Perfume in detergent and sensitive skin

Short answer: Fragrance is among the most common causes of contact reactions from clothing, because it stays in the fabric after washing. If your skin is sensitive, a neutral detergent without perfume is the first thing to try, and fabric softener is the first thing to drop.

The fragrance stays in the fabric

Perfume in detergent is designed to linger. That is the whole point, since the scent should still be noticeable when the clothes come out of the wardrobe. It also means the fragrance stays in the fibres after rinsing and rests against your skin all day, especially in bamboo underwear for women.

Why the skin reacts

Skin rarely reacts to something it feels once, but to what it feels every day. Fragrance in clothing is a small but constant exposure that repeats with every wash. For most people nothing happens. For some with sensitive skin it can lead to itching, redness or dry patches where clothing sits close and warm.

Fabric softener is the biggest source

Fabric softener contains both perfume and fatty agents, and both are meant to stay in the fabric. That often makes it the largest single source of fragrance in your clothes. Drop it completely, for your skin and for the fabric, as the fatty agents also make fibres worse at moving moisture. That includes bamboo T-shirts for women.

What fragrance free means on the pack

Read the ingredient list rather than the front. A detergent can be called mild or sensitive and still contain scent. If it lists perfume or fragrance ingredients, it is not fragrance free. Choose a product with neither, and use the same type for the whole wash so scent does not sneak in another way.

Use less than you think

More detergent does not mean cleaner clothes. The excess is not always rinsed out, and the residue stays in the fabric along with any fragrance. Follow the lowest dose on the pack for normally soiled laundry and add an extra rinse if your machine has one. It is a simple habit that makes a real difference.

Try two weeks without

Switch to a neutral product for two weeks and see whether it makes a difference. Wash the clothes you wear most first, so the old residue comes out. Avoid changing other things at the same time, or you will not know what helped. This applies to everything in our women's clothing.

Wash new clothes too

New clothes have been stored and packed and may carry residue from production. Always wash them before wearing them for the first time, using the same neutral detergent as for everything else. That way they start on equal terms with the rest of your wardrobe, and you do not add new factors to your test.

When the discomfort does not go away

A change of detergent does not solve everything. If your skin still itches or looks red after a few weeks without fragrance, the cause may be something else. It could be a seam, a label, another product or something unrelated to clothing. For persistent or strong discomfort, talk to your doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Is fragrance free the same as mild

Not necessarily, as mild is not a fixed term on a pack. But fragrance free removes the most common single cause of reactions from clothing, which makes it a good place to start.

Will my clothes smell of nothing

Clean clothes smell of nothing, and that is exactly how it should be. The scent of laundry is something you get used to, and you quickly get used to its absence again.

What about perfume in soap and cream

The same principle applies. If your skin is sensitive, neutral products without fragrance are the safe choice, in detergent as well as soap and cream, so your skin is not exposed from several sides.