and Skin Conditioner
- Homemade body and hair cleaner: pour 1 cup boiling water over one tablespoon baking soda. It's watery, but works well and removes odors.
HAIR OIL, HAIR GEL, HAIR SPRAY - Aloe vera (plain), comes in a tube or bottle, available at Walgreens and health food stores
- Coconut oil or sweet almond oil or shea butter
- Homemade hairstyling gel: dissolve 1 teaspoon gelatin in 1 cup warm water and chill.
- Autumn Harp's Un-Petroleum Jelly
- Free & Clear Hair Styling Gel by Psico (psico.com)
- Magick Botanicals Fragrance Free Hair Spray
- Magick Botanicals Fragrance Free Styling Gel
- Miss Jessie's Unscented Curly Pudding. The scent-free version is for people with “sensitive sniffers”. missjessies.com 1-888-JESSIE-6.
- Real Purity Hair Gel, available at refreshinglyfree.com
- Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer, SPF 15, Fragrance Free (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- Jason All-Natural Fragrance Free Quick Clean Make-up Remover
- Jason Fragrance Free Daily Facial Cream
- Jason Red Elements Daily Moisturizing Creme with SPF 15 Normal to Dry
- Jason Red Elements Hydrating Night Creme All Types
- Jason Red Elements Lifting Eye Cream All Types
- Jason Red Elements Red Clay Masque
- Jason Vitamin E Age Renewal Moisturizing Crème -- 25000 IU
- Kiss My Face Fragrance Free Olive & Aloe™ Ultra Moisturizer
- Neutrogena Liquid Neutrogena, Facial Cleansing Formula, Fragrance Free (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- Neutrogena Transparent Facial Bar Soap, Fragrance Free (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- Nivea for Men Sensitive Lotion Moisturizes & Protects - Fragrance, Dye & Alcohol Free SPF 4 (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum, Fragrance Free (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- A, D & E lotion, fragrance free (body lotion that can also be used on hair). Available at Body Time in Oakland (find locations on line).
- Alba Botanica Very Emollient Unscented Original Body Lotion; can also be used on dry or curly hair and scalp (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion with Natural Colloidal Oatmeal Fragrance Free
- Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Lotion, Fragrance Free (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Moisture Cream, Fragrance Free (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- Aveeno Active Naturals Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion with Soothing Oat Essence, Fragrance Free (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- Eucerin Calming Creme, Fragrance Free; can be used on dry or curly hair and scalp (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair Body Creme, Fragrance Free (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- JASON Natural Cosmetics Vitamin E Hand & Body Lotion, Fragrance Free (avail at Rainbow Grocery, Berkeley Bowl, the Food Mill)
- Jason Fragrance Free Hand And Body Lotion SPF 15 (avail at Rainbow Grocery, Berkeley Bowl, the Food Mill)
- Jason Fragrance Free Hand And Body Lotion (avail at Rainbow Grocery, Berkeley Bowl, the Food Mill)
- Jojoba oil, fragrance free. (available from the Food Mill in Oakland, and other sources).
- Keri Basic Essentials Hypoallergenic, Fragrance-Free Lotion, Basic Essentials (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- Kiss My Face Fragrance Free Olive & Aloe Moisturizer
- Lubriderm Daily Moisture Fragrance Free Lotion, For Normal to Dry Skin (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- NEUTROGENA fragrance free Body Oil (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream, Fragrance Free (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Intensive Moisture Wrap Body Treatment, Fragrance Free (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- Nourish Skin Organic Raw Shea Butter Intensive Moisturizer; available at GNC or at www.vitacost.com
- "Organic Essence" Pure Organic Shea Butter-- fairly traded, fragrance free; available at www.vitacost.com
- Out Of Africa Organic Shea Butter Body Oil Unscented; avail at www.walgreens.com
- Palmer's Therapeutic Hand Cream, Fragrance Free, SPF 8 (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- Pure unscented aloe gel
- Pure unscented vegetable oils: almond, olive, avocado, apricot kernel, coconut.
- Shea butter with no fragrance added -- available at Ashby Flea, and online at www.back2africa.com
- St. Ives Intensive Healing Hand Cream, Fragrance-Free (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- St. Ives Intensive Healing Body Cream, Fragrance Free (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- SunFood Nutrition Shea Butter; available at www.vitacost.com
- Unscented Shea Butter Lotion from Sungold
- Vitamin E oil
- Now Cocoa Butter
- Now Lanolin
- Queen Helene Cocoa Butter Stick
- Spectrum Coconut Oil
- Alba Botanica Very Emollient Unscented Original Body Lotion; can be used on dry or curly hair and scalp (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- Eucerin Calming Creme, Fragrance Free; can be used on dry or curly hair and scalp (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
Brands that include some fragrance-free options: Almay, Beauty Without Cruelty (BWC), Burt's Bees, Clinique, Ecco Bella, Gabriel Color, No Miss, Physician's Formula, Zia, Zuzu Luxe.
Info on some brands:
- Almay
- Some local stores, such as Rite-Aid on Broadway/14th, carry fragrance-free Almay makeup
- The Guide to Less Toxic Products states that all Almay cosmetics are fragrance-free. See lesstoxicguide.ca
- Clinique
- Many (or all) of the Clinique make-up products are fragrance-free
- Available at Sephoria in Emeryville and at some SF department stores, like Macy’s.
- Physician's Formula
- Available at many drugstores. See physiciansformula.com
- Many (maybe all) of their products are fragrance free (check it out at google)
- Alba Botanica unscented cream shave, tube, 8 oz.
- Kiss My Face Fragrance Free Moisture Shave
- Trader Joe's Moisturizing Cream Shave (for Men and Women) - Fragrance Free (in the BLUE tube)
- Batherapy 100% Natural Colloidal Oatmeal Bath
- Epsom Salts unscented
- Masada Unscented Dead Sea Mineral Bath Salts
- Baltimore Soaps and More (available at Etsy)
- Clearly Natural Unscented Glycerin Soap
- Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castille Unscented Baby Mild Soap
- Green Mountain Soap Co. Soap
- Kiss My Face Pure Olive Oil Bar Soap
- Magick Botanicals Simmons Special Unscented Soap
- Nature Clean Face and Body Bar Soap
- Neutrogena Original Unscented
- Pangea Organics Pure & Scentless
- Sungold Unscented, fragrance-free bar soap (available only online)
- Tom’s Unscented Natural Moisturizing or Deodorant Body Bar
- African black soft soap (traditional, unscented) available from James Quartey (who is a direct distributor for women and children in his native Ghana; cell is 713-703-0241 – I’ve been buying his soap for 2 years and love it! --Diana).
- Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Creamy Wash, Fragrance Free (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash, Fragrance Free (available at drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores)
- Birch Hill Happenings Unscented Liquid Hand Soap
- Clearly Natural Unscented Glycerin Soap
- DESERT ESSENCE body wash fragrance free (avail at Rainbow Grocery, Berkeley Bowl, the Food Mill)
- Dr. Bronner's Organic Castille Soap -- Unscented
- Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castille Unscented Baby Mild Soap
- Green Mountain Soap Co. Liquid Soap
- Jason Satin Shower Body Wash Fragrance Free (avail at Rainbow Grocery, Berkeley Bowl, the Food Mill)
- Kiss My Face Fragrance Free Moisture Soap
- Magick Botanicals Cleanser and Body Wash Unscented
- Nature Clean Au Naturelle Liquid Soap
- Organic and Nature Natural Liquid Hand Soap
- Pangea Organics Pure & Scentless Moisturizing Herbal Shower Gel
- Sungold fragrance-free liquid soap (available only online)
- Tom’s of Maine Natural Moisturizing Hand Soaps – Unscented
- Unscented Crystal or Stone Deodorants by various manufacturers
- Almay Fragrance Free Clear Gel Anti-Perspirant and Deodorant
- DERMAdoctor Total Nonscents ultra-gentle antiperspirant
- Jason Natural Deodorant Stick Fragrance Free (avail at Rainbow Grocery, Berkeley Bowl, the Food Mill)
- Kiss My Face Fragrance Free Active Enzyme Natural Stick Deodorant (avail at Rainbow Grocery, Berkeley Bowl, the Food Mill)
- Kiss My Face Fragrance Free Liquid Rock Roll-On Deodorant (avail at Rainbow Grocery, Berkeley Bowl, the Food Mill)
- Nature’s Gate Winter Clean Unscented Stick Deodorant
- Sure Anti-Perspirant Deodorant Clear Gel Unscented
- Sure Clear Dry Solid Unscented
- Sure Roll-On Unscented
- Homemade dusting powder: Make a mixture of cornstarch and baking soda. Use this as a dusting power under arms or wherever desired. For a ready-to-use product, go to www.bodytime.com and look for "dusting powder" under the after bath products.
- Alba Botanica Fragrance Free Sunscreen
- Badger Sunblock - "goes on smelling like food (coco butter, shea butter), but it wears off."
- Banana Boat Kids – Big Y unscented
- Kiss My Face Sun Screen with Oat Protein Complex
- Neutrogena Age Shield Sunblock, SPF 45, fragrance free. 4 fl. oz tube.
- Rocky Mountain Sunscreen, High Activity Sunscreen, SPF 30+; or High Exposure Sunscreen SPF 50+, both in a 2 fl. oz. tube; www.rmsunscreen.com.
- Bite Away Insect Repellent
- Solar Mosquito Guard (both available from Gaiam)
GENERAL
- Allens Naturally products (they make various cleaners, dishwashing liquids, etc.) www.allensnaturally.com
- Bon Ami scouring powder
- Dr Bronner's Organic Pure-Castille Liquid Soap - Unscented Be sure to buy the unscented version! Available online at Green Boat Stuff.
- Ecover cream scrub
-
Seventh Generation Free & Clear: Be sure to buy their Free & Clear (unscented) products, since they also sell scented ones. All purpose cleaner, glass & surface cleaner, plus laundry liquid and powder, and dishwashing liquid for hand washing and dishwasher.
DISH SOAP
- Bon Ami dish soap, free & clear
- Earth Friendly Products - Ultra Dishmate Hand Dishwashing Soap - Free and Clear (available at Berkeley Bowl)
- Green Works (Clorox) dishwashing liquid, free & clear
- Planet Ultra Dishwashing Liquid (available at Berkeley Bowl)
- Seventh Generation Free & Clear (both liquid dish soap and automatic dishwashing power) (available at Berkeley Bowl)
LAUNDRY DETERGENT
- Allens Naturally
- Arm & Hammer – Free of Perfumes & Dyes
- Baking or Washing Soda
- BIOKLEEN fragrance free, available at drugstore.com
- Borax
- ECOS Free and Clear Laundry Detergent
- Ecover Unscented
- GRAB GREEN 3-in-1 Laundry Detergent Pods, Grab Green Delicate Laundry Detergent Pods (at Berkeley Bowl)
- KIRKLAND laundry liquid, free & clear (at Costco)
- Shaklee Basic H – order through local Shaklee distributor
- Seventh Generation Free & Clear (of Perfumes & Dyes) (available online at Ecosumo and drugstore.com)
- Simple, Pure, Clean: Be sure to buy their unscented products, since they also sell scented ones. All purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner, hardwood floor cleaner, dusting spray, fabric softener, bleach alternative, abrasive cleaner, scouring powder. www.simplepureclean.com/buy_natural_cleaning_products.html 1-800-870-1697
- Sungold fragrance-free laundry soap (available only online)
- Tibetan soap rocks
- TIDE High Efficiency Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent fragrance free for sensitive skin
- Trader Joe’s powdered scent-free detergent (NOT the liquid type as it is scented!)
- White vinegar
STAIN REMOVER
- RESOLVE Stain Stick (formerly Spray & Wash)
FABRIC SOFTENER
- Fragrance-free, chemical-free, fume-free reusable dryer sheets (reusable 500 times) available through www.needs.com
- Safe 'N Soft Fabric Softener (link)
- Vinegar or baking soda in the rinse cycle
BLEACH (or ALTERNATIVE)
- Borax
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Oxy-Clean Powder Form
- Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Bleach
- Needs: www.needs.com
- Birch Hill Happenings: birchhillhappenings.com/baseprod.htm
- Refreshingly Free: www.refreshinglyfree.com
- Elysian Dream: www.elysiandream.com
- Miss Jessie's: www.missjessies.com
- Sungold Soap: azsungoldsoaps.com
- Terressentials: www.terressentials.com
- Simmons Naturals: www.simmonsnaturals.com
- Body Time: www.bodytimeproducts.com
- Allens Naturally: www.allensnaturally.com
- Etsy: www.etsy.com (type "fragrance free" or "unscented" into the search bar for homemade, fragrance-free products)
- Fierce Bodies: fiercebodies.com
- "Alkaseltzer Gold is very useful to take before a known exposure or during/after an accidental one. I've had cases where I feel a full blown reaction coming on and take some Gold and am able to thwart the process."
Much of this knowledge was gathered from resources created and compiled by others, including Dana Lion, Peggy Munson, Alice Kosten, and Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha. Special thanks to them! This is a living document and contributions are always welcome.
