Kristin Ess Fragrance Free Daily Cleansing Shampoo is our best overall pick. It earned 5/5 in our testing for its good lather and thorough clean without leaving our hair stripped. No Nothing Sensitive Moisture Shampoo is the better choice for dry or long hair, while Philip Kingsley No Scent No Colour is our premium pick.
We have used all five shampoos in this guide. In August 2026, we checked that the same products were still sold and did not find any major formula changes. Vanicream also confirms that its old Free & Clear Shampoo was renamed without changing the formula.
Our fragrance-free shampoo picks at a glance
| Our pick | Best for | What we found in our test | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall: Kristin Ess Daily Cleansing | Normal to oily hair and an easy-to-find daily shampoo | Good lather, thorough clean, and no stripped feeling in our test | 5/5 |
| Best for dry or long hair: No Nothing Sensitive Moisture | Hair that needs a gentler, more moisturizing wash | No scent and no irritation during several months of use | 4.7/5 |
| Best premium shampoo: Philip Kingsley No Scent No Colour | A gentle wash with a more luxurious feel | Lathered well, cleaned thoroughly, and did not dry out our hair | 4.5/5 |
| Best if a cucumber smell is acceptable: FragFre Hydrating | Clean, soft hair without added perfume | Worked well, but the cucumber smell was noticeable | Not previously scored |
| Best for short hair: Vanicream Shampoo | Short hair and a simple formula without botanicals | Mild and no-frills, but very drying on long hair | 4/5 |
How the shampoos worked for us
We judged these shampoos on scent, lather, how well they removed oil and styling products, how the scalp felt, and whether the hair felt clean, soft, dry, or stripped afterward. We used some of them for months or years.
The product pages tell you what is in each bottle. Our comments about lather, dryness, and how the hair felt come from using the shampoos ourselves.
Fragrance-free does not always mean scent-free
Fragrance is not a cleansing ingredient. A shampoo does not need perfume to remove oil, sweat, and product buildup. “No added fragrance” also does not guarantee that the raw ingredients have no odor. Our guide to fragrance-free, unscented, and hypoallergenic labels explains what those terms do and do not tell you.
The best fragrance-free shampoos we tested
1. Kristin Ess Fragrance Free Daily Cleansing Shampoo
Kristin Ess is our best overall fragrance-free shampoo. It lathered well, cleaned thoroughly, and left our hair in excellent condition without feeling stripped. The formula is lightly clarifying, so it is particularly useful for normal or oily hair and for removing everyday buildup.
The current Daily Cleansing Shampoo is still sold as a zero-added-fragrance, sulfate-free formula for all hair types. It is also free of parabens, phthalates, and silicones. The current ingredient list includes aloe and coconut oil, which matters if you avoid either ingredient as well as fragrance.
Two readers told us that Kristin Ess felt too clarifying or drying for their hair. That was not our result, but it is a useful reason to choose No Nothing instead if dryness is already your main problem.
Best for: Normal to oily hair, daily cleansing, and light buildup
2. No Nothing Sensitive Moisture Shampoo
No Nothing is the shampoo we would choose for dry or long hair. We tested it for several months and did not experience irritation. It had no scent and gave us a gentler wash than the more clarifying options.
The current Sensitive Moisture Shampoo is made for dry, chemically treated, and normal hair. Its formula includes glycerin and an avocado oil derivative. It also contains sodium laureth sulfate, which helps explain the satisfying lather. If you avoid avocado ingredients or SLES, this is not your pick.
Best for: Dry, normal, chemically treated, or long hair
3. Philip Kingsley No Scent No Colour Gentle Shampoo
Philip Kingsley is the premium option in this guide. It lathered very well, left our hair thoroughly clean, and did not dry it out or irritate the tester's scalp. The bottle looked and felt more luxurious than the no-frills alternatives. Whether that is worth the higher cost is up to you.
The current No Scent No Colour Gentle Shampoo remains fragrance-free, color-free, sulfate-free, and vegan. Philip Kingsley originally created the range for his wife while she was undergoing cancer treatment. It is a gentle shampoo, not a medical treatment.
The formula contains chamomile flower extract. If you need a shampoo without botanical extracts as well as perfume, Vanicream has the simpler current ingredient list. Read our full Philip Kingsley shampoo review for more detail on the wash experience.
Best for: A gentle premium wash and a more luxurious feel
4. FragFre Hydrating Shampoo
FragFre left our hair clean and soft. The catch is the smell. The shampoo contains cucumber fruit extract, and we noticed a distinct cucumber scent that took a little time to get used to.
The current FragFre Hydrating Shampoo is still made without added fragrance and lists cucumber fruit extract. It is also sulfate-free. This is a good shampoo if you want the soft result and do not mind the natural smell of an ingredient. It is a poor fit if scent itself is what you need to avoid.
FragFre did not receive a numeric rating in our original review.
Best for: Soft hair when a noticeable cucumber smell is acceptable
5. Vanicream Shampoo
Vanicream is the most divisive shampoo in our test. Our long-haired reviewer used it on and off for years and found it harsh, low-lathering, and extremely drying. Even a double wash did not remove styling-product buildup well. A short-haired team member had a much better experience.
The manufacturer confirms that Free & Clear Shampoo was renamed Vanicream Shampoo and that the formula did not change. The current shampoo is fragrance-free and sulfate-free, with no botanical extracts or essential oils. It has almost no scent beyond a faint chemical odor.
This is not the shampoo we would choose for long, dry, damaged, or color-treated hair. For short hair and a basic wash every few days, it can make sense. Our full Vanicream Shampoo review explains why the hair-length difference matters so much here.
Best for: Short hair and readers who prioritize a simple, botanical-free formula
What happened to Pantene Pure Clean & Clarify?
Pantene Pure Clean & Clarify earned 4.8/5 in our original comparison. It removed product buildup and left our tester's hair squeaky clean without feeling uncomfortably dry.
We could not find the exact fragrance-free shampoo in Pantene's current US range, and an older retailer page now marks it no longer available. Old marketplace listings still exist, but we do not want to send readers toward an older product that may be hard to replace. Pantene is no longer in the active ranking. Kristin Ess is our current pick for normal to oily hair.
Frequently asked questions
Is fragrance-free shampoo the same as unscented shampoo?
Not necessarily. “Unscented” tells you that a product is not intended to have a noticeable smell, but masking ingredients may still be used. “Fragrance-free” is the clearer label when your goal is to avoid added perfume. You should still read the ingredient list if you also avoid essential oils, botanical extracts, or a specific allergen.
Can fragrance-free shampoo clean as well as scented shampoo?
Yes. Fragrance does not remove oil or buildup. The cleansing comes from surfactants and the rest of the shampoo formula. The products in this guide range from lightly clarifying to moisturizing, and those differences matter far more to the wash result than perfume.
Which fragrance-free shampoo is best for dry hair?
Start with No Nothing Sensitive Moisture Shampoo. It is our best tested option for dry or long hair. FragFre also left our hair soft, but its cucumber smell is noticeable. Philip Kingsley is the premium alternative if you want a gentle wash and do not mind paying more.
Which fragrance-free shampoo is best for oily hair?
Kristin Ess Daily Cleansing Shampoo is our current choice for normal to oily hair. It is lightly clarifying and lathered well in our test. If you need a medicated product or your main problem is persistent itching or flaking, use our separate guide to fragrance-free shampoos for an itchy scalp as the starting point.
Sources and review date
We reviewed these product pages on August 27, 2026:
- Kristin Ess fragrance-free collection
- Kristin Ess Daily Cleansing Shampoo current label and listing
- No Nothing Sensitive Moisture Shampoo
- FragFre Hydrating Shampoo
- Philip Kingsley No Scent No Colour Gentle Shampoo
- The story behind Philip Kingsley No Scent No Colour
- Vanicream Shampoo
- Legacy Pantene Pure Clean & Clarify retailer page
Formulas can change. If you avoid a particular ingredient as well as fragrance, check the package you are buying.
I’ve tried the Kristin Ess and Pantene shampoos and found them to be too drying. They’re both clarifying shampoos that make hair squeaky clean. The Pantene was especially stripping and left my hair very dry despite leaving the conditioner on a good 3-5 minutes after shampooing.
The Kristin Ess could possibly be a good daily shampoo for someone with oily hair but the Pantene should be used only for clarifying product buildup just like any other clarifying shampoo.
Thanks for sharing your insight. We really appreciate it and so do our readers. Finding a shampoo that works for everyone’s hair type can be challenging and one size definitely does not fit all. We’ll take your experiences with Kristin Ess and Pantene into consideration when we revisit the best fragrance-free shampoos article next. We’re always on the lookout for the best fragrance-free products, so don’t hesitate to get in touch if you encounter great fragrance-free shampoos (or any other fragrance-free products).
Yes both those shampoos are clarifying shampoos so shouldn’t be used more than once or twice a fortnight as they are deigned to strip build up from the hair. More regular use of clarifying shampoos will strip protein and moisture from hair leaving it dry and brittle.
Super tangly and dry. The best fragrance free shampoo I’ve tried is Hi-bar. Bonus, it’s plastic free too. It seriously makes my hair feel exactly like it did when I was using shampoo from the drugstore without the itchy scalp. It way out performs any other fragrance free shampoo I’ve tried.
Thanks for sharing your recommendation and positive experiences with the Hi-Bar fragrance-free shampoo. We haven’t tested the shampoo yet, but we’ll add it to our list of shampoos to try.
Pantene one is discontinued.
Thanks for letting us know. We’ve heard rumors about the Pantene Pure Clean & Clarify fragrance-free shampoo being discontinued, but it has not been confirmed. It’s still available at several retailers, including Amazon (we’ve updated the link above).
Pantene has discontinued, the fragrance free line.
Hi Samantha, thanks for letting us know. As far as we are informed, the Pantene Pure Clean & Clarify fragrance-free shampoo is still available at several retailers, including on Amazon (we’ve updated the link above). So hopefully, it will not be discontinued, but we have heard the rumor before.
Olsson Haircare
This shampoo cleared up all my allergies when I became allergic to limonene. I’m not aloud to use any fragrance as I get allergic dermatitis. The products are certified by allergy uk as well.
We’ll add the Olsson Haircare shampoo to our list of fragrance-free shampoos to test. Thanks for the tip.
Has anyone used Routine Shampoo and conditioner for sensitive thinning scalp. Fragrance free?
We have yet to try the shampoo and conditioner from Routine, but we’ll add them to our list of products to test. Do note that Routine uses oils in their unscented shampoo and conditioner, which may contain fragrances. We suggest carefully testing the product first to ensure you’re not allergic to any of these oils.
Hi! I really enjoyed the article! Thank you. I was wondering how you felt about the “Earth Science” brand of fragrance free shampoo and conditioner? ( when it comes to other toxins and stuff).
I would like to know because these are available in bulk, which is nice. However I do want to find my healthiest and most natural option.
Thank you!
Thanks for reading our article. We’re glad you enjoyed it. We have yet to test the Earth Science brand, but we will add it to our list when we do our next round of tests of the best fragrance-free shampoos. Thanks for bringing this brand to our attention.
Have you tested either the Vanicream shampoo/conditioner/gel or Cleure? I’m using the Vanicream now and not loving the feel of my hair. It’s harder to blow dry and looks “poofy” v the shiny look I was able to get with my Paul Mitchell shampoos. I’ve had eyelid dermatitis (red, dry, swollen) for over a year now and have been going crazy changing out detergent, makeup, soap, sunscreen, and hair color to fragrance free. This is not an easy process and I’ve found my dermatologists to be less than helpful too…it’s totally up to you to figure out all these complicated ingredients. Just found your website. Thank you.
Hi Liz,
Thanks for your comment and for sharing your experiences. Yes, we have actually tested the Vanicream Free & Clear Shampoo. You can read our review here: https://withoutfragrance.com/free-clear-fragrance-free-hair-shampoo-review/
Like you, we didn’t like it, and we don’t recommend it, even though it is a fragrance-free shampoo that is actually fragrance-free.
We’re happy to learn that you have found our website helpful. Feel free to let us know if there are any particular product types you would like us to look into.
Can’t believe there are so few options available for people who are sensitive to perfume. I tried Kristin Ess’ fragrance-free shampoo and I liked it, but I wasn’t a fan of the No Nothing shampoo or the Vanicream. I really wish there were more fragrance-free choices on the market. Thank you for this website!!