Why every Sera formula is fragrance-free

Reading time: 4 minutes

Fragrance is one of the most common causes of skin reactions to cosmetics. That includes essential oils, which are natural but contain many of the same sensitizing compounds as synthetic fragrance. So we made a simple rule and applied it to the whole range.

Our rule

We add no fragrance and no essential oils to any Sera product, including body care.

When a product has a scent, it comes from the ingredients themselves:

• The faint rice note in Rice Water Essence, from the fermented rice
• The herbal note of mugwort in Mugwort Calming Mist

Natural is not the same as gentle. Lavender, citrus and other essential oils carry many of the compounds that cause reactions, which is why they are on our list too.

Why not just offer an unscented version?

Keeping one standard means anyone can pick up any Sera product without checking the label twice. It also makes it easier to use several products together without stacking up fragrance allergens.

A typical routine has four or five products. If each carried a little fragrance, the total on your skin would add up quickly. With none, there is nothing to add up.

What it means for texture

Without fragrance to cover it, the base formula has to feel good on its own. Every product is tested for three things:

1. How it spreads across the skin
2. How fast it absorbs
3. How it wears through the day

What else we leave out

Frequently asked questions

Does fragrance-free mean a product has no smell?

No. It means nothing was added to give it a scent. Some ingredients have a light smell of their own, and we leave it as it is.

Is fragrance-free only for sensitive skin?

Anyone can use it. Reactions to fragrance can build up over time, so leaving it out is a sensible default for every skin type.

Do your body products follow the same rule?

Yes. Gentle Body Wash, Ceramide Body Lotion and the rest of the body range are fragrance-free too.