Explore why fragrance-free haircare matters for sensitive individuals, the difference between unscented and fragrance-free products, and how beauty brands can support those with fragrance sensitivities through transparent, luxurious alternatives.
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Influential Woman · Fragrance-Free Hair Care and Salon Services | Clean Beauty
Sarah Griffiths
GED
Hairstylist, Business Owner, and Founder, Treo Organics
Seattle, WA 98116
2017Years experience
1Article published
2Awards received
Her Story
About Sarah
Sarah Griffiths is a Seattle-based hairstylist, entrepreneur, business owner, and founder of Treo Organics, a sustainable, fragrance-free, professional salon-quality haircare brand. With approximately 30 years of experience as a hairdresser, she has built her career around identifying practical solutions to challenges she has personally experienced as a chemically and fragrance-sensitive hairstylist. In 2017, she opened Treo Organic Salon in Seattle, creating a clean-air, low-tox, organic salon environment that could better serve both her and clients with similar sensitivities.
Her experience in the salon industry ultimately led her to recognize another significant gap: the lack of high-performing, sustainable, fragrance-free haircare products suitable for professional use. After realizing that many of her clients were searching for the same type of products she needed herself, Sarah decided to develop her own solution. She researched laboratories, created a business plan, and launched Treo Organics' first four products in 2025. The brand emphasizes fragrance-free performance, sustainability, plant-based ingredients, and packaging designed to reduce reliance on plastic. Its Hydrating Duo received the 2026 Healing Lifestyles & Spas Earth Day Beauty Award for Best Hydrating Hair Care.
Sarah attributes much of her success to her persistence, stubbornness, drive, and ability to turn ideas into creative projects. She approaches entrepreneurship as both her profession and her creative outlet, embracing experimentation and learning through experience. Her leadership and business philosophy are grounded in transparency, honesty, sustainability, and a desire to make life easier for people who struggle with multiple chemical sensitivities. She sees growing awareness of fragrance sensitivity as both an important challenge and a major opportunity, using digital platforms and social media to educate others and expand awareness of the need for fragrance-free beauty products.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sarah
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute much of my success to myself, particularly my stubbornness, determination, and drive. I have always been someone who is willing to keep going when I believe in something. I tend to have a lot of ideas, and building businesses has become my creative outlet. While some people express themselves through painting, drawing, or music, I enjoy creating and developing companies.
I think that persistence has been especially important throughout my journey because entrepreneurship requires continuously turning ideas into action. I enjoy the process of building something from the ground up, solving problems, and seeing an idea become a real business.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Interestingly, much of what motivated me came from people telling me that I could not do certain things. Rather than allowing those comments to discourage me, they made me want to prove that I could find a way.
I learned that I may fail, make significant mistakes, and fall down along the way, but I will never learn how to ride a bicycle simply by watching someone else do it. I have had to get on the bike myself, and I have fallen off many times. What matters is that I continue to get back on, learn from the experience, and keep moving forward.
That mindset has taught me to be willing to take risks, learn through experience, and figure things out even when there is no obvious path forward.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You have to get on, fall off, learn, and keep getting back up.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I believe I am somewhat ahead of the curve with fragrance-free haircare. There is clearly a market for these products, and more people are beginning to recognize that fragrance can be detrimental to some people's health and well-being.
One of the challenges is that many consumers still prioritize the experience of fragrance and may respond with, "I like the smell." I believe there is still a significant need to raise awareness about how many people experience multiple chemical sensitivities and how fragrance can affect them.
At the same time, this represents a major opportunity. I am fortunate to be building this business at a time when platforms such as the internet, Instagram, and other forms of social media make it much easier to educate people, share information, and reach an audience. I see an opportunity to use those platforms to increase awareness of fragrance sensitivity and demonstrate that fragrance-free haircare can still be effective, luxurious, and enjoyable.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Transparency and honesty are extremely important to me, and I believe the two go hand-in-hand. I value those qualities in the people I interact with every day, as well as in the products and experiences that my company delivers.
Sustainability and care for the Earth are also major priorities in both my personal life and my business. I want the products we create to reflect those values rather than simply talking about them.
Ultimately, I want to make the world a little easier for people who are having a hard time. I want to create products, provide information, and build a business that recognizes people with multiple chemical sensitivities and gives them more thoughtful choices.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Sarah
Why Fragrance-Free Matters: The People Behind the Need
Why Fragrance-Free Haircare Is Essential for Millions of People Struggling with Scent Sensitivity
Fragrance is everywhere—from shampoo and conditioner to laundry products, candles, skincare, and cleaning products. For many people, scent is simply something they enjoy. But for a significant number of people, fragrance can be much more complicated.
A U.S. study of adults found that 34.7% reported experiencing health problems from fragranced consumer products, including symptoms such as headaches and respiratory difficulties. Another study found that about 1–2% of the general population has a fragrance allergy, which can cause allergic contact dermatitis.
And the people affected aren't one specific group. They can include people with fragrance allergies, sensitive skin or scalps, asthma, migraines, or chemical sensitivities, as well as people who simply find that heavily scented products make them feel unwell.
For people with asthma, the impact can be particularly significant. In one U.S. study, 64.3% of adults with asthma reported at least one adverse health effect from fragranced products, including respiratory problems, migraine headaches, and asthma attacks.
Why Does Fragrance-Free Haircare Matter?
Haircare is different from many other personal-care products because it is used frequently and often remains close to the face and scalp. Shampoo and conditioner can also leave fragrance behind on the hair, meaning the scent can stay with someone throughout the day.
For someone who is sensitive to fragrance, finding a shampoo or conditioner that works for their hair shouldn't mean choosing between performance and comfort.
Unfortunately, fragrance-free haircare has often been positioned as clinical, basic, or lacking the luxury people expect from professional beauty products.
I believe that needs to change.
After more than 25 years behind the salon chair, I saw how many people were searching for products that were gentle and fragrance-free without giving up the experience of beautiful, luxurious haircare. My own experience with chemical sensitivity made me understand that need personally.
That was part of what inspired me to create Treo Organics.
Fragrance-Free Doesn't Mean "For Everyone"
Going fragrance-free isn't something everyone needs to do. Fragrance can be an enjoyable part of someone's beauty ritual, and people should have choices.
But those choices should include truly fragrance-free options.
It's also important to understand the difference between "unscented" and "fragrance-free." Unscented doesn't necessarily mean that fragrance ingredients aren't present. Some products can contain ingredients used to mask or neutralize odors. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends looking specifically for products labeled "fragrance-free" when avoiding fragrance is important.
How Can We Support People Who Need Fragrance-Free Options?
Supporting fragrance-sensitive people can be surprisingly simple.
Offer real choices. Salons, spas, retailers, and beauty brands can provide genuinely fragrance-free alternatives rather than assuming everyone wants scented products.
Be transparent. Clearly explain whether a product contains added fragrance, essential oils, or masking scents. Consumers shouldn't have to guess.
Don't dismiss someone's sensitivity. If someone says fragrance makes them uncomfortable or causes a reaction, believe them. Their experience is personal, even if their sensitivity isn't something you can see.
Create more fragrance-conscious spaces. Salons and other businesses can consider offering fragrance-free appointments, designated areas, or fragrance-free product options.
Make fragrance-free beautiful. People shouldn't have to sacrifice luxury, performance, or beautiful packaging to find products that work for them.
That last point is especially important to me.
I created Treo Organics because I believe fragrance-free haircare should feel just as special as any other luxury beauty product. It should be something you are excited to use, not something you settle for because you have no other choice.
For the people who need it, having fragrance-free choices can make beauty routines more comfortable, more accessible, and more enjoyable.
And sometimes, giving someone a choice is one of the most thoughtful things a beauty brand can do.
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