What Does “Synthetic” Really Mean?
“Synthetic” has become one of those words that quietly picked up a bad reputation somewhere along the way. In cleaning aisles and ingredient lists, it’s often used as shorthand for “harsh,” “artificial,” or even “toxic.” But that’s not what the word actually means.
At its core, synthetic simply means made by humans through a controlled chemical process. That’s it. It doesn’t tell you whether something is safe or unsafe, gentle or irritating, sustainable or harmful. It doesn’t even tell you where the ingredient came from.
Once you understand that, the conversation around “natural vs. synthetic” starts to look very different.
Why Synthetic Can Actually Be Safer
This is the part that tends to surprise people.
With natural fragrance, you’re getting the entire chemical mixture, whether you want it or not. That includes compounds that are known allergens and EDCs, as well as byproducts that form as the ingredient degrades over time.
The Petroleum Myth
Another reason “synthetic” gets a bad reputation is the assumption that it always means petroleum-based.
People hear “made in a lab” and think of oil, plastic, or something inherently harmful. But the starting material doesn’t define the safety of the final ingredient.
Synthetics can be made from:
• plant based raw materials through fermentation
• bio-based feedstocks such as palm, coconut and vegetable oils
• manufacturing processes that significantly reduce carbon emissions such as CO₂
Even when petroleum is used, it’s often functioning as a small part of carbon sources, not as the total carbon sources of the final substance. Smart chemistry transforms and mixes the petroleum based carbons with plant-based ones into a completely new molecule. This type of smart chemistry can reduce the majority (e.g., 95%) of the petroleum based carbon in the final product. USDA encourages the industry to level these types of smart chemistry by certifying sustainable products with reduced levels of petroleum carbon via the USDA Biopreferred Program.
A simple way to think about it is vitamin C. It can be extracted directly from oranges or synthesized in a lab using bio-based raw materials. Either way, the final molecule is identical. Your body doesn’t know or care where it came from, only what it is.
Why This Matters for Cleaning Products
In home care, these distinctions aren’t just academic. They directly impact how a product performs and how it interacts with your skin and environment.
“Natural fragrance” and “essential oils” in cleaning products can:
• increase the likelihood of allergenic reactions
• increase the endocrine disrupting concerns
• potential instability over time
• variation from batch to batch
Synthetic fragrance allows for a different level of precision. It makes it possible to:
• meet stricter safety and allergen criteria
• maintain consistency across every bottle
• design for performance, including odor control and fabric compatibility
This is especially important when you’re trying to create products that are both high-performing and gentle enough for everyday use.
Not All Synthetics Are Created Equal
It’s also worth saying clearly: not all synthetics are good. Some are harsh, irritating, or environmentally problematic. The word itself doesn’t guarantee anything positive or negative.
That’s why at Dirty Labs, we talk about “harsh synthetics” specifically. The goal isn’t to avoid synthetic chemistry altogether. It’s to avoid the kinds of synthetic ingredients that don’t meet the stringent safety, health, and environmental criteria adopted by Dirty Labs.
There’s a meaningful difference between outdated petrochemical formulas and thoughtfully designed, high-purity ingredients created with safety, sustainabilityand performance in mind.
The Simplest Way to Understand It
If you strip it down, the idea is straightforward:
Synthetic doesn’t mean plastic or petroleum. It means controlled or manufactured.
In fact, synthetic fragrances can be safer than some natural fragrances and essential oils. Synthetic chemistry gives you the ability to isolate or design only the molecules you actually want, often making them more consistent.
Once you see it through that lens, “synthetic” stops being something to fear and starts being a tool. And like any tool, what matters is how thoughtfully it’s used.
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