Originally used for religious purposes, essential oils were used to anoint the body, and later they were added to water to make perfume. Today, fragrances are used in a wide variety of products, including personal care items, household cleaning products, and even clothing.
Fragnance can come from natural sources, and it can also be synthetic. Although most fragrance chemicals are not disclosed, the FDA requires that cosmetic manufacturers list their ingredients. However, because most fragrances are mixtures of several different chemicals, it can be difficult to identify which ingredients are safe to use.
The International Fragrance Association has established a comprehensive safety program to test and assess fragrance ingredients. The program includes voluntary standards that fragrance manufacturers must meet. The IFRA also provides guidelines for good manufacturing practices and provides recommendations for the safe use of fragrance ingredients.
Fragrance is used in a wide variety of personal care items, including shaving creams, shower gels, and bath oils. Fragrances are often used to mask unpleasant odors in other products. In addition to fragrance, cosmetics often contain UV-absorbers, stabilizers, and preservatives. A cologne typically contains 80 to 90 percent alcohol, and a eau de toilette contains 2 to 5 percent oil.
The traditional classification of perfumes includes a floral bouquet, amber, chypre, and fougere. These fragrances are usually made of light flowers or fruits. During the last decade, the fragrance industry has evolved to include aquatic, fruity, and citrus scents. Fragrances are usually categorized by the concentration of aromatic compounds in the perfume. Some fragrances are categorized by the type of delivery system they use. Some fragrances are delivered through burners and oil lamps. Other fragrances are delivered by air mist, which is a type of spray.
Fragrance is considered a key ingredient in cleaning products. It can also be found in a variety of personal care items, such as shampoos and lotions. It can also be found in laundry detergents and garbage bags. Fragrance ingredients are considered safe when used according to the directions on the label. However, some ingredients are considered toxins and may cause adverse reactions.
Fragrance ingredients are required to meet the same safety requirements as other cosmetic ingredients. Fragrance may also be considered drugs, and some materials used in fragrance compositions are banned by the International Fragrance Association. In some cases, fragrances may be banned because they have been linked to serious health problems.
The US and Canada rely on the International Fragrance Association to develop voluntary standards for fragrance ingredients. IFRA provides guidelines for fragrance ingredient safety assessment, and it also operates a Code of Practice. The organization has been conducting research for more than 50 years. They develop safety profiles for fragrance materials, and they test fragrances for adverse reactions.
Because of the potential dangers associated with fragrance mixes, some materials have been flagged for possible skin and reproductive toxicity. This includes hexyl cinnamal, a fragrance ingredient, which is classified as a skin allergen. Despite the safety concerns, the International Fragrance Association has continued to approve some fragrance materials.