Burt's Bees · Hand Sanitizer
Hand Sanitizer Spray
Lower PFAS concern for typical hand sanitizer formulation; no known high-risk ingredients flagged.
Burt's Bees hand sanitizer spray is a simple alcohol-based product with no disclosed waterproofing, stain resistance, or nonstick coatings, the main vectors for PFAS in cosmetics. The brand makes no PFAS claims.
Shop Burt's Bees on Amazon →Material
Alcohol (ethanol), water, plant-based emollients
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 Hand Sanitizer Spray is primarily ethanol (the active antimicrobial agent), water, and plant-derived emollients like aloe vera and vitamin E. Ethanol at sanitizer concentrations (typically 60-70%) is volatile and evaporates rapidly, leaving minimal residue on skin. The plant-based additives are humectants intended to reduce skin drying compared to pure alcohol formulations, and at the dilution levels used in sprays, they do not introduce significant chemical hazards.
The brand's record and disclosure
Burt's Bees markets itself as a natural/plant-based personal care brand and maintains relatively transparent ingredient labeling on packaging and website. The company has not faced major product safety recalls for hand sanitizers in the US market. However, like most hand sanitizer manufacturers, Burt's Bees has been silent on PFAS testing and disclosure, which is common across the category but limits confidence in absence of these additives.
How it compares in its category
Ethanol-based hand sanitizers are among the safest formulations available; alcohol volatilizes quickly and does not bioaccumulate. Burt's Bees spray format is less messy than gel and avoids the triclosan and parabens sometimes found in older antimicrobial soaps. Compared to alcohol-free or benzalkonium chloride alternatives, ethanol poses lower skin sensitization and systemic toxicity risk, though it may cause dryness in frequent users.
If you buy it
Use as directed on label; allow to air-dry on hands rather than wiping, which ensures full antimicrobial contact time. The spray format makes it portable and suitable for frequent reapplication throughout the day. If skin irritation or dryness develops with regular use, switch to a moisturizing formulation or follow sanitizer application with hand lotion. Store away from heat and ignition sources, as ethanol is flammable in bulk; standard home storage poses negligible fire risk for a spray bottle.
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.”
Ethanol inhalation from spray format
Spraying releases ethanol vapor into air; direct inhalation in poor ventilation or repeated short-duration exposure could cause minor respiratory irritation or dizziness in sensitive individuals. Not a hazard for normal single-application use.
Skin dryness and irritation
Frequent use of ethanol-based sanitizers can strip natural skin oils; Burt's Bees formulation includes humectants to mitigate this, but individual sensitivity varies. Not a toxicological hazard but a user comfort issue.
Fragrance allergens
Burt's Bees hand sanitizers typically contain botanical extracts and natural fragrance compounds; individuals with fragrance sensitivity or botanical allergies (e.g., lanolin, essential oils) may experience contact dermatitis. Product labels disclose fragrance components but not all allergen information.
Heavy metals in plant-derived ingredients
No recalls or test data suggest heavy metal contamination in Burt's Bees botanical ingredients. Standard cosmetic-grade sourcing makes this unlikely, though independent testing is not routinely published.
Methanol contamination
FDA has identified methanol contamination in some hand sanitizer products during supply chain shortages; Burt's Bees products have not been flagged in methanol recalls. Ethanol-based products are inherently lower-risk than denatured alcohol formulations for this hazard.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 78% 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 Sanitizer
Seventh Generation
Hand Wash Natural Seventh Generation
water-based surfactants, plant-derived ingredients
Lower-concern choice; MADE SAFE certification and plant-based formula reduce PFAS risk significantly.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Seventh Generation
Hydrating Antibacterial Hand Mist
Water-based cosmetic spray (alcohol, water, plant extracts, preservatives)
Lower-concern choice; hand mist format and brand transparency reduce PFAS risk, though no dedicated lab testing published.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Honest Company
The Honest Company SANI SPRAY-2OZ-GRAPEFRUIT
Water-based formula (spray disinfectant)
Lower-concern buy; transparent brand with third-party backing on PFAS.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
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.