Burt's Bees · Hand Sanitizer
Eucalyptus Refill 2-Pack
Lower PFAS concern, simple personal care product with no PFAS-prone ingredients or treatment typical.
Eucalyptus Refill 2-Pack is a basic cosmetics product containing plant oils and extracts with no history of PFAS treatment or fluorinated coatings. Burt's Bees makes no PFAS claims and provides no third-party verification, but the product category and formulation pose minimal PFAS risk. No public lab data or safety incidents identified.
Shop Burt's Bees on Amazon →Material
Eucalyptus oil, plant-derived cosmetic base
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 Eucalyptus Refill is formulated around eucalyptus essential oil as the primary active and fragrance component, combined with plant-derived alcohol (typically ethanol) as the sanitizing base. The product avoids synthetic antimicrobials like triclosan and relies on alcohol and botanical monoterpenes for efficacy. This material profile eliminates concerns tied to synthetic preservatives and antimicrobial resistance drivers common in conventional hand sanitizers.
The brand's record and disclosure
Burt's Bees is owned by Clorox and maintains a publicly stated commitment to natural, plant-derived ingredients and ingredient transparency on labels and website. The brand does not claim PFAS-free status explicitly but avoids material classes (Teflon-family coating, water-repellent treatments) where PFAS is typically used in personal care products. No major safety recalls or contamination incidents for this product line are on public record.
How it compares in its category
Plant-oil-based hand sanitizers like this occupy a middle ground: they avoid synthetic antimicrobials and harsh chemical residues of conventional gel sanitizers, but offer lower documented antimicrobial efficacy than alcohol-based medical-grade formulations in controlled studies. The refill format reduces plastic waste compared to single-use bottles. Eucalyptus oil itself is a well-studied botanical with low toxicity at use concentrations but can trigger skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
If you buy it
Apply as directed on the label and allow to air-dry fully before touching eyes or mouth. Eucalyptus oil can irritate skin or mucous membranes if applied in excessive quantity; use sparingly. Store the refill bottle away from direct sunlight and heat to preserve oil volatility and efficacy. Replace when product visibly separates or odor changes, as essential oils can degrade over 12-18 months in typical storage.
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.”
Eucalyptus oil skin irritation and sensitization
Eucalyptus essential oil is known to cause contact dermatitis and irritation in individuals with sensitive skin or eczema at high concentrations; this product is formulated for dilute use but risk remains for prone users, especially if applied to broken skin or mucous membranes.
Fragrance allergens
Eucalyptus oil and botanical alcohols contain naturally occurring volatile compounds (limonene, pinene) that are established allergens for a subset of consumers; reactions range from contact urticaria to respiratory irritation in sensitive individuals.
Ethanol skin barrier disruption
Alcohol-based sanitizers can strip natural skin oils and damage barrier function with repeated frequent use; this is compounded by eucalyptus oil's volatility and potential for mild irritation, especially in the elderly or those with compromised skin.
Essential oil stability and oxidation
Eucalyptus oil degrades when exposed to air, light, or heat; degradation products can increase allergenicity and irritant potential over the product shelf life if storage conditions are poor or container seal is compromised.
Eye and mucous membrane irritation
Accidental transfer of undried sanitizer to eyes or lips can cause significant irritation due to eucalyptus oil volatility; risk is higher with hand sanitizers applied in public settings where hand-to-face contact occurs before product fully dries.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 88% 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.
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Honest Company
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Lower-concern buy; transparent brand with third-party backing on PFAS.
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More hand sanitizer 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.