Burt's Bees · Hand Soap
Burt's Bees Naturally Clean Hand Soap with Lavender and Honey
Lower PFAS concern; liquid hand soap rarely requires water-repellent coating or stain-resist coatings.
Burt's Bees Lavender & Honey Hand Soap is a simple liquid soap with no known PFAS-prone ingredients like waterproofing agents, grease-resistant coatings, or fluorinated compounds. The brand makes no PFAS claims. Liquid hand soaps are inherently low-risk for PFAS compared to treated textiles or coated cookware.
Shop Burt's Bees on Amazon →Material
water, glycerin, soap base, 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.
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
This product is a water-based liquid soap containing glycerin (a humectant that draws moisture to skin), plant-derived soap base, and botanical extracts (lavender, honey). The formula lacks synthetic surfactants, thickeners, or preservatives typical of conventional hand soaps, which reduces exposure to common irritants and sensitizing agents. Liquid formulations naturally avoid the pressed-cake degradation and surface contamination risks of bar soaps.
The brand's record and disclosure
Burt's Bees publishes full ingredient lists on packaging and website, adheres to FDA cosmetic labeling rules, and holds no major voluntary certifications (e.g., EWG Verified, Leaping Bunny) on this specific product. The brand has not faced documented recalls or regulatory action for this hand soap line. Parent company Clorox acquired Burt's Bees in 2007; the product retains the original positioning as naturally derived, though full supply-chain transparency remains limited.
How it compares in its category
Burt's Bees Lavender and Honey sits mid-range in the natural hand soap category: simpler ingredient deck than premium indie brands (e.g., Weleda, Dr. Bronner's) but more refined formula than drugstore antibacterial soaps (which contain triclosan or triclocarban, now banned in US OTC products). Glycerin-rich formulation is gentler than stripped commercial soaps; botanical extracts add minimal functional benefit but reduce synthetic preservative load.
If you buy it
Use as directed; no dilution or heating is involved in typical hand-washing, eliminating thermal or concentration risks. Check expiration date on bottle (cosmetics shelf life typically 2-3 years unopened). Store in cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to preserve plant extract integrity. Discontinue if skin irritation develops, though this formula is formulated for sensitive skin and documented adverse reactions are rare.
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 (lavender, honey extracts)
Lavender and honey are botanicals known to trigger contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals, though prevalence is low in general population. Burt's Bees does not separately list fragrance components, so cross-reactivity testing would require patch testing.
Preservative-system adequacy
Liquid hand soap formulations require preservatives to prevent microbial growth; Burt's Bees uses plant-derived preservatives (e.g., citric acid, vitamin E) rather than synthetic parabens. No documented contamination or spoilage reported in this product line under normal storage.
Glycerin skin barrier effects (prolonged use)
Glycerin is a humectant generally recognized as safe for topical use. High glycerin content (common in Burt's Bees formulas) may theoretically over-hydrate and macerate skin with excessive hand-washing, but clinical evidence of harm from this product is absent.
Botanical extract contamination (heavy metals, pesticides)
Plant-derived ingredients carry theoretical risk of pesticide residues or heavy metal uptake from soil. Burt's Bees does not publish third-party testing for botanical sourcing; no regulatory action or consumer complaints have been documented for this product.
1,4-dioxane as synthesis byproduct
Some ethoxylated cosmetic ingredients can contain trace 1,4-dioxane; Burt's Bees formula does not list ethoxylated surfactants, reducing this risk. FDA does not mandate testing or labeling for 1,4-dioxane in cosmetics under current rules.
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.