Purell Review, Is Purell Non-Toxic?
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
Across 9 graded products, Purell averages Excellent (75/100). On disclosure, the brand says nothing publicly about PFAS. 9 of its products grade Good or better. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab results.
Worth buying from Purell Good or better, safest first
Purell
Advanced Refreshing Gel Hand Sanitizer
aqueous gel (alcohol, water, carbomer, glycerin, fragrance)
Fragrance allergens
Purell Advanced Refreshing Gel includes fragrance blend. While fragrance at cosmetic-use…
Skin irritation from alcohol
Ethanol at 70% concentration is effective for antimicrobial action but can cause dryness…
Low concern; no known water-repellent coating treatment in hand sanitizer gel formulation.
⚠Risky category by default
Purell
Advanced Gel Hand Sanitizer
Ethyl alcohol gel (typical hand sanitizer base)
Skin irritation and drying
Ethanol-based gels can strip natural skin oils with repeated use, causing dryness…
Eye contact hazard
Ethanol and other gel ingredients cause stinging, redness, and temporary vision…
Flammability
Ethanol content (typically 70%+ ABV) makes hand sanitizer gels flammable. Risk is low…
Fragrance allergens
Purell Advanced Gel formulations typically include fragrance compounds to mask the…
Low concern for PFAS; hand sanitizers lack typical PFAS-risk applications, but Purell makes no public disclosure.
⚠Risky category by default
Purell
Advanced Hand Sanitizer Refreshing Gel
ethyl alcohol gel with humectants (aloe, glycerin)
Ethanol skin irritation or sensitization
Ethanol at 70% concentration is drying and may trigger irritation in individuals with…
Fragrance allergens
Purell Advanced Refreshing Gel includes fragrance compounds (typically citrus or floral…
Ingestion risk in children
Hand sanitizer ingestion by young children can cause ethanol toxicity. Purell has issued…
Eye contact irritation
Direct ethanol contact with eyes causes acute irritation and tearing. This is a use-error…
Low concern for typical hand sanitizer formulation; no known high-risk materials identified.
⚠Risky category by default
Purell
ES8 Healthy Soap
Water-based foaming soap concentrate
Surfactant skin irritation
All foaming soaps contain anionic or amphoteric surfactants that can irritate broken or…
Fragrance or preservative allergens
ES8 contains fragrance and preservative systems typical of commercial hand soaps. No…
Low-medium concern; no red flags in standard liquid soap formulations.
⚠Risky category by default
Purell
ES6 Purell Pro Advanced Hand Soap
aqueous liquid hand soap base
Preservative irritancy and contact dermatitis
Liquid hand soaps typically contain preservatives (such as phenoxyethanol or…
Fragrance allergens
ES6 Purell Pro Advanced is fragranced (scent compounds unlabeled individually per…
Low-medium concern; no known PFAS triggers, but Purell makes no PFAS disclosure.
⚠Risky category by default
Purell
GOJO Purell Healthy Soap
water, glycerin, sodium lauryl sulfate, fragrance (typical liquid hand soap)
Surfactant (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) skin irritation
SLS is a known irritant in high concentrations or with prolonged contact; in rinse-off…
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
Proprietary fragrance blends in hand soaps may contain common allergens (limonene…
Bacterial or fungal growth in bottle
Liquid hand soaps, especially those stored in warm or humid bathrooms, can develop…
Low-medium concern; typical liquid soap formulation avoids known PFAS-prone ingredients.
⚠Risky category by default
Purell
Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Pump Dispenser
Ethyl alcohol (62%), water, inert ingredients, fragrance
Fragrance allergens
Purell Advanced contains fragrance as an inert ingredient; the specific fragrance…
Skin irritation from ethanol concentration
At 62% ethanol, the product can cause drying or irritation with repeated use, especially…
Ingestion risk in children
Hand sanitizers are a documented poisoning source in pediatric emergencies. Ethanol…
Low-medium concern; liquid product carries lower PFAS risk, though pump material remains unclear.
⚠Risky category by default
Purell
Professional Fresh Scent Foam Soap
Aqueous foam soap concentrate (surfactants, glycerin, water)
Fragrance allergens
Fresh Scent variant contains undisclosed fragrance components. While fragrance allergens…
Skin irritation from surfactant concentration
Even mild surfactants can cause irritation with repeated exposure, especially in…
Dispenser biofilm and bacterial regrowth
The soap itself does not promote bacterial growth, but if the foam dispenser is not…
Low-medium concern; aqueous foam soap design excludes PFAS need.
⚠Risky category by default
Purell
Healthy Soap Gentle & Free
Water-based soap (glycerin, surfactants)
Fragrance allergens and irritants
Although marketed as 'Gentle & Free,' liquid soaps typically contain some fragrance…
Parabens
Most liquid soaps require preservatives to prevent microbial growth; Purell does not…
Skin irritation from surfactants (cumulative with frequent use)
Even mild surfactants can strip natural skin oils or cause low-grade irritation with…
Product degradation or contamination in multi-use dispensers
Refillable or communal pump dispensers carry a low but real risk of bacterial…
Low-medium concern; plain liquid soap avoids known PFAS-triggering formula.
⚠Risky category by default
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →