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, including “natural” fragrances and aromatherapy products, such as fragranced essential oils.  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.

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 at the bottom of this page.

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, hands, hand wash laundry and housecleaning is Dr. Bronner’s Organic Pure-Castile Liquid Soap – Unscented. It’s very concentrated and only a small amount is used by diluting it in water. This is one of the soaps used at EBMC.

Products Especially Good for POC Hair and Skin

  • Find your Hair Type
  • Jessicurl Confident Coils Styling Solution www.jessicurl.com
  • Shea butter with no fragrance added – available at Ashby Flea Market, and online
  • 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 www.walgreens.com
  • Coconut oil or sweet almond oil – great for hair and skin, widely available
  • 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. Also available at Berkeley Bowl and health food stores.
  • 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.” Available online and at Target, and some Walgreens. Their toll-free number is 1-888-JESSIE-6.
  • Naani products, available at http://naanisnaturals.com. 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)
  • Eucerin Calming Creme, Fragrance Free; can be used on dry or curly hair and scalp (available at health food stores

Shampoo, Conditioner & Detangler

  • Alaffia Everyday Shea shampoo and conditioner, unscented
  • Avalon Organics Olive & Grape Seed Moisturizing Shampoo
  • Desert Essence organic fragrance free pure shampoo & conditioner
  • Druide Pur and Pure Shampoo
  • Earth Science Pure Essentials fragrance-free shampoo & conditioner
  • Jason Daily Shampoo Fragrance Free and Fragrance-Free Conditioner
  • J.R. Liggett’s shampoo bar
  • 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
  • Autumn Harp’s Un-Petroleum Jelly
  • Coconut oil or sweet almond oil or shea butter
  • Free & Clear Hair Styling Gel www.psico.com/product/free-and-clear-hair-gel
  • Homemade hairstyling gel: dissolve 1 teaspoon gelatin in 1 cup warm water and chill
  • Jessicurl Confident Coils Styling Solution www.jessicurl.com
  • Jessicurl Rockin’ Ringlets Styling Potion www.jessicurl.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

Facial Products

  • Aveeno Active Naturals Ultra Calming Foaming Cleanser, Fragrance Free
  • BWC Natural fragrance free daily lotion with SPF 15 (available at Berkeley Bowl and health food stores)
  • Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer, SPF 15, Fragrance Free (available at drugstores)
  • 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
  • Kiss My Face Fragrance Free Olive & Aloe Ultra Moisturizer
  • METTA GOOD Unscented Lip Balm
  • Neutrogena Liquid Neutrogena, Facial Cleansing Formula, Fragrance Free
  • Neutrogena Transparent Facial Bar Soap, Fragrance Free
  • Nivea for Men Sensitive Lotion
  • Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum, Fragrance Free
  • Thayers Witch Hazel Toner with Aloe Vera Unscented – witch hazel can be used as an aftershave (available at Berkeley Bowl)
  • Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser
  • Vanicream Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30

Lotions and Moisturizers

  • A, D  E lotion, fragrance free (body lotion that can also be used on hair). Available at Body Time in Oakland and Berkeley).
  • Alba Botanica Very Emollient Unscented Original Body Lotion; can also be used on dry or curly hair and scalp (available at health food stores)
  • Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion with Natural Colloidal Oatmeal Fragrance Free
  • Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Lotion, Fragrance Free
  • Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Moisture Cream, Fragrance Free
  • Aveeno Active Naturals Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion with Soothing Oat Essence, Fragrance Free
  • Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Organic Magic Balm
  • Eucerin Calming Creme, Fragrance Free; can be used on dry or curly hair and scalp
  • Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair Body Creme, Fragrance Free
  • JASON Natural Cosmetics Vitamin E Hand & Body Lotion, Fragrance Free
  • Jason Fragrance Free Hand And Body Lotion SPF 15
  • Jason Fragrance Free Hand And Body Lotion
  • Jojoba oil, fragrance free
  • Keri Basic Essentials Hypoallergenic, Fragrance-Free Lotion, Basic Essentials
  • Kiss My Face Fragrance Free Olive & Aloe Moisturizer
  • Lubriderm Daily Moisture Fragrance Free Lotion, For Normal to Dry Skin
  • Neutrogena fragrance free Body Oil
  • Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream, Fragrance Free
  • Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Intensive Moisture Wrap Body Treatment, Fragrance Free
  • 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; available at www.walgreens.com
  • Palmer’s Therapeutic Hand Cream, Fragrance Free, SPF 8
  • Pure unscented aloe gel
  • Pure unscented vegetable oils: almond, olive, avocado, apricot kernel, coconut.
  • Shea butter with no fragrance added – available at Ashby Flea Market, and online at www.back2africa.com
  • St. Ives Intensive Healing Hand Cream, Fragrance-Free
  • St. Ives Intensive Healing Body Cream, Fragrance Free
  • SunFood Nutrition Shea Butter: www.vitacost.com
  • Unscented Shea Butter Lotion from Sungold
  • Vanicream Moisturizing Lotion with pump
  • Vanicream Moisturizing Ointment
  • Vitamin E oil

Makeup

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: The Guide to Less Toxic Products states that all Almay cosmetics are fragrance-free.
  • Clinique: Many (or all) of the Clinique make-up products are fragrance-free
  • Physician’s Formula: Available at many drugstores. Many (maybe all) of their products are fragrance free

Shaving Products

  • Alba Botanica unscented cream shave, tube, 8 oz.
  • Dr. Bronner’s Fair Trade & Organic Unscented Shaving Gel
  • Fair Trade & Organic Unscented Shaving Gel (available at Berkeley Bowl)
  • Kiss My Face Fragrance Free Moisture Shave(available at health food stores)
  • Trader Joe’s Moisturizing Cream Shave (for Men and Women) – Fragrance Free (in the BLUE tube)

Soap (bar)

  • Baltimore Soaps and More (available at Etsy)
  • Clearly Natural Unscented Glycerin Soap (available at Berkeley Bowl and health food stores)
  • Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Unscented Baby Mild Soap (available at Berkeley Bowl and health food stores)
  • Green Mountain Soap Co. Soap
  • Kiss My Face Pure Olive Oil Bar Soap (available at health food stores)
  • 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 of Maine Natural Unscented Beauty Bar Sensitive

Body Soap (liquid)

  • 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)
  • Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash, Fragrance Free (available at drugstores)
  • Birch Hill Happenings Unscented Liquid Hand Soap
  • Clearly Natural Unscented Glycerin Soap
  • DESERT ESSENCE body wash fragrance free (available at Rainbow Grocery, Berkeley Bowl, the Food Mill)
  • Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Unscented Baby Mild Soap (available at Berkeley Bowl and health food stores)
  • Dr. Bronner’s 4-in-1 Baby Unscented Organic Sugar Soap (available at Berkeley Bowl and health food stores)
  • Green Mountain Soap Co. Liquid Soap
  • Jason Satin Shower Body Wash Fragrance Free (available at Rainbow Grocery, Berkeley Bowl, the Food Mill)
  • Kiss My Face Fragrance Free Moisture Soap (available at health food stores)
  • 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)

Deodorants 

  • Unscented Crystal or Stone Deodorants by various manufacturers (available at health food stores)
  • Almay Fragrance Free Clear Gel Anti-Perspirant and Deodorant (available at drugstores)
  • DERMAdoctor Total Nonscents ultra-gentle antiperspirant
  • Jason Natural Deodorant Stick Fragrance Free (available at Rainbow Grocery, Berkeley Bowl, the Food Mill)
  • Kiss My Face Fragrance Free Active Enzyme Natural Stick Deodorant(available at Rainbow Grocery, Berkeley Bowl, the Food Mill)
  • Kiss My Face Fragrance Free Liquid Rock Roll-On Deodorant (available at Rainbow Grocery, Berkeley Bowl, the Food Mill)
  • Nature’s Gate Winter Clean Unscented Stick Deodorant
  • Sure Anti-Perspirant Deodorant Clear Gel Unscented (available at drugstores)
  • Sure Clear Dry Solid Unscented (available at drugstores)
  • Sure Roll-On Unscented (available at drugstores)
  • 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.
  • Vanicream Aluminum-Free Gel Deodorant

Sunscreen

  • Alba Botanica Fragrance Free Sunscreen (available at health food stores)
  • Badger Sunblock – “goes on smelling like food (coco butter, shea butter), but it wears off.” (available at health food stores)
  • Banana Boat Kids – Big Y unscented
  • BurnOut Eco-Sensitive SPF 30 Sunscreen (available at Whole Foods)
  • 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.

General

  • Allens Naturally products (they make various cleaners, dishwashing liquids, etc.)www.allensnaturally.com
  • Bon Ami scouring powder (available at health food stores)
  • Dr. Bronner’s Organic Pure-Castile Liquid Soap – Unscented. Be sure to buy the unscented version! (Available at Berkeley Bowl and health food stores and available online at http://www.vitacost.com/)
  • 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 and health food stores)
  • 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 and health food stores)

Laundry Products

Detergent

  • Allens Naturally
  • Arm & Hammer – Free of Perfumes & Dyes
  • Baking Soda
  • BIOKLEEN fragrance free, available at drugstore.com
  • Country Save Powdered Laundry Detergent (available at Berkeley Bowl)
  • ECOS Free and Clear Laundry Detergent
  • Ecover Unscented
  • GRAB GREEN 3-in-1 Laundry Detergent Pods, Grab Green Delicate Laundry Detergent Pods (available at Berkeley Bowl)
  • KIRKLAND laundry liquid, free & clear (available at Costco)
  • Shaklee Basic H – order through local Shaklee distributor
  • Seventh Generation Free & Clear (of Perfumes & Dyes) (available at Berkeley Bowl and health food stores)
  • 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.com1-800-870-1697
  • 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!)

Stain Remover

  • RESOLVE Stain Stick (formerly Spray & Wash)
  • Seventh Generation Natural Laundry Stain Remover, Free & Clear

Fabric Softener

Anti-Static

Bleach (or Alternative)

  • Borax
  • Country Save Powdered Oxygen Powered Bleach
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Oxy-Clean Powder Form
  • Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Bleach

The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast: Creating a Fragrance-Free Policy with Mushim Ikeda
A conversation with Mushim Ikeda about how EBMC’s fragrance-free policy was created, challenges EBMC encountered, and how other groups and organizations can adopt fragrance-free policies.

Making Space Accessible is an Act of Love for Our Communities
by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

Fragrance-Free Femme of Colour Realness
(great article that also includes excellent resources and product reviews)
by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

How to Be Fragrance Free
by Peggy Munson (download as PDF)

Buying Fragrance Free Products
by Peggy Munson (download as PDF)

Myths & Facts About Chemical Sensitivity
by Peggy Munson ( download as PDF)

Chemical Sensitivity Foundation
Chemical Injury Information Network (CIIN)

Princess Tiger Lily
Resources for MCS, CFIDS, fibromyalgia groups worldwide; making your workplace fragrance-free; links between MCS and Gulf War syndrome; etc.

billierain.com
Blog with great info about MCS & other accessibility topics

Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Hazard ratings and clear info about most commercially available body products

3 Steps to Organizing a Fragrance-Free Event (PDF)
by Basil Shadid (from billierain.com)

10 Tips on Becoming Chemical Free (PDF)
from billierain.com

MCS Accessibility Basics (PDF)
by billie rain (from billierain.com)

Of the world but not in it: Barriers to community access and education for persons with environmental sensitivities (PDF)
by Pamela Reed Gibson

Widening Our Circle: Being an Ally to People with Chronic Illnesses (PDF)
by Diana Lion

Guidelines to Accommodate Students and Staff with Environmental Sensitivities: A Guide for Schools

Your Perfume Stinks poster (PDF)

Much of this knowledge was gathered from resources created and compiled by others, including Diana Lion, Peggy Munson, Alice Kostinsky, and Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha. Special thanks to them! This is a living document and contributions are always welcome.

Additions, suggestions, or questions: (admin@eastbaymeditation.org). Last updated April 15, 2016.