100+ Chemicals Can Hide Behind the Word "Fragrance": Why We Choose Pure Essential Oils Instead

Walk down any skincare aisle and you'll see products promising glowing skin, deep hydration, and luxurious scents. Flip one of those bottles over, and you'll often find one simple ingredient listed:

Fragrance.

It seems harmless enough.

But many people don't realize that the word "fragrance" can represent a proprietary blend of numerous ingredients that manufacturers generally are not required to disclose individually. Companies are allowed to protect these formulas as trade secrets, meaning consumers often don't know exactly what creates the scent of the products they're using every day.

Not every fragrance ingredient is inherently harmful, and many fragrance materials are evaluated for safety. However, if you're trying to reduce unnecessary chemical exposure or you're intentional about the products you use in your home, paying attention to the word "fragrance" is a great place to start.

Why Does This Matter?

Synthetic fragrances are designed to create consistent, long-lasting scents that consumers love. They're widely used throughout the beauty industry and can make products smell luxurious and memorable.

The challenge is that the ingredient label doesn't tell you exactly what's included in that fragrance blend.

Some fragrance formulations have historically contained compounds such as certain phthalates, which have been studied for their potential endocrine-disrupting properties. While research is ongoing and scientists continue to evaluate what these findings mean for everyday consumer exposure, many people choose to minimize exposure when practical—especially during pregnancy, while raising young children, or when following a lower-toxicity lifestyle.

For those with sensitive skin, fragrance can also be an important consideration. Dermatologists recognize fragrance as one of the most common causes of cosmetic contact dermatitis, and some individuals may experience redness, itching, irritation, or headaches after using fragranced products.

Reading ingredient labels isn't about fear—it's about making informed decisions for yourself and your family.

Why We Choose Pure Essential Oils

At Root & Bloom, we believe you shouldn't have to choose between natural skincare and beautiful scents.

When I began creating Root & Bloom, my goal wasn't simply to make another tallow moisturizer.

I wanted to create skincare that felt like an experience.

I envisioned products that reminded you of a coastal escape, a blooming jasmine garden at sunset, fresh citrus orchards, or warm vanilla drifting through your home. I wanted every jar to become a small moment of peace in an otherwise busy day.

That's why every Root & Bloom scent is created with thoughtfully selected therapeutic-grade essential oils instead of synthetic fragrance oils.

These botanical blends don't just smell beautiful—they're intentionally chosen to create a sensory experience that encourages moments of calm, grounding, and relaxation while nourishing your skin.

This is where our philosophy comes from:

Ancient skincare meets aromatherapy.

We believe healthy skincare should care for more than just your skin.

It should nourish your senses, too.

More Than a Business—A Personal Journey

Before starting Root & Bloom, I spent over thirteen years as a Registered Nurse caring for patients and learning firsthand how important prevention and whole-person wellness can be.

Long before Root & Bloom existed, I was already making herbal remedies, infused oils, and natural products for myself and my family. Herbalism became a way for me to reconnect with slower, more intentional living and to better understand the incredible plants God created.

As I became more conscious of the ingredients in our food, cleaning products, and skincare, I found myself reading labels more carefully and asking better questions.

Why was "fragrance" listed without explanation?

Why did truly natural skincare have to smell medicinal?

Could skincare be deeply nourishing while still feeling luxurious?

Those questions eventually became Root & Bloom.

Every formula is handcrafted in small batches using herb-infused tallow, carefully selected botanicals, and pure essential oils because I believe transparency matters.

Not because fear should drive our choices—but because informed choices empower us to care well for ourselves and the people we love.

Our Philosophy

At Root & Bloom, we're not trying to chase trends.

We're returning to timeless ingredients that have nourished skin for generations and pairing them with thoughtfully crafted botanical aromatherapy.

No mystery fragrance blends.

No unnecessary fillers.

Just intentional ingredients, luxurious botanicals, and skincare designed to nourish both your skin and your senses.

Because healthy skin should never come at the expense of knowing what's inside the products you use every day.

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References

Ashcroft S, et al. Synthetic Endocrine Disruptors in Fragranced Products. Cosmetics. 2024;5(3):27.

Witorsch RJ, Thomas JA. Personal care products and endocrine disruption: A critical review. Neurotoxicology. 2010;31(5):551-563.

Johansen JD, et al. Fragrance contact allergy: A clinical review. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2011.

U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Phthalates in Cosmetics. Reviews the historical use of certain phthalates, including diethyl phthalate (DEP), in fragrance formulations and summarizes the current regulatory perspective.

National Eczema Association. Fragrance and Skin Sensitivity. Educational resource discussing fragrance as a common trigger for contact dermatitis.

American Academy of Dermatology. Contact Dermatitis: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment. Discusses fragrance as one of the leading causes of allergic contact dermatitis.