Safety of Fragrances

Cosmetics employ a wide array of fragrances, encompassing both synthetic and natural options. The International Fragrance Association (IFRA), a global body representing the fragrance industry, has instituted voluntary industry standards. These standards are designed to address and mitigate potential risks associated with fragrances, simultaneously upholding the industry's interests and safeguarding the well-being of consumers and the environment.

IFRA

IFRA, or the International Fragrance Association, is an organization composed of multinational corporations and national flavor and fragrance industry associations. Based on the evaluation results of the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM), an independent organization specializing in scientific risk assessments, the Code of Practice, including the IFRA Standards, has been established as a voluntary industry standard. It undergoes periodic revisions to align with the most current research evaluations and scientific discoveries.

IFRA standards

The IFRA standards categorize regulations into three key groups: Prohibition, Restriction, and Specification. Additionally, product categories are further classified into 12 distinct categories, which are based on various usage scenarios and methods. These include considerations such as whether the product is meant for leave-on or rinse-off application, whether it comes into direct contact with the skin, whether it is exposed to ultraviolet rays, and more. Furthermore, these standards stipulate the maximum allowable concentration in final products.