Honest Company · Body Wash
Honest Company Fragrance-Free Shampoo & Body Wash
Lower PFAS concern for this liquid soap; no known risk factors, but brand transparency is absent.
Honest Company's shampoo & body wash is a rinse-off liquid cosmetic with no water-repellency, stain-resistance, or coating treatments typically associated with PFAS. The product category carries minimal inherent PFAS risk.
Shop Honest Company on Amazon →Material
aqueous liquid soap formulation
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
Honest Company's fragrance-free shampoo and body wash is an aqueous liquid soap formulation, typically containing surfactants (cleaning agents), water, glycerin or similar humectants, and preservatives, but lacking added fragrance compounds. The absence of fragrance significantly reduces the risk of unlisted allergens and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are common irritants in scented body washes. Liquid soap formulations pose minimal leaching risk compared to bar soaps or solid products, since the aqueous base does not concentrate problematic compounds over time.
The brand's record and disclosure
The Honest Company has publicly committed to transparency regarding chemical safety and has published ingredient lists; however, the brand has not proactively disclosed PFAS testing or water repellent chemical sourcing, leaving PFAS status opaque despite the lower inherent risk of liquid soap. The company holds certifications including phthalate-free and formaldehyde-free claims on many products, though specific third-party verification for this shampoo/body wash variant is not widely documented. No major recalls or safety controversies specific to this product line have been publicly reported.
How it compares in its category
Fragrance-free body washes are a safer-by-design category compared to heavily fragranced alternatives, which often mask unlisted allergens and trace contaminants. Honest Company's offering sits in the mid-to-premium segment for natural/clean-label body washes, alongside brands like EWG Verified or Seventh Generation, all of which voluntarily avoid synthetic fragrance. Most conventional drugstore body washes introduce more fragrance allergens and potential endocrine disruptors; this product's formulation profile is notably cleaner in comparison.
If you buy it
Store at room temperature away from direct sunlight to preserve preservative efficacy and avoid bacterial growth in the bottle. Use a pump dispenser or squeeze cap to minimize air exposure and contamination; do not store with the cap off or transfer to unsterilized containers. No special heating or dilution is required; use as a standard body wash. Check the expiration date and replace if the product shows discoloration, separation, or off-odor, which may indicate preservative breakdown.
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.”
Preservative allergens (e.g., phenoxyethanol, methylisothiazolinone)
Liquid soaps require preservatives to prevent bacterial and mold growth; Honest Company does not publicly specify which preservatives are used in this fragrance-free variant, leaving potential allergen status unclear. Fragrance-free does not guarantee preservative-free.
Contact dermatitis from surfactants or humectants
Even in fragrance-free formulations, high concentrations of sulfate or non-sulfate surfactants can irritate sensitive skin. Glycerin and other humectants are generally low-risk but may cause reaction in individuals with specific sensitivities; brand does not disclose surfactant type publicly.
Bacterial or mold contamination if stored improperly
Liquid soap bottles left open or stored in warm, humid bathrooms (e.g., shower caddies) can promote microbial growth despite preservatives. This is a user-practice risk, not a formulation defect, but worth noting for fragrance-free products marketed to sensitive users.
Heavy metals in water source or mineral contaminants
No recalls or test reports have documented heavy metal contamination in Honest Company body wash products. As an aqueous liquid formulation, the risk is inherently low, but brand does not publish water sourcing or purity protocols.
Formaldehyde releasers or secondary formaldehyde generation
Honest Company explicitly markets products as formaldehyde-free; no evidence suggests otherwise for this variant. Fragrance-free status further reduces the likelihood of hidden formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, which are more common in fragranced cosmetics.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% 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 Body Wash
Cetyl
Dr Bronner's Baby Unscented Pure Castile Liquid Soap
saponified vegetable oils (castile base), no protective coatings
Lower-concern choice; simple castile soap formulation carries minimal PFAS risk.
⚠Risky category by default
Dr. Bronner's
Pure-Castile Liquid Soap
Plant-based soap (coconut, olive, palm oils); no coatings or treatments
Lower PFAS concern, uncoated liquid soap with no water- or stain-resistant treatments.
⚠Risky category by default
Dr. Bronner's
Dr Bronner's Baby Unscented Pure Castile Liquid Soap
Plant-based soap (coconut, olive, palm oils)
Lower PFAS concern, pure castile liquid soap has no typical vector for forever chemicals.
⚠Risky category by default
More body wash 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.