A Wren Says

If you watch many skincare influencers, fragrance is the worst possible thing that you can ever have in your skincare. Anything that has a fragrance is destroying your skin. That might seem extreme, but it matches their energy. If you let them tell it, fragrance is an unnecessary skincare ingredient.

Let’s be real. Fragrance costs money. Brands are not going are not add unnecessary ingredients without cause. Fragrance may not have skincare benefits, but it gets added because it works. The way a product smells can shape how we perceive it. We might think it would be more effective if it smells stronger and more medicinal. Or maybe we would believe it is more soothing if it has a calming scent. Or maybe we are just more likely to use it if it fits a scent profile we like. If fragrance shifts your likelihood of buying and repeat purchasing a product, it’s a necessary part of the formula.

There are some ingredients that are added just for fragrance that some people will be sensitive. There is certainly a need in the market for fragrance-free products. But ultimately, scent is a powerful sense that shapes our experience of beauty products. It is up to you as to whether or not you keep scented products in your skincare regime. But maybe, it’s time for us to start thinking about the real role that fragrance plays in our skincare routines.

How does scent change your beauty care experience? How does the way a product smells change your opinion of it? Do you consider it more or less effective? Do you enjoy it more?