Burt's Bees · Hand Soap
(1) Burts Bees Citrus & Lemongrass Hand Soap 7.5 Fl Oz Burt’s
Lower concern; Burt's Bees hand soap has no obvious PFAS markers and uses traditional soap chemistry.
Burt's Bees Citrus & Lemongrass Hand Soap is a rinse-off liquid soap with no reported fluorinated ingredients, water-repellent treatments, or nonstick coatings. The brand does not disclose PFAS content, but the product category (simple soap) and Burt's Bees' natural positioning make PFAS exposure unlikely.
Shop Burt's Bees on Amazon →Material
aqueous soap base, essential oils, glycerin
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
cosmetics is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Burt's Bees Citrus & Lemongrass Hand Soap is a water-based formula built on saponified plant oils (soap base) with added glycerin as a humectant and essential oils for fragrance. This traditional soap chemistry is inherently low-risk because saponification breaks oils into simple fatty acid salts, which are readily biodegradable and have been used safely for centuries. The essential oils (citrus and lemongrass) are volatile organic compounds at very low concentration in a rinse-off product, meaning skin exposure is brief and dilute.
The brand's record and disclosure
Burt's Bees publishes a complete ingredient list and holds USDA Organic certification for many products in its line, signaling third-party verification of sourcing and manufacturing standards. The brand has not faced major safety recalls or regulatory actions tied to this soap product. While Burt's Bees does not publicly disclose PFAS testing data or make explicit PFAS-free claims, the absence of fluorinated surfactants or water-resistance claims in hand soap formulation makes intentional PFAS inclusion unlikely.
How it compares in its category
Hand soaps span a wide spectrum from plain castile soap to heavily fragranced and antimicrobial variants. Burt's Bees sits in the premium natural segment, avoiding synthetic fragrance, parabens, and triclosan that appear in many mass-market brands. It is comparable in safety profile to other USDA Organic certified hand soaps and considerably lower-risk than antimicrobial or heavy-fragrance formulas that may harbor allergenic compounds or endocrine-active additives.
If you buy it
Hand soap is a rinse-off product, so systemic absorption risk is minimal regardless of formula. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct heat to preserve essential oil volatiles and prevent container degradation. No special maintenance is needed. Replace when empty; no accumulation of residues occurs with normal use. Individuals with fragrance sensitivity or citrus-peel allergies should patch-test on the inner wrist first, as lemongrass and citrus essential oils can irritate sensitive skin in direct contact.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Fragrance allergens (citrus, lemongrass essential oils)
Essential oils are known skin sensitizers in a small percentage of users; citrus oils (limonene) and lemongrass (citral, geranial) are documented allergens. Risk is low in rinse-off soap due to brief contact, but individuals with sensitive skin or contact dermatitis history may experience irritation.
Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
Burt's Bees does not list formaldehyde releasers (DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea) in published ingredients for this product. Traditional soap formulations with glycerin typically do not require these preservatives.
1,4-dioxane contamination
1,4-dioxane is a byproduct of ethoxylation used in synthetic detergents; Burt's Bees hand soap uses saponified plant oils and essential oils, not ethoxylated surfactants, making contamination unlikely based on formulation type.
Heavy metals in natural ingredients or pigments
This soap contains no colorants or pigments that would introduce lead, cadmium, or arsenic. Plant oils and essential oils may naturally contain trace metals, but at concentrations far below dermal toxicity thresholds in a rinse-off product.
Plastic microparticles or microbeads
No exfoliating particles or synthetic microbeads are listed or typical in bar or liquid hand soap of this type. Microplastic concern applies mainly to cleansers with intentional abrasive inclusions.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 82% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Hand Soap
Ecos
Orange Hand Soap
Plant-based surfactants, water, essential oils (orange)
Lower concern, solid plant-based formula with credible third-party oversight; no PFAS-prone materials.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Seventh Generation
Hand Wash, Free Clean
aqueous surfactants, botanicals, water-based formula
Lower PFAS concern; buy with confidence if skin-sensitivity is a priority.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Seventh Generation
Liquid Hand Soap Free & Clean
Water-based liquid soap formulation
Lower-concern choice; no PFAS expected in liquid soap format, but verification limited to brand claims.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
More hand soap grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.