Why Every Product Maker Needs to Read the IFRA Certificate

Using fragrance oil in your products? Obtain an IFRA from your supplier to ensure safe and proper usage, even for personal applications.

Why is it so important to read an IFRA?

• Product Safety, the fragrance oils are concentrated therefore using fragrance oils in excessive amounts can cause skin irritation, respiratory issues or other health problems.
• Consumers Trust, letting your customers know you follow IFRA guidelines so they don't have to be uneasy about breaking out with any irritation.
• Legal Issues, Not all oils are skin safe so if you add oil in a product like soap or detergent and it causes skin irritation it could result into a unhappy customer and or legal issue.
• Failure to read an IFRA and careless pouring can lead to customer reactions, legal consequences in case of a recall, and loss of trust and sales. Taking the time to read the IFRA is crucial.

IFRA stands for International Fragrance Association, they provide guidance and set standards for the safe use and enjoyment of fragrance ingredients in consumer products like perfumes, cosmetics, detergents, and other scented goods. View their website to learn more about certificates and the Guidance for the use of the IFRA standards. Note that IFRA standards are voluntary and do not replace compliance with national/local regulations. 

How do I read an IFRA?
Fragrances are sorted into 12 categories (and subcategories) based on IFRA's guidelines for usage and application areas. This classification ensures the right level of fragrance concentration for different parts of the body to account for potential skin sensitivity. Each category also has a maximum usage percentage for a specific fragrance. When purchasing fragrances, it's important to obtain the appropriate IFRA from the supplier, regardless of where you buy. If the supplier doesn't list the IFRA, contact them directly to obtain it. It's crucial to exercise caution when buying a fragrance without an IFRA. Also, remember that some fragrances are only suitable for non-skin contact products, like candles, and shouldn't be used on the skin.

Explore various applications and determine the necessary amount of fragrance using the IFRA certificate. Work through several examples to gain a better understanding of the process.

**How to Calculate IFRA Rates for your product

Provided are several examples demonstrating how to calculate Black Frost in various products that we aim to create.

It is important to be aware that the maximum usage percentage level listed on an IFRA certificate only indicates the highest allowed percentage for your finished product to be safe. This should not be taken as a recommendation for usage. We highly recommend conducting individual tests for each fragrance in your product to determine the optimal outcome.

IFRA serves as a safety guide for consumers and does not dictate usage amounts. As long as the percent of fragrance oil used is at or less than the maximum percentage found in the appropriate category on the IFRA, your product will be IFRA compliant/safe. If you exceed it you do so at your own descretion and it is no longer safe under the IFRA standards. When determining the proper oil percentage, make sure to calculate the ingredients' percentage before adding any fragrances. It is advised to measure by weight instead of volume as fragrance oils have varying densities.

Here is an example for Black Frost. If I want to make detergent I will need to use the percentage under category 10A for detergent which is (8.00%). Candle it will be category 12 (no restriction), and lotion category 4 (8.00%).

LAUNDRY: To create a laundry batch weighing 2 lbs. (32 oz), following the IFRA guidelines for laundry products, this batch should not exceed 8% of the total weight under category 10A, which pertains to laundry powder or liquid to be safe.

• First convert (8.00%) our percentage into a decimal form which is (0.08).
• Next multiply 32 ounces of the detergent X (0.08) percentage
• This is how it will look 32 X .08 =2.56 ounces. is the total amount of fragrance that can safely be added in the powder laundry detergent. 
• 32 X 0.08 = 2.56 OUNCES OF FRAGRANCE

LOTION: Lotion is category 4 with a rate of .08% I'm making 8 ounces of lotion
8 x 0.08 = 0.64 ounces of fragrance

When a fragrance has a lower usage rate, the resulting product will have a lighter scent. To achieve a stronger aroma, select a different fragrance with a higher lotion usage rate. It is common to add a fragrance with a rate of 1%. You can always adjust the fragrance load to best fit your recipe needs as long as it doesn't exceed the listed maximum to be IFRA compliant and safe. 

CANDLES:
Category 12 for candles is mostly 100%, unlimited or no restriction. The IFRA is a safety rate so the percentage, unlimited, or not restricted doesn't mean you want to use that much. The typical use rate in candles is anywhere mostly from 8-10% on average. You want to use the same calculations like we preciously shown for lotions and detergent.

BLENDING OILS: Learn how to achieve IFRA compliance when blending various fragrance oils.
*Let's say you want to mix Fragrance A with Fragrance B, if fragrance A has a maximum usage of 60% and Fragrance B has a maximum usage level of 30% under the category for your application let's say 10A (laundry powder) then the combined blended fragrances has to stay below 30%.

To create a perfect blend of fragrances, it is important to measure each fragrance by weight and divide the total fragrance load according to your desired scent. This ensures that your fragrance load remains within the recommended maximum limit.

For optimal freshness, Peanut offers pure, top-grade fragrance oil. We suggest using the IFRA for your ratio percentage for most base products, always refer to the IFRA guidelines for each unique fragrance oil from different suppliers. Conduct thorough testing for suitability and follow the IFRA guidelines to ensure the creation of high-quality, safe, and compliant products with confidence. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions hello@stayfreshtx.com.