Fragrancing personal care products can present a variety of problems, such as fragrance/product compatibility, color changes, solubility and reactions between fragrance and product. This article will provide an overview and checklist of the types of problems that one can expect when fragrancing a variety of product. The good news is that these problems can be minimized when product construction and requirements are understood in advance, so fragrance construction can be tailored to accommodate the product system.
Questions from the Fragrance Supplier
What questions should any product formulator ask of the fragrance supplier? This question is a bit like the tail wagging the dog. Since the perfumer has an intimate knowledge of the chemical and physical properties of the materials being used in fragrance, it would be more productive if the fragrance supplier raises certain questions with the formulator.
The basic question asked by the fragrance supplier is, “What product are you making?” This deceptively simple question is the key to understanding the type of fragrance that will be required. It suggests numerous hidden questions.
In order to convey effective information, the question must be answered very specifically. For example, a response such as “personal-care product” will not provide any information that would be suffi ciently revealing or helpful. A more specific answer such as “Clear Shower Gel” or “Conditioning Shampoo” will provide a different framework for fragrance selection in both odor and stability performance as well as base compatibility. Additionally, each answer starts a series of questions down a different path.
