How to understand IFRA certificate?

The IFRA (International Fragrance Association) certificate holds significant importance within the fragrance and cosmetic industries as it ensures the safe and responsible use of fragrances in various consumer products. Spanning a rich history since its establishment in 1973, the IFRA has been steadfastly dedicated to regulating and promoting the safe usage of fragrance ingredients globally. This certificate embodies the culmination of rigorous scientific assessments, industry collaboration, and a commitment to safeguarding both human health and the environment.

At its core, the IFRA certificate serves as a testament to a company's compliance with stringent guidelines and restrictions set forth by the IFRA Standards. These standards are meticulously crafted based on scientific research, risk assessments, and input from industry experts. Their primary aim is to mitigate any potential risks associated with the use of fragrance ingredients, ensuring that the final products are safe for consumers and do not pose harm to human health or the environment.

Understanding IFRA categories is crucial for anyone involved in the fragrance and cosmetic industries, as these categories provide guidance on the safe usage of fragrance ingredients in various consumer products. The IFRA categorization system classifies fragrances based on their potential skin sensitization risks. These categories help manufacturers, formulators, and regulators determine the appropriate usage levels for specific ingredients in different products. 

Know the Purpose: IFRA categories aim to ensure consumer safety by categorizing fragrance ingredients based on their potential to cause skin sensitization, an adverse skin reaction. Skin sensitization can lead to allergic reactions when certain substances come into contact with the skin. IFRA categories help determine the concentration limits at which these ingredients can be safely used in products.

Categories and Concentration Limits: the latest IFRA has 18 different categories, each with its concentration limit. Here we will describe each of the category and explain what applications (finished product types) they include. We highlighted the most popular products our customers make for your interest. If in doubt, just search for the wanted final product in this list, determine your needed IFRA category and check the limit in your fragrance oil IFRA certificate.

• Category 1: Leave-on products generally applied to lips. Children's toys, Lip products of all types (solid and liquid lipsticks, balms, clear or colored, etc.).
• Category 2: Leave-on products generally applied to axillae. Deodorant and antiperspirant products of all types including fragranced body sprays and body mists.
• Category 3: Products generally applied to the face using fingertips. Eye products of all types (eye shadow, mascara, eyeliner, eye make-up, etc.), Women's make-up (Foundation), Make-up removers of all types, Nose pore strips, Wipes or refreshing tissues for face, neck, hands, body, Body paint (for children and adults), Facial masks (facial treatment).
• Category 4: Fragrance products generally applied to neck, face and wrists. Hydro alcoholic and non-hydroalcoholic fine fragrance of all types (Eau de toilette, Parfum, Eau de Cologne, solid perfume, fragrance cream, Aftershave alcoholic etc.), Fragranced bracelets, Ingredients of perfume kits and fragrance mixtures for cosmetic kits, Scent pads, Foil packs, Scent strips for hydro alcoholic products.
• Category 5A: Body lotion products applied to the body using the hands (palms), primarily leave-on. Body creams, oils, lotions of all types (except baby cream, lotion, oil), Foot care products (creams & powders), Insect repellent intended to be applied on the skin, All powders and talc (except baby powders and talc).
• Category 5B: Face moisturizer products applied to the face using the hands (palms), primarily leave-on. Facial creams, toner and moisturizers.
• Category 5C: Hand cream products applied to the hands using the hands (palms), primarily leave-on. Hand cream, Nail care products (including cuticle creams, etc.), Hand sanitizers.
• Category 5D: Baby creams, baby oils and baby talc. Baby lotion, cream, oil, powder/talc.
• Category 6: Rinse-off products with lip and oral exposure. Mouthwash including breath sprays, tablets and strips, Toothpaste and toothpowder.
• Category 7A: Rinse-off products applied to the hair with some hand contact. Rinse-off hair permanent or other hair chemical treatments (e.g. relaxers) including hair dyes.
• Category 7B: Leave-on products applied to the hair with some hand contact. Hair sprays, Hair styling aids of all types (mousse, gels, leave in conditioners), Dry shampoo or waterless shampoo, Hair deodorant, Leave on hair permanent or other hair chemical treatments (e.g. relaxers) including hair dyes.
• Category 8: Products with significant anogenital exposure. Intimate wipes, Tampons, Baby wipes, Wet toilet paper.
• Category 9: Rinse-off products with body and hand exposure. Bar soap, Shampoo, Face washes, gels, scrubs, Conditioner (rinse-off), Liquid soap, Body wash and shower gels, Bath gels, foams, mousses, salts, oils, Baby wash, bath, shampoo, Footcare products (feet are placed in a bath for soaking), Shaving creams, Depilatory (including facial), Waxes for mechanical hair removal, Shampoos for pets.
• Category 10A: Household care excluding aerosol products (excluding aerosol / spray products). Hand wash laundry detergent, Laundry pre-treatment (all types), Hand dishwashing detergent, Hard surface cleaner (all types), Machine laundry detergents with skin contact (e.g. liquids, powders), Dry cleaning kits, Toilet seat wipes, Fabric softeners (liquids and dryer sheets), Other household cleaning products (fabric cleaners, soft surface cleaners, carpet cleaners, furniture polishes (sprays and wipes), leather cleaning wipes, starch sprays, stain removers, fabric enhancing sprays, treatment products for textiles including deodorizer), Floor wax, Fragranced oil for lamp rings, reed diffusers, potpourri, etc. Ironing water.
• Category 10B: Household aerosol / spray products. Air fresheners sprays, including aerosol and pump, Insecticides aerosol or sprays, Sprays (of all types) applied to animals.
• Category 11A: Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate without UV exposure. Feminine hygiene conventional pads, inter labial pads, Feminine hygiene liners, Diapers (baby and adult), Adult incontinence pant, pad Toilet paper (dry).
• Category 11B: Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate with potential UV exposure. Tights with moisturizers, Scented socks, gloves, Facial tissues (dry tissues), Napkins, Paper towels, Wheat bags, Fragranced facemasks (paper/protective, not intended for use as a medical device).
• Category 12: Products not intended for direct skin contact, minimal or insignificant transfer to skin. Air delivery systems, Air Fresheners and fragrancing of all types (excluding aerosols listed in category 10), e.g. plug-ins and enclosed liquid refills, solid substrate, membrane delivery, electrical, powders, fragrance sachets, incense, air freshening crystals, automated sprays (including concentrated aerosols with metered doses [range 0.05-0.5 mL/spray]), closed air fresheners, Candles of all types (including encased), Cat litter, Deodorizers/maskers not intended for skin contact (e.g. fabric drying machine deodorizers, carpet powders), Fuels /Insecticides (e.g. mosquito coil, paper, electrical, for clothing) excluding aerosol/spray, Joss sticks or incense sticks, Laundry detergents with minimal skin contact (e.g. pods), Machine dish wash detergent and deodorizer, Paints, Plastic articles (excluding toys), "Scratch and sniff" (sampling technology), Scent pack, Scent delivery system using a dry air technology, Shoe polishes, Toilet blocks, Olfactive board games.

Example how to use IFRA certificates: let's say you want to make a reed diffuser, this product falls into IFRA category 10A. You plan to use fragrance oil "Golden Hour" at 20% in a base. Then you open the IFRA document of the wanted fragrance oil and you see that the limit is 27.27%. that means it is safe to use at your desired concentration (20%). If you check the IFRA and see that the limit at 10A is let's say, quite low (i.e. 12%), then you might want to skip this fragrance oil and do not use it in a reed diffuser. However, you can still try to make a reed diffuser at the highest IFRA limit (12%) and see if you are satisfied with the scent throw. Every fragrance oil has it‘s own individual IFRA certificate so we encourage you to check it before you decide to make a particular final product with it. The planned fragrance oil concentration should not exceed the IFRA limit.

Labeling and Formulation: Manufacturers must follow IFRA standards when formulating products. Ingredients falling into different IFRA categories should be used in accordance with the prescribed concentration limits. This information should be clearly labeled on product packaging to inform consumers and regulators.

Keeping Up-to-Date: The fragrance industry is constantly evolving, and IFRA regularly updates its guidelines based on new scientific research and risk assessments. To ensure compliance, manufacturers need to stay informed about the latest IFRA standards and make necessary adjustments to formulations. Now the latest IFRA certificate version is 51st. 

Understanding IFRA categories involves recognizing the potential sensitization risks of fragrance ingredients and their corresponding concentration limits in various product types. By adhering to these categories, manufacturers can produce safe and consumer-friendly products while fostering transparency and trust with their customers.