What does 'fragrance' or 'parfum' mean on a label? Rules in the US, Canada and EU
Where fragrance (Parfum) is allowed
United States
PermittedFragrance ingredients in cosmetics need no FDA approval but must be safe, and US rules let them be listed simply as 'Fragrance'. The 2022 MoCRA law (section 609(b)) requires FDA to define fragrance allergens by regulation so they appear on labels; the proposal was due 29 June 2024, FDA's regulatory agenda entry still lists it as unpublished with a November 2026 target, and we found no proposed rule published. [1, 2, 3]
Canada
Permitted with conditionsCosmetic labels must list ingredients, and 'parfum' may cover fragrance, but listed fragrance allergens must be named separately above 0.01% (rinse-off) or 0.001% (leave-on). The requirement for the first 24 allergens applied from 12 April 2026; Health Canada says the expanded EU-aligned list applies to new products from 1 August 2026 and to all products from 1 August 2028. [4, 5, 9]
European Union
Permitted with conditionsFragrance must appear as 'parfum' or 'aroma', and the substances flagged in Annex III must be named as well, above 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products. Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 expanded that list; non-compliant products could be placed on the market until 31 July 2026 and made available until 31 July 2028. [6, 7]
What is fragrance (Parfum)?
A fragrance is not one chemical. FDA describes fragrance and flavor formulas as complex mixtures of many natural and synthetic ingredients. The EU's cosmetics law calls them 'perfume and aromatic compositions', shown on labels as 'parfum' or 'aroma', and Health Canada says a fragrance's components can be listed individually or under 'parfum' (EU and Canada) or 'fragrance' (US).
The reason for the single word is trade secrecy: FDA says the US labelling law cannot be used to force companies to reveal trade secrets, and fragrance formulas are the components most likely to be treated that way.
Why it's used, and where you'll find it
Mostly to give a product a scent, or to mask the smell of other ingredients. FDA notes that some products labelled 'unscented' may still contain fragrance ingredients, because a manufacturer can add just enough to cover an unpleasant smell without leaving a noticeable scent.
What the research and regulators say
Why allergens are the focus
The European Commission's 2023 regulation cites an estimate that 1 to 9 percent of the EU population is allergic to fragrance allergens. It reasons that people already sensitised can react below the permitted maximum levels, so naming the allergen lets them avoid it, and it builds on a 2012 SCCS opinion that identified 56 additional fragrance allergens which have clearly caused allergies in humans. [7]
What FDA and Health Canada say
FDA says some components of fragrance formulas have a potential to cause allergic reactions or sensitivities in some people. Health Canada says it reviews fragrance ingredients like any other, that one found unsafe cannot be used in cosmetics sold in Canada, and that its regulatory analysis found 'parfum' alone does not give allergic or sensitive people the information they need. [1, 5, 8]
Some scent ingredients are banned outright
Fragrance as a category is not banned, but individual substances are. The EU's Annex II prohibits many substances 'when used as a fragrance ingredient', for example diphenylamine and 7-methylcoumarin. Others are capped rather than banned: an April 2026 EU regulation set maximum concentrations for two fragrance allergens, benzyl salicylate and citral, and products that do not comply cannot be placed on the EU market from 1 January 2027. [6, 10]
Who might choose to avoid it
People who know they react to a particular fragrance ingredient are the reason the allergen-naming rules exist. FDA's own suggestion for anyone concerned about fragrance sensitivities is to choose fragrance-free products and check the ingredient list carefully.
How to spot it on a label
Look for 'Fragrance' (US) or 'Parfum' (EU and Canada) in the ingredient list; flavour blends appear as 'Aroma'. In the EU and Canada, allergens above the thresholds are named next to it, for example Linalool. Health Canada notes that a fragrance's components can also be listed as individual ingredients, so a scent ingredient may show up under its own name instead of 'parfum'.
Check what's in your own productsScan a barcode or a label photo and Label X-Ray flags fragrance (Parfum) and everything else in plain English, with your allergies checked automatically.
Frequently asked questions
What is fragrance made of?
A mixture, not a single ingredient. FDA describes fragrance formulas as complex blends of many natural and synthetic chemicals, and US law lets them be listed as just 'Fragrance' because the labelling law cannot be used to force trade secrets into the open.
Does fragrance-free mean unscented?
Not necessarily. FDA says some products labelled 'unscented' may contain fragrance ingredients added just to mask other smells. Health Canada says either term means no fragrance was added or scents were hidden by a masking agent, and that if 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is on the ingredient list, the product contains a fragrance or a masking agent.
Is fragrance banned in Canada or Europe?
No. Fragrance as a category is allowed in Canada, the EU and the US. What is regulated is individual ingredients: the EU prohibits a list of substances when used as fragrance ingredients, and Health Canada says a fragrance ingredient found unsafe cannot be used in cosmetics sold there.
Does fragrance have to be broken down on labels in Canada?
Partly. 'Parfum' may still cover the blend, but listed fragrance allergens must be named above 0.01% in rinse-off or 0.001% in leave-on products. That applied to 24 allergens from 12 April 2026, and Health Canada says the list expands to 81 entries for new products from 1 August 2026 and for all products from 1 August 2028.
Can fragrance cause allergic reactions?
In some people, yes. FDA says some components of fragrance formulas have a potential to cause allergic reactions or sensitivities, and the European Commission cites an estimate that 1 to 9 percent of the EU population is allergic to fragrance allergens.
Will US labels have to name fragrance allergens?
The law says so: MoCRA (2022) requires FDA to define fragrance allergens by regulation and require them on labels. FDA missed the 29 June 2024 proposal deadline, and its regulatory agenda entry still lists the proposal as unpublished, targeted for November 2026. Until a final rule exists, 'Fragrance' alone remains acceptable.
Related ingredients
Sources
- U.S. FDA — Fragrances in Cosmetics (accessed 2026-09-19)
- U.S. Congress (via GovInfo) — Public Law 117-328, Division FF, Title III: Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (section 609, Labeling) (accessed 2026-09-19)
- Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (reginfo.gov) — Disclosure of Fragrance Allergens in Cosmetic Labeling (RIN 0910-AI90), Unified Agenda entry (edition listed as "2026") (accessed 2026-09-19)
- Justice Laws Website (Government of Canada) — Cosmetic Regulations, C.R.C., c. 869 (sections 21.2 to 21.4) (accessed 2026-09-19)
- Canada Gazette, Part II — Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Concerning the Disclosure of Cosmetic Ingredients (SOR/2024-63), including its Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement (accessed 2026-09-19)
- EUR-Lex (European Union) — Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products, consolidated text of 1 May 2026 (Article 19, Annexes II and III) (accessed 2026-09-19)
- EUR-Lex (European Union) — Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 of 26 July 2023 as regards labelling of fragrance allergens in cosmetic products (accessed 2026-09-19)
- Health Canada — Safety of Cosmetic Ingredients (accessed 2026-09-19)
- Health Canada — Cosmetic advertising, labelling and ingredients (accessed 2026-09-19)
- EUR-Lex (European Union) — Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/909 of 27 April 2026 amending Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as regards the use of Benzyl Salicylate, Triphenyl Phosphate, Ammonium Silver Zinc Aluminium Silicate, Aluminium, water-soluble zinc salts, Acetylated Vetiver Oil, Citral and other substances (accessed 2026-09-19)
This page summarizes what regulators and published research say, as of the review date above. Rules and evidence change; check the linked sources for the latest. It is general information, not medical advice — talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your own health.