Honest Company · Body Wash
Honest Company Sweet Orange Vanilla Shampoo and Body Wash
Lower-concern personal care product; no known PFAS-typical triggers, but brand makes no explicit PFAS commitment.
Honest Company's shampoo/body wash is a liquid cleanser with no waterproofing, non-stick, or stain-resistance treatment, the primary applications where PFAS appear in consumer products. The brand does not publicly disclose PFAS information or hold third-party PFAS/clean certification. No public lab detections exist for this product.
Shop Honest Company on Amazon →Material
aqueous cleansing formulation (water, surfactants, essential oils)
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 Sweet Orange Vanilla is a water-based body wash formulated with mild surfactants (typically sodium lauryl sulfoacetate or similar), botanical extracts, and fragrance from essential oils. The aqueous base means no volatile solvents or reactive chemicals that require special containment. Essential oils (orange, vanilla) are volatile but present in dilute form in rinse-off products, so dermal absorption and inhalation risk are minimal under normal use.
The brand's record and disclosure
Honest Company markets itself as a safer, cleaner alternative brand and publishes ingredient lists transparently on packaging and website. The company does not explicitly disclose PFAS avoidance policies and makes no formal commitment to PFOA/PFOS phase-out, which is typical silence for smaller personal care brands. No recalls or safety enforcement actions related to this product line are publicly documented. Third-party certifications (e.g., EWG, Cradle to Cradle) are absent from marketing claims, limiting independent verification.
How it compares in its category
Body washes as a category present lower chemical hazard than leave-on personal care because rinse-off products minimize dermal absorption. Honest Company's formula is broadly comparable to mainstream alternatives (Cetaphil, CeraVe) in material simplicity and safety profile. The brand does not outperform premium natural lines (e.g., Acure, Burt's Bees) in third-party certification, but pricing reflects similar risk tier rather than premium safety claims.
If you buy it
Store at room temperature away from direct sunlight; essential oils can degrade under heat, potentially shifting fragrance chemistry but not creating hazard. Use standard amount (dime to quarter size) for body washing. No special rinsing or precautions needed. Replace when empty or if visible separation or odor change occurs (sign of oxidation or microbial growth in opened bottles). Keep cap sealed between uses to prevent air exposure and microbial entry.
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.”
1,4-dioxane contamination
No published testing or recalls document 1,4-dioxane in Honest Company products. Dioxane is a potential impurity in ethoxylated surfactants; absence of public detection suggests either low ethoxylation rate or effective purification, but lack of transparency means status cannot be confirmed independently.
Fragrance allergens
Sweet Orange and Vanilla fragrance compounds are natural but can trigger contact dermatitis or sensitization in individuals with fragrance sensitivity or damaged skin barrier. Essential oils are listed openly, allowing avoidance, but Honest Company does not separately disclose fragrance allergen concentration or individual constituents.
Formaldehyde releasers
No formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea) are disclosed in public ingredient lists for this product. Rinse-off status further reduces exposure risk even if present.
Microbial growth in opened bottle
Aqueous formulations without robust preservative systems can support bacterial or mold growth if caps are left unsealed or product stored in humid bathrooms. Honest Company does not prominently disclose preservative identity or concentration, so contamination resistance cannot be assessed from public information.
Heavy metals in pigments or colorants
No synthetic colorants or mineral pigments requiring heavy metal testing are listed in standard ingredient disclosures for this clear or lightly tinted formula. Risk is negligible for colorant-free or naturally colored aqueous cleaners.
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.