Why We Say Heck No to Synthetic Fragrance

At Pure Culture, we believe skincare should support your skin — not stress it out.

That’s why we created our Heck No Checklist: a list of ingredients we’ll never use because they don’t meet our standards for safety, skin compatibility , or sustainability.

It’s not just a trendy claim — it’s a non-negotiable commitment. These are ingredients commonly found in skincare that are known to:

• Disrupt the skin barrier

• Cause irritation or allergic reactions

• Harm your microbiome

• Or raise health and environmental concerns

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From parabens to phthalates , SLS , drying alcohols , and synthetic fragrance , the Heck No Checklist exists so you never have to second-guess what you’re putting on your skin.

📝  Download the full Heck No Checklist →  

Let’s take one major example from the list: synthetic fragrance.

On product labels, “fragrance” might look simple — but it’s anything but. That single word can legally hide hundreds of undisclosed chemicals. And most brands aren’t required to list what’s inside that blend.

So why is it a problem?

• It’s a common irritant.
  Synthetic fragrance is one of the top causes of contact dermatitis, especially for sensitive skin.

• It disrupts the skin barrier.
  Fragrance compounds can weaken your skin’s natural defense system, leading to inflammation and reactivity.

• It can contain hormone disruptors.
  Some hidden ingredients in synthetic fragrances — like phthalates — have been linked to endocrine disruption.

• It lacks transparency.
  As a “trade secret,” companies can hide dozens (even hundreds) of ingredients under the word “fragrance.”
  
  

That’s why it’s on our Heck No Checklist — and why you’ll never find it in any Pure Culture product.

We don’t believe skin wellness requires perfume.

Instead of synthetic scents, our products are either:

• Naturally unscented

• Lightly scented with biocompatible, plant-derived ingredients used at safe levels — always listed transparently.

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What you smell is either the clean, natural aroma of the ingredients themselves, or a carefully chosen extract that supports the formula without compromising your skin.

We didn’t create the Heck No Checklist for marketing — we created it because we care deeply about the long-term health of your skin and body.

So when we say “heck no” to synthetic fragrance, it’s about more than an ingredient.
It’s about formulating with intention, protecting your barrier, and choosing better — for your skin, your health, and the planet.