Mrs. Meyer’s uses both plant-derived fragrance ingredients and synthetic fragrance ingredients.
It’s a biodegradable formula that has been improved recently.
Let’s take a look at the controversial ingredients and potential toxicity concerns:
This article contains affiliate links, upon purchase I earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Recent Improvements:
- No 1,4 Dioxane – The new formula that is listed on the website in October, 2025 does not contain ingredients that could be contaminated with 1, 4-dioxane.
- A more natural fragrance list than the previous formula.
Controversial Ingredients:
1. SLS or Sodium lauryl sulfate – a plant-derived cleaning agent that is a skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant and toxic to aquatic organisms, according to the David Suzuki Institute and the WHO.
Skin irritation is mitigated by regulating the maximum percentage that can be used in a product, which depends on how long the contact time will be, explains the University of Queensland.
2. Isothiazolinones – a class of preservatives that has a D rating on the EWG due to toxicity to aquatic life and issues of skin sensitivity/allergies (EWG).
3. Synthetic fragrance – Mrs. Meyer’s uses different synthetic fragrance chemicals depending on which scent you select. The Mint scent is mostly natural now, but it does contain Amyl Cinnamal and Benzyl Alcohol.
Potential Concerns
1. Skin, eye or respiratory irritants – many ingredients are common skin, eye or respiratory irritants.
3. Endocrine disrupters – The product is phthalate-free.
There is experimental evidence that methylisothiazolinone (MI) and benzisothiazolinone (BIT) can disrupt the thyroid axis in in vitro and in vivo models, although the relevance to human exposure requires further investigation, says Toxicologist Carlos Roque.
These effects are typically observed under conditions of continuous exposure, which differ significantly from the brief, rinse-off use of dish soap, explains Carlos Roque.
4. Allergenic ingredients: Mrs. Myer’s contains fragrance allergens.
This is extremely common in fragranced products since many natural and synthetic fragrance ingredients are allergens (for some individuals).
This designation does not imply the product is unsafe for the general population.
It also contains Isothiazolinones – the typical concentrations of methylisothiazolinone and benzisothiazolinone found in household detergents and liquid soaps can lead to sensitization and allergic contact reactions, affecting both previously unsensitised individuals and those who are already sensitized, says Toxicologist Carlos Roque.
5. Environmental toxicity – do some ingredients have poor ratings when it comes to aquatic toxicity?
While I prefer to use products without ingredients that cause aquatic toxicity myself, these classifications reflect laboratory tests on individual substances, not formulated products. We do not have data on (a) whether typical municipal wastewater treatment processes effectively remove these specific compounds, or (b) the actual concentrations released during normal laundry operations – both of these are critical to determining real-world risk.
EWG Ratings
5/10 of the ingredients in the main part (the soap) have a C or D rating.
All of the fragrance ingredients (in Mint) have a C or D rating.
Ingredients for Mrs. Meyer’s Mint Scent Dish Soap*:
- Water
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (can be plant-derived surfactant) – C rating on EWG
- Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside (plant-derived surfactant)- B rating on EWG
- Lauramine Oxide (plant-derived surfactant) – C rating on EWG
- Lauryl Glucoside (plant-derived surfactant) – B rating on EWG
- Glycerin (plant-based or synthetic foam stabilizer) – A rating on EWG
- Aloe Barbadensis, juice (plant extract from aloe vera) – C rating on EWG
- Citric Acid (naturally derived pH adjuster) – A rating on EWG
- Sodium Chloride (salt) – A rating on EWG
- Benzisothiazolinone (synthetic preservative) – C rating on EWG
- Methylisothiazolinone (synthetic preservative) – D rating on EWG
- Fragrance:
- Amyl Cinnamal – (synthetic fragrance ingredient) – D rating on EWG
- Benzyl Alcohol – (fragrance/preservative can be natural or synthetic) C rating on EWG
- Limonene – (plant-derived fragrance ingredient) – C rating on EWG
- Linalool – (plant-derived fragrance ingredient) – C rating on EWG
- Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil (natural oil) – C rating on EWG
- Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil (natural oil) – C rating on EWG
*Ingredients based on the website as of Oct 2025; ingredients on the bottle can differ.
Effectiveness, Cost
The cost is competitive, and it was effective in my tests comparing it to other dish soaps.
Is Mrs. Myers Safe for Pets?
Essential Oils Vets Flag as Toxic to Cats
Vet/toxicology sources consistently flag these essential oils as problematic for cats, especially when inhaled in a closed space, applied to skin, or ingested: Wintergreen, oil of sweet birch, citrus oil (dlimonene), pine oils, Ylang Ylang oil, peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, pennyroyal oil, clove oil, eucalyptus oil, and tea tree oil. (source)
Dogs
Dogs do not have the same enzyme deficiency as cats; however, they are still at risk for toxicosis from exposure to essential oils. (source)
Birds
- Birds are especially sensitive to essential oils (source and source), some vets recommend not using essential oils around birds at all. (source)
All Pets
- For all pets the following can be hepatoxic: birch tar, cassia bark, cinnamon oilm pennyroyal, tea tree/melaleuca (source).
And the following can cause seizures in pets: birch, cedar, eucalyptus, hyssop, pennyroyal, sage, wintergreen, wormwood (source).
Mrs. Myers Uses the Following:
Citrus oils, pinus palustris oil (pine), ylang ylang, peppermint and spearmint, cinnamon (cassia type), clove, eucalyptus, cedar, sage.
This isn’t to say that all uses and concentrations of their products with those ingredients are harmful to pets, but some could be, so we are flagging them here for your further review with your vet.
Alternatives
The following alternatives are free of SLS and isothiazoliones, and have fragrance-free versions:
1. Branch Basics
Branch Basics is a very pure, all-purpose cleaner.
It’s truly all-purpose as you can use it everywhere in the house, including on dishes.
Many extremely chemically sensitive folks like this brand. The camomile extract in this does not have a scent.
I fully review it here.
Branch Basic Ingredients: Water, Coco Glucoside, Organic Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Citrate, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Phytate.
2. ECOS Dishmate
ECOS Dish Soap is a good alternative for those who want to avoid SLS or any potentially problematic preservatives and most sensitive people do well with this one.
Phenoxyethanol is the preservative and they do have a scent-free version.
Ingredients: Water, Sodium Coco-Sulfate (plant-derived surfactant), Cocamidopropylamine Oxide (plant-derived surfactant), Lauramine Oxide (plant-derived surfactant), Phenoxyethanol (preservative), Coco Betaine (plant-derived surfactant), Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate (plant-derived water softener), Ethylhexylglycerin (preservative), Citric Acid (plant-derived pH adjuster).
3. Dr Bronner’s
Dr Bronner’s Castile soap, another long-time favorite of sensitive folks, can be used as an all-purpose cleaner.
Ingredients: Water, Coconut Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Palm Kernel Oil, Olive Oil, Hemp Oil, Jojoba Oil, Citric Acid, Tocopherol.
Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.
Join the top Substack on healing from MCS and mold!
Leave a Reply