FRAGRANCE
Fragrance
- fragrance
An undisclosed blend of scent ingredients. Regulations let it stay unlisted, so a fragrance-free product is the only way to be certain what is not in it.
- products in our library
- 6033
- of researched products
- 89%
- on the label, in our shampoos
- usually #11
- most common in
- Shampoo
- in water
- Water-dispersible
At a glance
Four things worth knowing about how this ingredient behaves on hair.
How much of it is left on hair between washes.
What it takes to get it off the hair again.
How specifically the label has to name it.
Where it sits on the labels we have, in the category it appears in most.
| Property | Level | Out of |
|---|---|---|
| Buildup risk | Low | 2 of 5 |
| Rinse-out behaviour | Rinses with shampoo | 4 of 5 |
| Declaration | Declared blend | 3 of 5 |
| Prominence | Secondary | 2 of 5 |
What it does for a formula
What Fragrance does
The general function first, then how the role changes by product type where we have researched it.
A declared blend: the individual components are not named unless rules require it.
The "fragrance / parfum" line: a blend whose parts are not listed unless rules require it.
It does not truly dissolve, and ordinary shampooing removes it.
Charge
Charge is not recorded for this ingredient.
Solubility
Spreads through water without truly dissolving, and normal shampooing removes it.
Where it appears
Where it appears
One row per product category in our library: how many products list it, what share of that category that is, and where it typically sits on the label.
| Product type | How common | Typical position on label ? |
|---|---|---|
Shampoo
1369 products
|
secondary · #11 | |
Conditioner
1021 products
|
secondary · #12 | |
Leave-in
642 products
|
secondary · #14 | |
Mask / treatment
514 products
|
secondary · #14 | |
Styler: gel
242 products
|
secondary · #12 | |
Styler: hairspray
232 products
|
secondary · #11 | |
Finisher: oil
222 products
|
secondary · #9 | |
Styler: curl cream
209 products
|
secondary · #15 | |
Heat protectant
195 products
|
secondary · #11 | |
Styler: mousse
191 products
|
secondary · #14 |
16 more product types
| Product type | How common | Typical position on label ? |
|---|---|---|
Styler: paste
185 products
|
secondary · #14 | |
Scalp treatment
164 products
|
secondary · #13 | |
Finisher: serum
125 products
|
secondary · #9 | |
Styler: volumizer
124 products
|
secondary · #13 | |
Dry shampoo
118 products
|
secondary · #9 | |
Finisher: shine spray
99 products
|
secondary · #9 | |
Styler: texture spray
88 products
|
secondary · #12 | |
Co-wash
78 products
|
secondary · #16 | |
Styler: smoothing cream
73 products
|
secondary · #20 | |
Styler: edge control
35 products
|
secondary · #9 | |
Styler: lotion
34 products
|
secondary · #12 | |
Styler: refresh spray
34 products
|
secondary · #16 | |
Finisher: anti frizz finish
29 products
|
secondary · #15 | |
Finisher: end oil
6 products
|
supporting · #8 | |
Lightener
3 products
|
supporting · #6 | |
Relaxer
1 product
|
secondary · #28 |
| Product type | Products | Share of category | Median position | Earliest position | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | 1369 | 88% | 11 | 3 | secondary |
| Conditioner | 1021 | 91% | 12 | 3 | secondary |
| Leave-in | 642 | 93% | 14 | 2 | secondary |
| Mask / treatment | 514 | 88% | 14 | 3 | secondary |
| Styler: gel | 242 | 91% | 12 | 4 | secondary |
| Styler: hairspray | 232 | 95% | 11 | 4 | secondary |
| Finisher: oil | 222 | 81% | 9 | 3 | secondary |
| Styler: curl cream | 209 | 92% | 15 | 4 | secondary |
| Heat protectant | 195 | 95% | 11 | 3 | secondary |
| Styler: mousse | 191 | 95% | 14 | 3 | secondary |
| Styler: paste | 185 | 94% | 14 | 3 | secondary |
| Scalp treatment | 164 | 56% | 13 | 3 | secondary |
| Finisher: serum | 125 | 91% | 9 | 3 | secondary |
| Styler: volumizer | 124 | 86% | 13 | 3 | secondary |
| Dry shampoo | 118 | 91% | 9 | 4 | secondary |
| Finisher: shine spray | 99 | 96% | 9 | 3 | secondary |
| Styler: texture spray | 88 | 90% | 12 | 4 | secondary |
| Co-wash | 78 | 78% | 16 | 5 | secondary |
| Styler: smoothing cream | 73 | 90% | 20 | 2 | secondary |
| Styler: edge control | 35 | 92% | 9 | 4 | secondary |
| Styler: lotion | 34 | 94% | 12 | 5 | secondary |
| Styler: refresh spray | 34 | 97% | 16 | 3 | secondary |
| Finisher: anti frizz finish | 29 | 91% | 15 | 4 | secondary |
| Finisher: end oil | 6 | 75% | 8 | 4 | supporting |
| Lightener | 3 | 100% | 6 | 4 | supporting |
| Relaxer | 1 | 25% | 28 | 28 | secondary |
We have not researched differences by product type yet. The reading below comes from where it sits on the labels in our library.
Position footprint
Every listing in our library, by position on the label.
| Positions | Zone | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Leading | 53 |
| 4-8 | Supporting | 1760 |
| 9-15 | Secondary | 1858 |
| 16-25 | Lower | 1279 |
| 26+ | Trace | 1083 |
How to read this
US labelling rules put ingredients above 1% in descending order of amount; below 1% they may be listed in any order.
So position tells you about relative amount only above that line, and we never convert a position into a percentage.
Who should pay attention
Formulation guidance for specific hair conditions, limited to the label positions where it applies. It is not a conclusion about any finished product, or about you.
Declared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.
Read from this ingredient’s chemical class. Where we have researched the ingredient itself, that reading replaces the class one.
Why it matters to shoppers
What seeing this ingredient tells you, what it does not, and the limits of our own method.
- a scented product
- a product with a scent
- a product ordinary shampooing removes
- an exact safety score (we do not publish one for any ingredient)
- how a finished product performs, which depends on the whole formula, not one line of it
- the exact percentage in a bottle, because label position never converts into a number
- a secondary fragrance, listed below the main ingredients in our shampoos
- it was on the printed ingredient list of every product we counted (we read labels, not marketing copy)
- that the product will suit you if you react to scent
- that a product is right or wrong for you
We do not publish safety scores or hazard grades. Where a regulator has published a restriction or a use condition, we state it and cite it; otherwise we describe what the ingredient does and stop.
Commonly paired with
The ingredients that most often appear alongside this one in our library. We leave out the near-universal ones, because they pair with everything and tell you nothing.
- Ethylhexylglycerin · 1749
- Benzyl Alcohol · 1699
- Hexyl Cinnamal · 1444
- Cetrimonium Chloride · 1441
- Tocopherol · 1393
- Behentrimonium Chloride · 1355
- Caprylyl Glycol · 1276
- Citronellol · 1262
- Sodium Chloride · 1230
- Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride · 1171
The number beside a name is how many products in our library list both.
These ingredients tend to appear together to soften the strand, carry the formula and let it dry, and give it a scent.
Found in these products
The most prominent placements first. The badge is the position on that product’s own ingredient list.
18.21 Man Made · Styler
Grooming Cream - Sweet Tobacco
#2 on the label · $7.06/oz
Creme of Nature · Leave-in
Argan Oil Day&Night Hair&Scalp Conditioner
#2 on the label · $0.86/oz
Davines · Leave-in
SU Hair Milk
#2 on the label · $8.99/oz
Garnier Fructis · Leave-in
Curl Nourish Knot Melter Anti-Breakage Detangling Milk
#2 on the label · $0.82/oz
Garnier Fructis · Leave-in
Sleek & Shine 10-in-1 Leave-In Spray
#2 on the label · $1.04/oz
Garnier Fructis · Leave-in
Sulfate-Free Curl Knot Melter Detangler Spray
#2 on the label · $0.94/oz
Sun Bum · Leave-in
Curls Detangler
#2 on the label · $4.25/oz
African Pride · Finisher
Hair & Scalp Sealing Oil
#3 on the label · $1.67/oz
Aussie · Leave-in
Hair Insurance Leave-In Conditioner
#3 on the label · $0.63/oz
Aussie · Styler
Miracle Curls 2nd Day Curl Activator
#3 on the label · $1.20/oz
Cantu · Finisher
Coconut Oil Shine & Hold Mist
#3 on the label · $1.25/oz
Cantu · Scalp treatment
Guava & Ginger Scalp Nourishing Treatment Serum
#3 on the label · $2.00/oz
Identity
What this entry is, and what our references call it.
No public-domain structure depiction is available for this entry.
Fragrance
- declared fragrance
- fragrance oil
- and fragrance (parfum)
- aroma
- food-grade fragrance
- fragance (parfum)
- fragrance
- fragrance (100% natural fragrance)
- fragrance (all natural)
- fragrance (aroma)
- fragrance (essential oil blend)
- fragrance (linalool, geraniol, hydroxycitronellal, benzyl salicylate)
- fragrance (natural)
- fragrance (naturally derived)
- fragrance (pafum)
- fragrance (parfum)
- fragrance (parfum) caramel
- fragrance (parfum) citral
- fragrance (parfum). 220546
- fragrance (parfum)/parfum
- fragrance (partum)
- fragrance (partum) linalool hexyl cinnamal
- fragrance (perfume)
- fragrance (phthalate free)
- fragrance (phthalate-free)
- fragrance / parfum
- fragrance oil
- fragrance oil</p>
- fragrance parfum
- fragrance(parfum)
- fragrance* (parfum)
- fragrance* *allergens below acceptable levels
- fragrance/ parfum
- fragrance/fragancia/parfum
- fragrance/parfum
- fragrance\parfum
- fragrence
- natural & phthalate-free fragrance
- natural fragrance
- natural fragrance/essential oil blend
- naturally derived fragrance
- naturally derived fragrance oils
- parfum
- parfum (aroma)
- parfum (fragrance)
- parfum (fragrance)\
- parfum (natural)
- parfum (natural/naturelle)
- parfum / fragrance
- parfum /fragrance
- parfum fragrance
- parfum/ fragrance
- parfum/fragrance
- parfum/fragrance/perfume
- pargum (fragrance)
- perfume
- perfume (fragrance)
- vanilla lace fragrance
For your hair?
Whether Fragrance matters for your hair depends on your hair.
the 1st most-listed fragrance ingredient in our libraryWhat this ingredient does, and where it sits on the labels we have researched.
A verdict on any product that contains it, and never a safety grade.
We do not physically test your hair. Everything above comes from the ingredient lists in our library and from published references. The consultation is what turns it into a plan.
References
Seed entry, sourcing in progress Written from our reference work; primary sourcing is still being attached.
No published source is attached to this entry yet.
How this page was made
- Every number above is counted from the ingredient lists in our own product library: 6033 of 6816 researched products list this ingredient. Nothing on this page is written per ingredient.
- The dots are levels, not scores. Each one comes from what kind of ingredient it is (its chemical class, charge and solubility) or from where it sits on the labels we have.
- US labelling rules put ingredients above 1% in descending order of amount; below 1% they may be listed in any order. Position tells you about relative amount only above that line, and we never convert a position into a percentage.
- The prominence bands (leading, supporting, secondary) are the same ones the product pages use to read a single label, applied here to the median position across a category.
- We do not publish safety scores or hazard grades. Where a regulator has published a restriction or a use condition, we state it and cite it; otherwise we describe what the ingredient does and stop.
- Identifiers and references appear only when a published source is attached to this entry. Without one, we leave the row out rather than fill it in.
- This is cosmetic information, not medical advice, and nothing here diagnoses or treats a health condition.
- Entry last updated 2026-09-22. Product-page methodology: the product library.
