Person gently holding a clear glass perfume bottle, sensitive skin fragrance use

Yes, and it’s a genuinely important distinction for anyone with sensitivities. “Fragrance-free” means no fragrance ingredients were added at all, while “unscented” can still contain masking agents, ingredients added specifically to neutralise or cover up other smells in the formula.

Why “unscented” can still cause problems

A product labelled “unscented” often still contains some fragrance chemicals, just used in a way that cancels out or masks a base smell rather than adding a noticeable scent of its own. For someone with a genuine fragrance allergy, this can still trigger a reaction even though the product doesn’t smell perfumed in any obvious way. “Fragrance-free” is the stricter, more reliable term if you’re specifically trying to avoid fragrance ingredients altogether, though it’s still worth checking the full ingredients list rather than relying on the label alone.

What to actually check

Look past the front-of-pack claim and check the ingredients list itself for the word “parfum” or “fragrance”, which would indicate added scent regardless of marketing language. Our guide to perfume allergies and sensitive skin and complete guide to perfume cover this properly.