Fragrant Thoughts

Discover the key differences between U.S. and EU perfume labeling laws. Learn what must appear on fragrance labels, from ingredient lists to allergen disclosure, and get updated on the EU’s expansion from 26 to 80+ fragrance allergens.

ISO 9235 is the international benchmark for defining natural fragrance oils and ensuring clarity in plant-based fragrance formulations. If you’re a perfumer, formulator, or brand working in the clean fragrance space, this standard matters.

Fragrance safety regulations can be confusing, even for us.  While many folks think of IFRA limits as clearly black and white, they are really a constantly changing world of grey. 

We use professional Safety Data Sheet (SDS) documents that are very detailed and can be confusing to anyone outside the fragrance industry. Here are some notes about how to read and understand our SDS documents.

Fragrance ingredients can come from strange places.  Take a look at some of the spookiest ingredients in perfumery.

The European Green Deal could potentially remove more than 400 materials from the perfumer's palette for 'safety' reasons.  Is this a necessary precaution or regulatory overkill? 

Four of the largest U.S. flavor and fragrance producers are facing price-fixing lawsuits in U.S. court, after antitrust authorities revealed a cartel investigation earlier this year.

Explore what’s new in the IFRA 51st Amendment (2023): category clarifications, updated fragrance safety standards, and compliance guidance.

Understanding the flashpoint of fragrance oils is crucial for ensuring safe handling, storage, and application. 

While essential oils have gained popularity for their aromatic properties and potential health benefits, it is important to consider their potential negative impact on the environment. 

It may seem tempting to blend them together to concoct your own signature fragrance but blending your own fragrance oils should be approached with caution. Here's why.

Many of our clients are surprised to find they can not only use less oil in their products, but they often have better performance!  How and why is this possible?

Having trouble getting the right burn performance from your candles?  These are the 12 most common candle issues and where they come from.

Not planning to use all your fragrance oil at once?  Here are our recommendations for storing oil between production runs.

Jasmine is one of our favorite materials.  The best (and most expensive) jasmine comes from France.  These delicate flowers must be picked by hand and require over 8,000 blossoms to create 1 gram of absolute!

Iris materials in perfumery come entirely from the roots of the plant, a process that takes 7 YEARS to complete.  Yes, 7 years.  

All of our fragrance oils are IFRA compliant.  What does that mean and why is it important?

In the fragrance world, especially naturals, citrus is typically the 'low-hanging fruit' (pardon the pun).  Here's why.

We are constantly bombarded by sights and sounds that divert our attention through a sea of stimulus at an ever increasing pace.

Join us as we take an inside look at the use of flavor concepts in fine fragrance throughout modern perfume launches.  

Muguet, or lily of the valley, is one of the most beloved smells in fragrance.  Sadly, this flower cannot be used for extraction.

In fragrance, the term 'natural' is extremely vague and would be akin to describing a picture as 'pretty' or a meal as 'healthy'.  

In the fragrance industry, the universe is clearly divided into two distinct worlds.  

The roses used in fragrance look and smell nothing like the ones we give on Valentine's day.  

Many (most) fine fragrances today are marketed and sold with the idea that they are for either a man or woman.