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Ingredients › Parfum / fragrance

Baby skincare · 0–36 months

Is fragrance (parfum) safe for babies?

Parfum and fragrance in baby lotion

“Parfum”, “fragrance”, “perfume” or “aroma” is one word on the label for what can be dozens of substances. The law does not make the maker list them. Pikabee shows a YELLOW flag: better avoided, because there is no way to know what is in it.

What Pikabee flags, by age

0–6 monthsYELLOW FLAG

YELLOW — better avoided. The blend is not disclosed, so no one can say what your baby's skin would be reacting to.

6–12 monthsYELLOW FLAG

YELLOW, for the same reason.

12–36 monthsYELLOW FLAG

YELLOW, for the same reason.

What it is

A fragrance is a blend of scent chemicals, solvents and fixatives. Only some known allergens must be named separately, and only above a set amount — linalool, limonene, citronellol, geraniol and the like. Everything else stays behind the single word.

Fragrance is the most common reason Pikabee shows YELLOW on a skincare label. The AAP says fragrance-free products are best for a baby's nappy area.

Names it goes by on labels

Why Pikabee shows yellow

EU law requires only listed fragrance allergens to be named, and only above a threshold (Annex III, widened by Regulation 2023/1545); the rest of the blend can stay undisclosed. A YELLOW flag in Pikabee means the ingredient cannot be identified, so the product is better avoided. The AAP advises fragrance-free products for a baby's nappy area.

How often parents find it

17 of 31

different baby skincare labels parents have scanned with Pikabee had undisclosed fragrance, as of 4 November 2026.

Questions parents ask

Is fragrance (parfum) safe for a baby under 6 months?

YELLOW — better avoided. The blend is not disclosed, so no one can say what your baby's skin would be reacting to. EU law requires only listed fragrance allergens to be named, and only above a threshold (Annex III, widened by Regulation 2023/1545); the rest of the blend can stay undisclosed.

Is fragrance (parfum) safe for a 6 to 12 month old baby?

YELLOW, for the same reason. EU law requires only listed fragrance allergens to be named, and only above a threshold (Annex III, widened by Regulation 2023/1545); the rest of the blend can stay undisclosed.

Is fragrance (parfum) safe for a 1 to 3 year old?

YELLOW, for the same reason. EU law requires only listed fragrance allergens to be named, and only above a threshold (Annex III, widened by Regulation 2023/1545); the rest of the blend can stay undisclosed.

Is fragrance in baby lotion bad?

Pikabee cannot say what is in it, because the label does not. That is what YELLOW means: better avoided, because the contents are hidden. The AAP says fragrance-free is best for the nappy area.

The label names linalool and limonene. Are those flagged?

Named fragrance allergens are judged on their own. The word “parfum” or “fragrance” is what shows YELLOW.

What should I look for?

“Fragrance-free” on the front, and no parfum, fragrance or perfume in the ingredient list on the back.

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Sources

  1. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products (EU Cosmetics Regulation).
  2. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 (more fragrance allergens must be named on the label).
  3. American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org. Diaper rash: fragrance-free products are best.

Last reviewed 6 November 2026.

Related ingredients

Talk to your pediatrician about anything concerning.