Burt's Bees · Hand Soap
Burt's Bees Liquid Hand Soap
Lower-concern choice, liquid hand soap formulation has no inherent need for PFAS.
Burt's Bees Liquid Hand Soap is a water-based formula without coatings, water-resistance treatments, or non-stick applications that typically drive PFAS use. The brand does not make PFAS claims, but the product category itself poses minimal PFAS risk. No third-party PFAS testing data is publicly available for this specific product.
Shop Burt's Bees on Amazon →Material
Aqueous soap base, essential oils, 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
Burt's Bees Liquid Hand Soap is formulated as a water-based soap base with plant-derived essential oils and botanical extracts (such as honey and plant glycerin), without synthetic surfactants or harsh detergents typical of mass-market brands. This aqueous composition inherently avoids several hazard pathways: no particulate talc, no microplastic beads, and no antimicrobial agents like triclosan that accumulate in tissues. The essential oil component does introduce fragrance allergens for sensitive individuals, but these are declared on the label and are not classified as hidden contaminants.
The brand's record and disclosure
Burt's Bees maintains transparent ingredient labeling and has not been subject to major recalls or regulatory actions for contaminant issues in hand soap. The brand does not explicitly market PFAS-free status (remaining silent on the topic), which is typical for liquid hand soap producers since this product category has no functional need for water-resistant coatings. The brand holds Natural Personal Care Products Council memberships and avoids ingredients like BPA and phthalates as a stated policy. No established controversies regarding formaldehyde releasers or heavy metal pigments have been documented for this specific product line.
How it compares in its category
Liquid hand soaps represent the safest format in the hand-hygiene category compared to antibacterial bar soaps (which often contain triclosan) or foaming variants (which sometimes include preservative cocktails). Burt's Bees positions itself in the plant-based premium segment, avoiding the fragrance allergen density and synthetic preservative load of mass-market liquid soaps. Unlike bar soaps, liquids eliminate talc dust inhalation and leaching concerns. Its use of plant extracts rather than synthetic colorants or optical brighteners aligns with lower heavy-metal contamination risk compared to conventional brands.
If you buy it
Use the product as intended without modification; no special heat exposure or storage constraints apply to aqueous liquid soap. Check the ingredient label if you have known sensitivities to essential oils or fragrance allergens (listed generically as 'fragrance' or by plant name). Replace the bottle when contents are depleted rather than attempting to thin with water, which can promote bacterial growth in the remaining product residue. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to preserve plant extract stability, though no degradation hazard exists within normal bathroom conditions.
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 (essential oil derived)
Burt's Bees formulation contains undisclosed essential oil components that can trigger contact dermatitis or respiratory irritation in fragrance-sensitive individuals. Not a contaminant per se, but an inherent sensitizing component; label lists 'fragrance' without full component breakdown.
Bacterial or mold growth in bottle (maintenance dependent)
Any aqueous liquid soap can develop microbial growth if the dispenser mechanism or nozzle is contaminated or if water is introduced. Risk is user-dependent, not product-formulation dependent; proper hygiene in handling prevents this.
1,4-dioxane contamination (formulation concern)
Burt's Bees has not been documented to use ethoxylated surfactants that generate 1,4-dioxane during manufacture. The brand's plant-derived soap base and disclosed simple ingredient list reduce likelihood of this contaminant, though no published third-party testing of this specific product is available.
Heavy metals in plant-derived pigments or extracts
Burt's Bees liquid soaps do not contain added synthetic colorants that commonly harbor cadmium or lead. Plant extracts like honey carry minimal contamination risk under normal agricultural practices. No recalls or regulatory findings for heavy metal contamination in this product line exist.
Formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
Burt's Bees disclosed ingredient list does not include formaldehyde donors (DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, etc.). The simple aqueous formulation and plant extracts reduce the need for aggressive preservative chemistry typical of complex synthetic formulas.
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.