Burt's Bees · Hand Soap
Burt's Bees Green Tea & Lemongrass Hand Soap
Lower-concern hand soap; no PFAS-prone formulation or coating identified.
Burt's Bees hand soaps are simple aqueous formulations without nonstick, water-repellent, or stain-resistant coatings, the primary PFAS vectors in consumer products.
Shop Burt's Bees on Amazon →Material
aqueous soap base, natural plant extracts
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.
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
This product is a water-based liquid soap with green tea and lemongrass plant extracts as active ingredients, rather than synthetic detergents or harsh surfactants. The aqueous base means no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released during use or storage, and no heating or coating degradation occurs as with non-stick cookware. Plant extract-based personal care products have a lower burden of synthetic preservatives and fragrance compounds compared to conventional brands, though they still require some level of preservation to prevent microbial growth.
The brand's record and disclosure
Burt's Bees holds NSF/ANSI 305 certification (Natural Personal Care Products Standard) and does not use synthetic dyes, parabens, or phthalates in most product lines, including hand soaps. The company maintains transparent ingredient labeling and has faced no significant recalls or toxicity controversies in the hand soap category. However, like most personal care brands, Burt's Bees does not explicitly disclose PFAS testing results or commit to PFAS-free formulations, though the aqueous soap base and absence of water-resistant coatings suggest minimal PFAS inclusion risk.
How it compares in its category
Plant-extract hand soaps occupy a lower-risk niche compared to antimicrobial soaps (which often contain triclosan or triclocarban regulatorily restricted in some regions) or foaming hand washes (which sometimes contain synthetic fragrance allergens in higher concentrations). Burt's Bees positions itself mid-market as a certified natural alternative to mass-market brands; it offers better ingredient transparency than conventional drugstore options but at comparable or slightly higher cost. The green tea and lemongrass formulation avoids strong synthetic perfumes that trigger contact dermatitis in sensitive populations.
If you buy it
Store in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight to preserve plant extract potency and prevent oxidation; hand soaps do not require special temperature control. Use as directed on packaging; no dilution or special handling is needed. Hand soaps are typically replaced every 2-4 weeks of regular use, so monitor depletion and replenish before the product degrades or separates. If skin irritation develops, discontinue use; plant extracts can trigger contact sensitivity in individuals with atopic dermatitis or fragrance allergies despite the natural marketing claim.
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.”
Synthetic fragrance allergens
Lemongrass extract and botanical fragrances are generally lower-allergen alternatives to synthetic musks, but individual sensitivity to citrus and grass-derived compounds is documented. No major allergen recalls for this specific product line are on record.
Preservative-related contact sensitization
Burt's Bees avoids parabens in certified natural products, reducing common preservative allergens. The specific preservative system in this formulation is not detailed in public materials, so low-level preservative risk remains but is not formally documented.
Microbial contamination if contaminated during use
Liquid hand soaps in pump dispensers have lower contamination risk than bar soaps or open containers. Proper pump maintenance and avoiding water backflow prevents microbial proliferation.
Heavy metals in plant extracts
Green tea and lemongrass extracts can accumulate heavy metals (lead, cadmium) if sourced from contaminated soil, but Burt's Bees certifications imply third-party testing for ingredient purity. No recalls or published test failures for this product exist.
Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
Burt's Bees natural certification explicitly excludes formaldehyde releasers (imidazolidinyl urea, dmdm hydantoin); this product is formulated to avoid that class of preservative.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 85% 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.