Comment on Why are so many after-shave lotion perfumed ?
LemmyThinkAboutThat@lemmy.myserv.one 5 weeks ago
Many skin care products have fragrance to mask the aroma of the finished product (and the skin).
Unless the products are made with essential oils, they [skin care products] have “masking fragrance” in the ingredients list on Unscented Products. These essential oils serve a dual purpose by enhancing a product’s skin care benefits and providing aroma.
Crafters and hobbyists will tell you that their finished soap, lip balm, lotion, etc. smells unpleasant or off until fragrance and/or essential oil is added.
@DagwoodIll@piefed.social is spot on, witch hazel can be used as an after shave. Don’t worry about the aroma, it dissipates rather quickly.
Source: I was a hobbyist/crafter when I was younger and went to esthiology school a loooooooong time ago.
adespoton@lemmy.ca 5 weeks ago
This is the answer.
The more insidious bit?
Most manufacturers don’t actually know what’s in the masking fragrance, because they buy it from a third party who has no legal requirement to list the ingredients.
So even “unscented” products have this stuff in them that’s a mixture of perfume and preservative, the contents of which are a trade secret. There’s very few soap, deodorant and aftershave suppliers who actually know all the chemical contents of their products, and even fewer who are willing to share that information with the customer.