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All Natural Fragrance - Disclosure Matters
Why Full Disclosure of All-Natural Fragrances Matters for Families
Author: Dabble & Dollop • Last updated: September 30, 2025
Key takeaways
“Fragrance” on labels is a mixture of multiple substances; disclosure has historically been limited in the U.S.[1]
Fully disclosed, all-natural fragrance helps families manage skin sensitivities and avoid hidden allergens.[3]
MoCRA is phasing in fragrance-allergen disclosure, but going beyond minimums builds greater consumer trust.[5]
Dabble & Dollop lists natural fragrance components and avoids undisclosed synthetic blends.
At Dabble & Dollop, we believe that transparency builds trust—especially for products used on children’s skin. Many personal-care labels list a single catch-all word, “fragrance.” That term can hide dozens of undisclosed substances, making it hard for parents to manage sensitivities and make informed choices (Environmental Working Group[1]).
What’s inside “fragrance”?
“Fragrance” can encompass thousands of possible compounds, including known allergens. Because disclosure rules have historically been limited, consumers often can’t tell what’s actually in a product (Scientific American[2]). That ambiguity raises avoidable risks for households managing eczema, asthma, or scent sensitivities.
Why fully disclosed, all-natural fragrance is better
Skin sensitivity and children’s health. Children’s skin barrier is thinner and more permeable than adults’. Choosing products with fully disclosed, natural fragrance components helps families avoid hidden triggers and better manage reactions (American Academy of Pediatrics[3]).
Trust through transparency. Clear labeling aligns with what shoppers want. Research shows many consumers actively seek natural ingredients and are willing to pay more for them (Nielsen[4]).
Environmental responsibility. Some synthetic fragrance ingredients (e.g., certain musks and phthalates) can persist in waterways and wildlife. Selecting natural, biodegradable aroma materials reduces environmental load (Scientific American[2]).
The regulatory backdrop—and why we go further
The U.S. Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA) is phasing in expanded requirements, including fragrance-allergen disclosure (U.S. FDA[5]). That’s progress—but minimum compliance doesn’t equal full clarity. We choose to list our natural fragrance components so parents know exactly what’s in the bottle.
How Dabble & Dollop puts this into practice
All-natural fragrance components, fully disclosed. We publish the specific botanically derived aroma ingredients we use—no “black box” blends.
Mix-and-match fun without the mystery. Kids can create their favorite blends (e.g., Strawberry + Vanilla, Coconut + Honeydew) and parents can see every component behind the scent.
Formulated for families. We emphasize gentle surfactants and simple ingredient lists to support daily use on young skin.
Frequently asked questions
What does “fragrance” mean on a cosmetic label?
It is an umbrella term for a mixture of aroma ingredients; the specific components have not always been disclosed in the U.S.
What is an all-natural fragrance?
A fragrance whose aroma components are derived from natural sources (e.g., essential oils, isolates) rather than synthetic aroma chemicals.
Why disclose fragrance components?
Disclosure helps consumers avoid allergens, demonstrates brand transparency, and supports safer choices for sensitive skin.
What is MoCRA?
The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act, a U.S. law phasing in expanded safety and disclosure rules, including fragrance-allergen reporting.
Does Dabble & Dollop disclose its fragrance components?
Yes. We publish our all-natural fragrance components to give you a full picture of which components make up our amazing aromas.
Explore our fully disclosed scents
3-in-1 Bath and Shower Products
All-Natural Mini Bath Bombs
Gift Sets and Bundles
References
Environmental Working Group, Exposing the Cosmetics Cover-Up. https://www.ewg.org/research/exposing-cosmetic-coverup ↩ ↩
Scientific American, “What You Should Know About Fragrance.” https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-you-should-know-about-fragrance/ ↩ ↩
American Academy of Pediatrics, “Protecting Kids from Toxic Chemicals.” https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/aap-voices/protecting-kids-from-toxic-chemicals/ ↩ ↩
Nielsen, “What’s in Our Food and on Our Skin Matters.” https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2016/what-s-in-our-food-and-on-our-skin-matters/ ↩
U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA). https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-laws-regulations/modernization-cosmetics-regulation-act-2022 ↩ ↩
Making Sense Out of Scents
A Scent-Sory Experience
Developing the signature natural scents for Dabble & Dollop's products was a purposeful and intentional process deeply rooted in both nature and science. I often describe our product design as "purpose-filled," meaning every aspect was thoughtfully considered. It was essential to craft a sensory experience that appeals to both children and adults, ensuring it was entirely natural and safe.
Did you know that our sense of smell is our most primitive and ancient sense? Our neurobiology is intricately wired to perceive and process scents, making our sense of smell incredibly powerful.
It's important to understand that scent is a physical stimulant made of volatile chemicals – tiny particles that float in our environment. When we inhale these scents, they trigger a biological response in our brains.
The Nose Knows
For instance, when you smell a sweet rose or a freshly baked cake, you're inhaling particles that your brain detects and processes, often evoking pleasant feelings and positively impacting our well-being. Inhaling scents activates neurons in the nose's mucosal lining, a process that is both hard-wired and influenced by learned scent experiences based on our environment.
Olfaction, or the sense of smell, is powerful because it imprints memories and associations unique to each individual over their lifetime. For example, the scent of vanilla might evoke memories of baking cookies at your grandmother's house, often tied to feelings of care and comfort.
We selected scents like strawberry, tangerine, blueberry, lemon, honeydew melon, and vanilla intentionally, backed by science. These natural scents are almost universally experienced as pleasant, as our neurons are pre-disposed to find these scents enjoyable. Our aim was not to create artificial fragrances but to harness nature's sweetest gifts that we are biologically attuned to appreciate.
Better Than Smelling Salts!
Furthermore, scent doesn't just bring pleasure and evoke good memories. It also creates a level of alertness and arousal in the brain. Research by Dr. Noam Sobel, Professor of Neurobiology at the Weizmann Institute of Science, demonstrates that inhaling scents increases brain alertness and arousal. It's a primitive cue signaling the brain to pay attention, enhancing memory retention.
These studies show that the act of smelling can enhance cognition – our ability to learn and remember. While we often process scents subconsciously, we can also use them intentionally to enhance moments or change moods.
Scent, Memory & Connection
This is why we believe that incorporating scent into bath time for children offers a powerful bonding opportunity for parents. Engaging with your child during bath time, with gentle touch and soft conversation, can create lasting memories and positively influence their well-being and cognitive development.
Our products are truly "purpose-filled," designed to elevate the bath time experience by enhancing joy and connection, guided by science. Science and nature are deeply intertwined in our approach. The aromatic ingredients in our scents are completely natural, not artificial or synthetic. They are nature's pure gifts, and enjoying these during bath time should be a familial, comforting, safe, and sensory experience.
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I spent twenty years in the cosmetic ingredient business, most specifically in the naturally-derived, natural, specialty, premium space and the entire experience was eye-opening. Between my on the job experience and the skin biology and ingredient chemistry courses I took, I learned a ton. It wasn’t until stepping out of the business (we sold the business in January 2017 to global specialty powerhouse Azelis) that an entirely new level of clarity hit me. And that clarity fueled my desire to launch products that were purposeful, effective and used the best that science and art had to offer.