Burt's Bees · Hand Soap
Burt's Bees Naturally Clean Hand Soap
Lower concern, simple liquid soap formula has minimal PFAS risk, but brand makes no public commitment.
Burt's Bees hand soap is a basic aqueous cleanser with plant oils and glycerin; no Teflon-family coating, water-repellent coatings, or grease-resistant packaging are typical in this category.
Shop Burt's Bees on Amazon →Material
water, plant-based cleansing agents, 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 Naturally Clean Hand Soap is a water-based liquid formulation using plant-derived cleansing agents (typically coconut oil or similar botanical extracts) and glycerin as a humectant. Liquid soaps in this category carry negligible risk of the heavy metal or coating-degradation hazards common in ceramics or cookware, and the simple surfactant chemistry means no Teflon-type coating or complex polymer exposure during normal use. Glycerin is a well-established safe humectant and presents no leaching risk.
The brand's record and disclosure
Burt's Bees publishes ingredient lists readily and holds EWG certification for many products in this line, signaling third-party vetting of formulation safety. The brand does not make explicit public commitments on PFAS elimination, though its avoidance of synthetic emulsifiers and water-repellent additives in liquid soaps reduces practical PFAS exposure pathways. No significant recalls or contamination incidents on public record for this specific product or ingredient profile.
How it compares in its category
Burt's Bees Naturally Clean sits in the mainstream natural hand soap segment, alongside competitors like Dr. Bronner's and Seventh Generation. All three rely on plant-based surfactants and avoid antimicrobial agents (triclosan) that triggered FDA restrictions; Burt's Bees is comparable in transparency and third-party validation. Versus conventional commercial soaps, this product avoids synthetic fragrance load and synthetic colorants, reducing cumulative allergen exposure.
If you buy it
Store in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight to preserve plant-based ingredient integrity over time. Liquid soaps do not require special heat handling or replacement triggers tied to coating wear. Use as directed on the label; no special precautions are warranted beyond standard hand hygiene practice. Check the ingredient list if you have known sensitivities to plant extracts, though fragrance is typically essential oils rather than synthetic compounds.
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 oils)
Burt's Bees uses natural fragrance from essential oils rather than synthetic fragrance compounds. Individual sensitivity to plant-derived scents (e.g., lavender, citrus) is possible but typically lower than synthetic fragrance blends; no major allergen incidents documented for this specific product.
Preservative safety (if present)
Burt's Bees Naturally Clean uses minimal synthetic preservatives; formulation relies on pH and water activity control. No reports of preservative-related issues or contamination in available product safety records.
Botanical extract contaminants (pesticide residue)
Plant-derived cleansing agents may carry trace pesticide residue if sourced from non-organic crops. Burt's Bees does not routinely disclose pesticide testing or organic sourcing for this product; risk remains theoretical and unconfirmed by independent testing in public domain.
Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
This product is not marketed to contain formaldehyde releasers (imidazolidinyl urea, dmdm hydantoin). No evidence of such preservatives in the published ingredient list.
Heavy metals in botanical pigments or colorants
Burt's Bees Naturally Clean typically uses minimal colorants; where present, they are usually certified colorants or natural plant-based pigments. No recalls or test results documenting heavy metal contamination are on record for this product.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 75% 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.