FAQ

Dresdner Essenz products contain a plant-based care ingredient based on wheat: hydrolysed wheat protein (INCI: Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein). According to the information provided by our supplier, gluten is separated during the manufacturing process and is therefore not detectable in the hydrolysed wheat protein. For coeliac patients, there is a statement from the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) on the assessment of hydrolysed wheat protein. According to this statement, it is unlikely that hydrolysed vegetable proteins cause side effects in people with coeliac disease due to the manufacturing process. For the statement, the provisional value of gluten in the Codex Alimentarius (currently 200 mg/kg) was taken into account, which may not be exceeded for gluten-free declared foods.
The original text reads: ‘For coeliac disease, assessment of the evidence provided indicates that wheat protein-based acid hydrolysed vegetable protein is unlikely to cause an adverse reaction in individuals with coeliac disease provided that the provisional value of gluten considered by Codex Alimentarius for foods rendered gluten-free (currently 200 mg/kg) is not exceeded.’
However, we are unable to assess whether the ‘Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein’ or other raw materials used come into contact with traces of gluten during production, storage or transport. 

Over 90% of our products are vegan. Very rarely do we still use raw materials of animal origin, e.g. honey (INCI: Mel) and beeswax (INCI: Cera Alba), as we are convinced of their great skin-caring properties. The natural colouring carmine red (CI 75470) and lactose (INCI: Lactose) as an excipient are only contained in one product. A few fragrances also contain components derived from animals, for example from milk, wool, honey or beeswax. This means that not all of our products are vegan. Using the INCI designations mentioned above, you can check the ingredient list of our products and gift sets specifically and, above all, quickly for the presence of these ingredients. In addition, many of our vegan products carry our vegan seal or are labelled ‘without animal ingredients’ on the back. You can find an overview of all vegan products here. 

Palm oil is currently omnipresent and can be found in numerous everyday products. Of course, we are aware of the palm oil problem and we are also against the deforestation of the rainforest and the associated overexploitation of nature. However, simply replacing palm oil with other vegetable oils such as coconut, rapeseed or sunflower oil will unfortunately not solve the problems. Palm oil plantations yield 3,500 litres of oil per hectare and more per year. Rapeseed yields a tenth at most, soya even less. This means that much larger areas of land are needed for sunflowers or soya. The problems are thus only shifted or even exacerbated. It is therefore essential to start with the cultivation itself and to develop concepts on how plants for oil production can be cultivated in a more environmentally and socially acceptable way.

At Dresdner Essenz, we do not use mineral or silicone oils in our products. Instead, we use vegetable oils as care substances. We do not use palm oil or palm kernel oil directly as raw materials in our products. Unfortunately, it is not possible for us to completely dispense with the use of raw materials that are produced on the basis of palm oil or palm kernel oil. The very limited number of palm oil-based raw materials used are mainly surfactants, which play a key role in determining the character of our bath and shower products. Unfortunately, there is a lack of suitable alternatives for surfactants of natural origin, particularly in the field of natural cosmetics.

The pH value of the healthy skin surface varies greatly depending on the part of the body, the time of measurement (time of year/time of day), gender and age. It is generally in the slightly acidic range. A product with the claim ‘pH-balanced’ therefore has a pH value between 4.1 - 5.8.

Dresdner Essenz formulas are free from microplastics. Solid microplastics have not been found in our products for a very long time and since 2020 we have also consistently avoided liquid microplastics in all new developments.

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With our powder concentrate for hand soap, we have created a special kind of refill pack. By mixing it yourself with water in a refillable container, this hand soap saves even more CO₂ emissions than the classic refill pack of a liquid soap. All Dresdner Essenz bottles for liquid soap are made from 98% recycled material and the labels are also made from at least 70% renewable raw materials. The packaging of the hand soaps is recyclable.

The surfactants contained in our Dresdner Essenz baths and showers are biodegradable. They comply with European legislation on detergents. This refers in particular to biodegradability in a sewage treatment plant.

The showers are not suitable for use in the great outdoors; you should contact a specialist outdoor shop for this.

To avoid long transport routes and therefore unnecessary CO₂ emissions, almost all of our products are manufactured in Germany. Many of them even in our own production facility in Dresden.

We are also constantly working on optimising our environmentally friendly packaging: many of our bubble bath and hand soap bottles are already made from a high proportion of recycled material (rPET) and we also use renewable raw materials for numerous labels.

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We tested the suitability of some bath additives for whirlpool bathtubs together with a manufacturer of such bathtubs. The main focus was on the foam formation caused by the surfactants. Unfortunately, the results do not allow us to make a general statement on suitability.

Our Dresdner Essenz bath additives can of course also be used in a whirlpool bathtub without whirlpool operation. However, care should be taken to clean the jets thoroughly and properly after use, as our bath additives contain oily components that may cause the jets to clog.

We tested the suitability of some Dresdner Essenz shower products as so-called 2in1 products. The main focus was on the hair feel, i.e. no strawy and dull hair, and combability. These products are labelled with the words ‘For skin and hair’ or ‘2in1’ on the packaging. For example, our Men's Choice Shower Gels are suitable for use as a shampoo and shower gel. The Dreckspatz shower gels even carry a 3in1 declaration and are therefore suitable for use as a shower, shampoo and bath additive.

Our Dresdner Essenz bath additives are suitable for pregnant women, with a few exceptions. These products are labelled: ‘Do not use during pregnancy’ or ‘not suitable for pregnant women’.

A warm bath is primarily intended for relaxation. A water temperature of 36 to 38 °C is generally recommended. The bath water should not be warmer than this, as too high a temperature can put a strain on the cardiovascular system. It should also be noted that the warmer the water, the more moisture the skin loses. At a bathing temperature of 36 to 38 °C, a bathing time of 15 to 20 minutes is recommended. Of course, the sensation of warmth is different for everyone and also depends on the external circumstances. The optimum feel-good temperature of the bath water therefore also depends on the individual and the situation. However, if the water temperature is significantly higher, the bathing time should possibly be shortened to avoid possible circulatory problems.

We do not send samples of our products. As the production of trial sizes is very expensive, we can only produce them occasionally and for specific purposes.