Children’s shampoo and body wash. Should they be scented?

[AlJalilia]

Hello, I wanted to get your opinion on this. I am looking to sell a range of children’s toiletries. I have a formula for shampoo and body wash bars but I am struggling with the scent. If I do add one, it will have to be an essential oil. I like the idea of tangerine, but not sure what else. I am thinking maybe they don’t need to be scented, but I don’t know.

Would really appreciate some views, thanks.

The Little Aurelia stuff I was gifted was in glass bottles I think?

@Daydreamsinsantafe My eldest is 3 so we haven't gotten to that stage yet!

I only occasionally use soap on kids bodies if there is obvious mud or something. And obviously wash hands with soap. But I find the idea that you need soap to ‘kill germs’ on their bodies a bit odd. What germs?! I only use soap on my armpits and little kids don’t have smelly armpits.

Regarding your question: I’d go for no scent ideally. Natural child smell is lovely.

@Chippingin2 I did realise after I posted that that everyone was specifically said young children. My error.
What about hair though because all scalps are oily. Even my baby has an oily head after a couple of days. Different stokes I guess. No judgment!

@Okeydoky the bottled products I have are plastic & then a glass jar of something or other. Perhaps OP wasn’t just meaning packaging though?

My three year old projectile vomited in bed a couple of nights ago, he was covered head to toe in it. We put him in the bath straight away and used unscented shampoo (Tesco baby shampoo) to wash his hair but the next day it still smelt of vomit. So he had another bath and hair wash. But his hair still smells!

So I would say definitely scented is beneficial. Maybe have an unscented range for children with eczema/ sensitive skin?

Child’s Farm has tangerine oil in one of it’s bubble baths. I like it so much, I use it too!

Fruit smells are nice like strawberry, apple, melon.

Can anybody suggest an essential oil fragrance, that might work for children’s products? Thanks.

@AlJalilia

Can anybody suggest an essential oil fragrance, that might work for children’s products? Thanks.

Mandarin or sweet orange?

I'd avoid essential oils as they can be very irritating (and everyone thinks they're better because they're "natural" but that's not always true.)

Use a good quality synthetic fragrance that's more regulated. (And I'm basing this off my experience making cold process soap, albeit a while ago.)

I'd also avoid lavender - it's a horrible allergan.

I guess if plain water is good enough to clean actual smeared faeces off when you're changing nappies then it should be good enough for most other baby cleaning before they get to the age when their sweat smells.

I think you need shampoo for cradle cap though.

I just use adult products on my child. I don’t see the need for special child products? We have one shampoo, conditioner and shower gel for everyone, we use those brands because they’re cruelty free and available from the supermarket with our regular shop.

@WeirdlyKind the problem is I am using colours so any synthetic scent with vanilla content (most of them) will turn the bars brown.

@Daydreamsinsantafe I wonder if you start to need shampoo once you've used shampoo if that makes sense? I've never used shampoo on my two year old and their hair has never once seemed greasy and sick/food/mud all just seem to rinse out just fine. I assume the natural oils must all just be doing their thing?

I think scented definitely, but naturally scented. I've used products containing natural scents that do a soothing job too. Products containing natural coconut or strawberry pulp, a favourite was oatmeal and honey to soothe chicken pox.

[quote AlJalilia]@WeirdlyKind the problem is I am using colours so any synthetic scent with vanilla content (most of them) will turn the bars brown.[/quote]
It can happen with essential oils too. Buy a vanilla colour stabiliser? Or there's plenty of fragrance oils without vanilla.

I would go for like a pear fragrance

I used to love Sanex kids, smelled of peaches.

Avoid lavender, it’s a very ‘marmite’ smell, I personally can’t stand it. Could you do a scented and an unscented range? I have an 8 week old and only buy unscented as I don’t see the point in scents except to act as an irritant on the skin. I am also team only wash with water when they’re tiny. She’s not had any issues with her skin and smells clean. When she’s a little older I’ll start using soap but if there’s an unscented option will always choose that one.