How To Read An IFRA Certificate When Working With Fragrance Oils
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11 min
Navigating the technical documentation required for home fragrance and cosmetic production can feel overwhelming, yet it's a fundamental skill for any professional maker. Among these documents, the IFRA certificate stands as the cornerstone of product safety and regulatory compliance. Whether you're crafting candles, reed diffusers, or room sprays, understanding how to interpret this data means your creations are safe for consumer use and meet industry standards. This guide will walk you through the intricacies of reading an IFRA certificate, giving you the confidence to work with fragrance oils responsibly.
Table Of Contents
What Is An IFRA Certificate? Why Understanding IFRA Standards Is Essential for Your Craft How To Read and Interpret Each Section of an IFRA Certificate Understanding IFRA Categories For Product Application Maximum Usage Levels: Calculating Safe Fragrance Oil Percentages Let's Work Through An Example Together... What Percentage Do We Use For Our Technical Documents? Not Approved, Not Limited, And EU Cosmetic Information Conclusion: Ensuring Compliance and Safety With IFRA FAQs
What Is An IFRA Certificate?
An IFRA certificate is a document issued by the fragrance manufacturer or supplier that verifies the compliance of a specific fragrance oil with the safety standards set by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA). It's not merely a suggestion—it's the global industry standard for the safe use of fragrance ingredients. The certificate outlines the maximum usage levels of a fragrance oil allowed in various product categories to prevent adverse health effects, such as skin irritation or allergic reactions.
an example of an IFRA Certificate, using our fragrance oil 'Amalfi Coast' as an example
The standards are based on scientific research conducted by the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM). These guidelines are regularly updated via "Amendments" to reflect new toxicological data. For instance, the 51st Amendment introduced updated restrictions on certain ingredients. Therefore, an IFRA certificate confirms that the fragrance mixture conforms to the Code of Practice in force at the time of issuance. It's crucial to understand that this document pertains strictly to safety limits regarding toxicity and allergens—it doesn't attest to the oil's olfactory quality or its performance in the finished product.
Why Understanding IFRA Standards Is Essential for Your Craft
Grasping the details of IFRA standards isn't just about ticking a box for paperwork—it's the bedrock of consumer safety and business legitimacy. When you sell a product, you're legally and ethically responsible for making sure it doesn't harm the end user. The IFRA certificate provides the hard data needed to calculate safe concentrations. Ignorance of these limits can lead to products that cause contact dermatitis, respiratory issues, or phototoxicity, among other adverse effects, potentially resulting in legal action and severe damage to your brand's reputation.
Furthermore, compliance is often a prerequisite for obtaining product liability insurance and is mandatory for creating accurate Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) labels in the UK and EU.
If you use a fragrance oil above its approved limit for a specific category, your CLP information will be incorrect, and your product will be non-compliant with regulations.
How To Read and Interpret Each Section of an IFRA Certificate
An IFRA certificate typically comprises several key sections containing technical data. To the untrained eye, this can look like a wall of numbers, but each column serves a distinct purpose in determining how you can use a fragrance oil. Below, we break down the document into its critical components, using the IFRA certificate for our fragrance oil ‘Wild Lemongrass’.
1. Issue date and version
The first element to check is the issue date and the reference to the IFRA Amendment level (e.g., "Conforms to the 51st Amendment"). The fragrance industry is dynamic, with regulations frequently changing as new scientific data regarding ingredients becomes available. An older certificate referencing the 48th or 49th Amendment may no longer be valid if specific allergens have since been restricted further. Always make sure you're working with the most current version of the document to guarantee your compliance with modern safety protocols.
the Issue date and version number shown on an IFRA Certificate
2. Certifying party and scope of the certificate
This section identifies the supplier or manufacturer issuing the document and explicitly names the fragrance oil covered. It's vital to verify that the product name and code on the certificate match exactly the bottle you're using. Formulations can vary significantly between similar-sounding scents from different suppliers. This section essentially acts as a chain of custody, proving that the specific chemical mixture in your possession has been evaluated against the International Fragrance Association criteria.
The Certifying Party & Scope Of The Certificate of an IFRA Certificate
3. Compulsory information
Here, you'll find specific declarations regarding the presence of restricted substances. This often includes a statement confirming that the fragrance is manufactured in accordance with the IFRA Code of Practice. It may also list specific CAS numbers (Chemical Abstracts Service registry numbers) for restricted ingredients if they're present. While you don't need to be a chemist to use this section, it provides the necessary transparency for toxicological evaluation if you were to commission a specific safety assessment for a unique cosmetic product.
The Compulsory Information section of an IFRA Certificate
Understanding IFRA Categories For Product Application
The core of the certificate is the table of categories. IFRA divides consumer products into 12 main categories (and various sub-categories) based on the type of exposure (skin contact, rinse-off, leave-on, non-skin contact). Understanding which category your product falls into is non-negotiable.
The table listing the maximum level of use (%) for each IFRA category using ‘Wild Lemongrass’ as an example:
The IFRA Category Table for the fragrance oil 'Wild Lemongrass'
If you scroll to the next page, you will find a breakdown of each category and what products belong to each category. An easy way to find the relevant IFRA category for a given product is to use the shortcut ‘CTRL + F’ to search the document for the name of the product. For example, if you wanted to make a reed diffuser but were unsure which category this product falls into, simply press and hold the CTRL key on your keyboard and press ‘F’ – this will open the document's search bar.
Now, type ‘reed diffuser’. You can now easily see that reed diffusers belong in IFRA Category 10A. You can then use this information to find out the maximum percentage of ‘Wild Lemongrass’ you can use when making a reed diffuser.
How To Determine A Product's IFRA Category
You can then use this information to find out the maximum percentage of ‘Wild Lemongrass’ you can use when making a reed diffuser.
The IFRA Category table for 'Wild Lemongrass'
From this example, we can see that the maximum percentage of this oil that can be used in a reed diffuser is: 25.49%. As our technical documents for Reed Diffusers are prepared for fragrance oil use at 25%, this means the oil ‘Wild Lemongrass’ is suitable for use in reed diffusers. Yay!
Some common IFRA categories include:
- Category 4: Hydroalcoholic and non-hydroalcoholic fine fragrance (Perfumes).
- Category 9: Rinse-off products (Bar soap, liquid soap).
- Category 10A: Household care excluding aerosol products (Reed diffusers).
- Category 12: Air care products not intended for direct skin contact (Candles, wax melts).
You must locate the row corresponding to the product you're making. For example, if you're making a reed diffuser, you must look at the limit for Category 10A. Using the limit for Category 12 (candles) for a diffuser would be dangerous, as diffusers pose a higher risk of skin contact exposure than burning candles.
Maximum Usage Levels: Calculating Safe Fragrance Oil Percentages
The "Maximum Usage Level" or "Limit" column tells you the absolute highest percentage of fragrance concentrate allowed in the final product for that specific category. However, this number is a safety ceiling, not a target.
Crucial Calculation Rule: The safe amount of fragrance to use is the lower of three numbers:
- The IFRA Maximum Usage Level.
- The percentage at which the CLP documents have been prepared (unless you plan to have bespoke documentation created at a higher percentage).
- The maximum fragrance load your base (wax or base oil) can handle.
For example, if an IFRA certificate states a maximum usage of ‘Not Limited’ for Category 12 (Candles), you cannot use 100% fragrance, because that wouldn’t be a candle; it would just be fragrance oil and nothing else, right?? Your wax likely only holds 10-12%. Conversely, if the IFRA limit was, say, very low, like 4%, you must not exceed 4%, even if your wax can hold 10%!
Let's Work Through An Example Together...
Let’s run through an example where an oil is not suitable for a given product. Let’s say you wanted to make a Reed Diffuser using our oil ‘Ocean Breeze’ as an example.
As we now know, Reed Diffusers are classed under Category 10A on the IFRA Certificate. Therefore, let’s see what the maximum percentage is for this category for ‘Ocean Breeze’:
The IFRA Category Table For The Fragrance 'Ocean Breeze'
As we can see, the maximum percentage is 11.14%, meaning this oil is not suitable for use in Reed Diffusers. This percentage would be too low to detect much scent from the diffuser, so it would be pointless to prepare the technical documents for a rate of 11%. From each oil’s product listing, you can quickly see at a glance what products an oil is suitable for use in:
Pictograms that show essential information about each fragrance oil at a glance - these are available on the product listing of each fragrance oil
This fragrance oil was once suitable for use in diffusers, but due to changes enacted by the 51st Amendment, it is no longer. That’s why it is so important always to check whether an oil is appropriate for use in a product when you buy it. Legislation changes often!
What Percentage Do We Use For Our Technical Documents?
We have standardised our technical documentation for the most common product types. Our technical documents have been prepared for the following ratios:
Candles / Melts: 10%
Reed Diffusers: 25%
Room Sprays: 5%
These standard ratios cover the vast majority of market needs. However, please note that if you require documents to be prepared at a lower / higher percentage, you will need to contact Sarah Gladden at CLP Services for Candle Makers. She will be able to prepare SDS and CLP documents at a reduced fee when using one of our fragrance oils.
CLP Services For Candle Makers
Not Approved, Not Limited, And EU Cosmetic Information
You may encounter terms like ‘Not Limited.’ This means there's no IFRA-imposed restriction on the percentage of fragrance used regarding toxicity. However, practical limits of your base material still apply. Conversely, "Not Approved" indicates the fragrance contains ingredients banned for that specific application. Finally, for those making cosmetics (lotions, soaps), pay attention to the EU Cosmetic Regulation references, as these may impose stricter allergen labelling requirements than IFRA alone.
Key takeaways for reading IFRA certificates
- An IFRA certificate verifies that a fragrance oil complies with International Fragrance Association safety standards and specifies maximum usage levels for different product categories.
- You must match your product to the correct IFRA category (e.g., Category 12 for candles, Category 10A for reed diffusers) to determine the appropriate safety limits.
- Always use the lower value between the IFRA maximum usage level, the CLP Regulations, and what your base material can physically hold (typically 10% for candles, 25% for diffusers, and 5% for room sprays).
- Check that the certificate references the most recent IFRA Amendment to ensure you're working with current safety guidelines, as regulations frequently change with new scientific data.
Conclusion: Ensuring Compliance and Safety With IFRA
Mastering the ability to read an IFRA certificate is a hallmark of a professional maker. It bridges the gap between creative artistry and scientific safety, making sure that your fragrance products are as safe as they are delightful. By strictly adhering to the maximum usage levels and understanding the specific categories, you protect your customers and your business.
While NI Candle Supplies provides standard technical documents covering 10% for candles & melts, 25% for diffusers, and 5% for room sprays, we understand that innovation sometimes requires different parameters. If you have undertaken testing and find that your product performs better at a lower or higher percentage than our standard documents cover (and the IFRA certificate allows it), please get in touch with Sarah Gladden at CLP Services for Candle Makers to have bespoke technical documents prepared for your specific percentage ratios.
FAQs
What do the IFRA categories mean?
IFRA categories classify finished products based on their application and potential for skin exposure. For example, Category 12 covers non-skin-contact items such as candles and wax melts, while Category 4 covers fine fragrance applied to the skin. Category 10A is specific to reed diffusers. You must always reference the category that matches the product you're manufacturing to determine the correct safety limits.
I want to make a candle using a fragrance load of 7%. As your technical documents are prepared at 10% scent ratio, does this mean they cover lower percentages up to and including 10%?
Traditionally, makers have used the 10% docs for anything up to that percentage; however, it is technically incorrect, and you should have the docs generated at the correct percentage.
With the introduction of the UFI requirement, this can be worth doing, as sometimes an oil needs a UFI at 10% but not at a lower percentage – ‘Amalfi Coast’ is one of these oils, for example.
We would always advise that if you find an oil works better for your products at a lower percentage, you reach out to Sarah Gladden and have her prepare documents at this lower percentage.
If an oil is only suitable for use in, say, a reed diffuser at a percentage lower than 25%, why do you have Reed Diffuser technical documents available on your website for that oil? Are all your Reed Diffuser documents not prepared for use at 25%?
This is a great question! We’ll use our fragrance oil ‘Lychee Peony’ as an example of an oil to which this applies.
As per the IFRA Certificate, the maximum fragrance percentage of this oil that can be used in a Reed Diffuser is 16.66%. As a result, we have prepared our Reed Diffuser Technical Documents for this oil at 16.5%. The pictograms in the product listing for each oil indicate the percentage to which the corresponding technical documents have been prepared.
NI Candle Supplies specialises in high-quality candle-making materials, offering a diverse range of waxes, wicks, and fragrances. Committed to inspiring creativity, we provide resources for beginners and seasoned artisans. Our mission is to empower candle makers with quality products and expert guidance, fostering a vibrant community of enthusiasts who share a passion for craftsmanship and creativity.
