Fragrance free and unscented are two different things, and the difference genuinely matters if you have sensitive skin. A fragrance-free wipe contains no added scent compounds at all — including masking agents. An unscented wipe may still contain fragrance chemicals added specifically to cancel out the smell of other ingredients, which means 'unscented' can still irritate reactive skin. If you or your baby have eczema-prone or sensitive skin, fragrance free is the one you want.
Why does the fragrance free / unscented distinction matter for sensitive skin?
Fragrance is one of the most common contact allergens in skincare and personal care products. The British Association of Dermatologists lists it consistently among the top causes of contact dermatitis. The tricky part: you won't necessarily see the word 'fragrance' or 'parfum' on a label and think much of it. But if a product is labelled 'unscented' or 'no noticeable scent', there's a real chance it still contains fragrance compounds — specifically masking fragrances, which are added to cover up the industrial or chemical smell of other ingredients like preservatives or surfactants.
Those masking agents are still fragrance chemicals. They still sit on your skin. For most people that's fine, but for anyone with eczema, rosacea, contact dermatitis, or a newborn with fresh-out-of-the-womb skin, 'unscented' is not a safe assumption.
Fragrance free means no fragrance was added, full stop — no perfume, no masking agents, nothing. That's the meaningful label.
What should you look for on a wipes ingredient list?
Flip the pack and scan the ingredient list (INCI list). The things to watch for:
- Parfum — the catch-all INCI term for fragrance. If this appears anywhere, the wipe is not fragrance free, regardless of what the front of the pack says.
- Linalool, limonene, citronellol, geraniol, eugenol — these are individual fragrance chemicals that must be declared separately at concentrations above a threshold. Seeing them on a wipe ingredient list is a red flag for sensitive skin.
- Phenoxyethanol — a preservative that's common in wet wipes and can cause skin reactions in some people, particularly babies. Not a fragrance, but worth knowing about.
- EDTA (disodium EDTA or tetrasodium EDTA) — a chelating agent used to stabilise formulations. Again, not a scent compound, but associated with sensitivity in some users.
A genuinely fragrance-free wipe will have none of the above fragrance-related entries. The ingredient list will be short, legible, and boring — which is exactly what you want when the job is cleaning delicate skin.
Are 'natural' or 'plant-based' fragrances safer for sensitive skin?
Not necessarily. 'Natural fragrance' is not a regulated term in the UK, and natural doesn't mean hypoallergenic. Essential oils — lavender, chamomile, tea tree — are all plant-derived and all capable of triggering contact dermatitis. Lavender oil in particular is a well-documented sensitiser.
The logic 'it's natural so it's gentle' doesn't hold up for reactive skin. If you're buying wipes for eczema-prone skin or a newborn, the safest approach is genuinely fragrance free — no parfum, no essential oils, no 'natural fragrance'.
Does fragrance free also mean better for babies and newborns?
For newborns especially, yes. Newborn skin is thinner, its barrier function less developed, and its surface pH different from adult skin — it's more permeable, which means more of what you put on it gets absorbed. The NHS recommends using plain water or fragrance-free wipes for the first few weeks. After that, the guidance relaxes slightly, but fragrance-free stays the safer choice for any baby with dry, eczema-prone, or reactive skin.
If your baby does have eczema or a condition that affects the skin barrier, it's worth speaking to your GP or pharmacist about which products are appropriate — a blog post is useful context, but it's not a substitute for clinical advice on a diagnosed skin condition.
What about wipes for adults with sensitive skin?
The same logic applies. Eczema, perioral dermatitis, contact dermatitis, and rosacea are all common in adults, and fragrance is a common trigger for all of them. If you're using wipes on your face, to clean hands before eating, or in any area where skin is prone to irritation, fragrance free is the sensible default.
It's worth noting that 'sensitive skin' formulas from mainstream brands aren't always fragrance free — they may simply contain lower concentrations of fragrance, or swap synthetic parfum for plant-based oils. Always check the INCI list rather than trusting the front-of-pack claim.
So what's actually in dinky wipes?
All three dinky wipes products — sensitive, flushable, and antibacterial — are fragrance free. No parfum, ever. We also don't use phenoxyethanol or EDTA, which puts us on the shorter, cleaner end of wipes ingredient lists. The sensitive wipes are 100% cotton and specifically designed for skin that needs the least possible intervention: no fragrance, no plastic fibres, no unnecessary additives.
We're not going to tell you dinky wipes are a treatment for eczema or dermatitis — they're not, and that's not a claim we'd make. But if the brief is 'fewest possible irritants on sensitive skin', fragrance free cotton is a solid starting point.
What about the 'plastic free' side — does that affect sensitive skin too?
Slightly tangentially but genuinely relevant: most wet wipes are made with synthetic fibres — polyester, polypropylene, or in newer 'eco' products, PLA (polylactic acid), which is still a plastic at fibre level. The UK is banning plastic-fibre wet wipes in 2027, and for good reason.
Cotton and other natural fibres tend to be softer against skin and less likely to cause friction irritation. The connection between plastic fibres and skin sensitivity isn't as well-documented as the fragrance link, but if you're already buying fragrance free for sensitive skin, choosing a cotton or natural-fibre wipe is a consistent next step.
Common questions
Are fragrance free wipes the same as hypoallergenic wipes?
Not exactly. 'Hypoallergenic' is not a regulated term in the UK — any brand can use it without meeting a defined standard. Fragrance free is more specific: it means no added fragrance compounds. A wipe can call itself hypoallergenic and still contain parfum, so always check the ingredient list rather than relying on the label claim.
Can unscented wipes still cause a reaction on eczema-prone skin?
Yes. Unscented wipes can contain masking fragrances added to neutralise the smell of other ingredients — these are still fragrance chemicals and still potential irritants. If you or your child has eczema-prone skin, look specifically for 'fragrance free' and verify by checking that 'parfum' doesn't appear in the INCI list.
Are fragrance free wipes safe for newborns?
Fragrance free wipes are the recommended choice for newborns, in line with NHS guidance to use plain water or fragrance-free products in the early weeks. That said, every baby's skin is different — if your newborn has any skin condition or unusual sensitivity, check with your midwife, health visitor, or GP before introducing any new product.