Fragrance For Sensitive Skin
In the world of sensitive skin and scalp, fragrance has long been avoided due to fear of irritation and reaction. As a brand, we have an immense focus on delivering craveable fragrances to our consumers, notably through seasonal favorites, or unexpected collaborations — and had a hunch that the benefit of fragrance reached beyond scent.
To investigate this hypothesis, we conducted a randomized study with consumers to understand the impact of fragrance inclusion in personal care products and found a significant improvement in consumer experience when using a product with fragrance vs. one without.
The question then arises, “why should people with sensitive skin and scalp have to miss out on what others can enjoy?” Of course, the complexities associated with delivering fragranced products to people living with sensitive skin & scalp cannot be taken lightly and must be approached with scientific rigor. For this reason, we have taken the following steps.
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When it comes to sensitive skin & scalp, one expert just isn’t enough. We have partnered with a dream team of co-creators including allergists, biologists, and dermatologists who see and analyze sensitive skin & scalp daily. Our co-creation partners offered guidance on ingredients in our base formulas, how to craft, test, and disclose our hypoallergenic fragrances, and of course, advocated for the sensitive skin & scalp community. Get to know our team of experts.
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We have eliminated all the 81 known fragrance allergens from our Sensitive Series formulas. These fragrance allergens were identified and published by the European Union in 2023. This fragrance allergen list is the most comprehensive & trusted source by toxicologists, advocacy groups, and physicians globally. In addition, our fragrances are phthalate-free and compliant with the International Fragrance Association (IFRA), which outlines a set of safety guidelines for fragrance ingredients specifically based on scientific research from the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM).
The question then arises, “why should people with sensitive skin and scalp have to miss out on what others can enjoy?”
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Our Sensitive Series fragrances contain seven-to-ten perfume raw materials, all of which are disclosed on our product pages. In our consultancy with our allergist and dermatologist healthcare professional partners, we know that a significant barrier for people with sensitive skin to try perfume-containing products is the lack of transparency around the perfume raw materials included. Transparency is a core value at Native & by sharing the perfume raw materials in our Sensitive Series, allergists and dermatologists can proactively screen for their patients’ unique needs. If elimination is needed, patients and physicians are empowered to make informed decisions.
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Beyond our preventative actions, we completed a rigorous assessment including product testing to confirm that our products are suitable for sensitive skin & scalp. Before we market a new product, we go beyond regulatory compliance to ensure every ingredients’ safety through a four-step, science-based process including hazard identification, exposure assessment, dose-response assessment, and risk characterization. Learn more about our testing practices here.