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QRA2 — skin sensitization
Limits set by body site and amount applied, using updated Safety Assessment Factors. This is why a face product and a rinse-off product have different limits.
IFRA Category Lookup Tool
IFRA Category Lookup Tool
Type a product type to find its likely IFRA category, then learn what that category means. Results are based on the product list in the IFRA 51st Amendment — Guidance for the use of IFRA Standards (Table 12). Use it as a starting point — the final category is always the brand's call.
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Find Your Product's IFRA Category
Start typing a product type — results rank by relevance as you type.
Try a product type rather than a brand name. Some products fall under more than one category depending on use — those are ranked, most-likely first.
A starting point — not a definitive answer. This tool suggests the most likely IFRA category from the published product list. Under the IFRA guidance, responsibility for the final categorization rests with the finished-product manufacturer — that's you, the brand. When a product could fit more than one category, you decide, and should apply the most restrictive. Always verify against the official IFRA Standards, and contact IFRA with any questions.
Then check, then calculate. The category points you to the right limit, but the exact maximum usage level is specific to each oil — confirm it in that fragrance's IFRA documentation, posted on every Stock Fragrance product page in the DOCUMENTATION tab directly below the main image. Once you know your category and limit, size your batch and verify your dosage with the Fragrance Oil Calculator.
Go to the source: IFRA Standards Library · 51st Amendment guidance (PDF) · Contact IFRA. Still unsure? Book a consultation.
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What Is the IFRA 51st Amendment?
The safety framework behind every category — in plain English.
The International Fragrance Association (IFRA), founded in 1973, sets the globally recognized safety rules for how fragrance ingredients are used. The underlying science is generated by the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) and reviewed by an independent Expert Panel for Fragrance Safety, which sets a Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC) for each restricted ingredient. Those limits are published as IFRA Standards, part of the IFRA Code of Practice. The 51st Amendment, notified on June 30, 2023, is the current version — the one Stock Fragrance formulates to.
Since the 49th Amendment, each limit is built on two checks: QRA2, a quantitative risk assessment for skin sensitization that accounts for where on the body a product is used and how much is applied; and a systemic-toxicity assessment based on total (aggregate) exposure across everything a person uses. The published limit is the stricter of the two. Because exposure depends on how a product is used, IFRA groups finished products into 12 categories — and the category decides which limit applies to what you're making.
Systemic toxicity — total exposure
A second check based on aggregate exposure across all products. The stricter of the two limits is the one that gets published in the Standard.
12 exposure categories
Products are grouped 1–12 (with sub-categories like 5A–5D, 7A/7B, 10A/10B, 11A/11B) by how, where, and how much a person is exposed to the fragrance.
How a usage limit is set
1
RIFM science
RIFM compiles and evaluates the safety data for each fragrance ingredient.
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Expert Panel
The independent Expert Panel for Fragrance Safety sets the Maximum Acceptable Concentration.
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IFRA Standard
IFRA publishes the limit as a Standard within the Code of Practice.
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Your category
The product category decides which published limit applies to what you're making.
Read more at the source: About the IFRA Standards and the IFRA Standards Library. Observing the IFRA Standards is necessary for compliance with the Code of Practice but does not by itself guarantee compliance with every regional regulation.
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The 12 IFRA Categories
How finished products are grouped by exposure — with example product types.
Category 1 — Applied to the lips
Lip products of all types (lipstick, balm, gloss); children's fragranced toys.
Category 2 — Axillae (underarm)
Deodorants and antiperspirants of all types; body sprays and body mists.
Category 3 — Face/body by fingertips
Eye products, facial make-up and foundation, make-up remover, facial wipes.
Category 4 — Fine fragrance
Eau de toilette, parfum, cologne, solid perfume, aftershave splash.
Category 5A–5D — Leave-on by hand
Body lotion (5A), face cream (5B), hand cream & nail care (5C), baby products (5D).
Category 6 — Oral & lip exposure
Toothpaste, mouthwash and breath sprays, tooth powder and strips.
Category 7A / 7B — Hair, hand contact
7A: rinse-off chemical treatments (relaxers, rinse-off dyes). 7B: hair sprays, styling aids, dry shampoo, hair perfume.
Category 8 — Anogenital exposure
Intimate wipes and sprays, tampons, baby wipes, wet toilet paper.
Category 9 — Rinse-off body & hand
Bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, shower gel, bath products, shaving creams.
Category 10A / 10B — Household care
10A: dish & laundry detergent, cleaners, reed diffuser & pot-pourri oil. 10B: air-freshener & insecticide sprays.
Category 11A / 11B — Minimal skin transfer
11A (no UV): diapers, feminine pads, dry toilet paper. 11B (with UV): scented socks, tissues, pillow spray, napkins.
Category 12 — No direct skin contact
Candles, automated/plug-in air fresheners, incense, dryer sheets, scent beads, diffuser devices.
When a product could fit more than one category, use the most restrictive. The maximum usage level for any specific oil is shown in its IFRA documentation on the product page.
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How to Apply an IFRA Category
From a category to a safe, documented dosage.
The category is the first step, not the final number. Once you know the IFRA category, the maximum recommended usage level for a specific fragrance oil is set by that oil's formula and is listed in its IFRA documentation — posted on every Stock Fragrance product page in the DOCUMENTATION tab, directly below the main image. Need a document that isn't on the page? Use our Documentation Request form.
Not sure which category applies to your product? Book a consultation, or contact IFRA directly.
From category to compliant dosage
The category tells you which limit on an oil's document applies to your product — it does not, by itself, give you a percentage. Because every limit is formula-specific, mixing or modifying an oil voids its documentation. When a product could fall under more than one category, apply the most restrictive. For the full breakdown of all 12 categories and how to use them, read our Understanding the IFRA 51st Amendment guide.
Use this tool and the calculator together. Find your category here, look up that category's maximum usage level in the fragrance's IFRA documentation (the DOCUMENTATION tab below the main image on every product page), then enter it into the Fragrance Oil Calculator to size your batch and verify your dosage.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about IFRA categories and this tool.
What is an IFRA category?
IFRA categories (1 through 12) group finished consumer products by how, where, and how much a person is exposed to the fragrance. The category determines which maximum usage limit for restricted fragrance ingredients applies to that product under the IFRA Standards.
What is the IFRA 51st Amendment?
The IFRA Standards are the fragrance industry's safety rules, based on science from the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) and reviewed by an independent Expert Panel for Fragrance Safety. The 51st Amendment, notified on June 30, 2023, is the current version. Since the 49th Amendment, limits combine QRA2 (skin-sensitization risk by body site) and a systemic-toxicity check based on total exposure; the stricter of the two is published.
How do I find the IFRA category for my product?
Type your product type into the lookup tool above — for example lip balm, body lotion, shampoo, reed diffuser, or candle. The tool returns the most likely IFRA category with a short description and citation, based on the IFRA 51st Amendment guidance, Table 12.
Why does shampoo show Category 9 instead of a hair category?
In the IFRA guidance, ordinary rinse-off shampoo and conditioner sit in Category 9 (rinse-off body and hand exposure). Category 7 is reserved for hair products with more sustained hand and scalp contact — 7A for rinse-off chemical treatments such as relaxers and rinse-off dyes, and 7B for leave-on products such as hair sprays, styling aids, dry shampoo, and hair perfume.
Is the lookup tool definitive, and who decides my product's category?
No — the tool is a starting point that points you to the most likely category from the IFRA product list. Under the IFRA guidance, the finished-product manufacturer (the brand) is responsible for choosing the correct category, especially when a product could fit more than one. Use the tool to narrow it down, apply the most restrictive category when in doubt, verify against the official IFRA Standards, and contact IFRA with any questions.
What if my product is not listed?
Some products are not assigned to a single fixed category in the IFRA guidance, or need a judgement about intended use. If your product cannot be found, contact IFRA directly or book a consultation with Stock Fragrance and we can talk it through.
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Resources & Reading
Everything you need to categorize, document, and source your fragrance.
Fragrance Oil Calculator Fragrance Oil Knowledge Center Request Documentation IFRA-Compliant Oils Book a Consultation IFRA Standards Library IFRA 51st Amendment Guidance (PDF) Contact IFRA
What Is IFRA?
How the International Fragrance Association sets global safety standards, what the 51st Amendment means, and why it matters for your product.
How IFRA Limits Work
Why the maximum usage level changes by product category and by formula — and how to read the limit that applies to your product.
How to Read SDS & IFRA Documents
A walkthrough of the documents on every fragrance oil — what each section means and how to use them in your formulation.