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Product makes fragrance go bad
I have been trying to find out why the fragrance of one of my products deteriorates over time. I thought it might be the fragrance oils, so I used a different brand, but no change. I am using the same batch method and preservative levels as I use in other products that do not have this problem.
Can anyone tell me what could be contributing to this deterioration?
Could any of the products be contributing to this?Ingredients:
Distilled Water Ozokerite Microcrystalline wax c12-15 alkyl benzoate Petrolatum peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil Cyclomethicone Cetyl Alcohol Stearyl Alcohol Glyceryl and PEG-100 stearate Steareth 21 Sorbitan Stearate Ceteareth-20 Propylene Glycol pvp PVP/VA Copolymer Kaolin Phenoxyethanol 1.04% Potassium sorbate 0.85% Citric acid 0.56% Fragrance -
8 Replies
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When you say the fragrance is deteriorating, what do you mean? Is it just getting weaker, losing top notes, or changing substantially? Are you seeing any other changes in the product over time?
I’m guessing that this is some sort of hairstyling clay/paste that needs to be poured hot? What temperature are you adding the fragrance at?
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@LincsChemist the product begins to smell bad. I have tried 2 different fragrances and 2 different fragrance companies and the all result in a bad smell after the product goes through stability testing.
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Kaolin would be my first suspect. Adsorbs certain compounds like activated carbon does sometimes. Nothing else in there would cause this as far as I can see.
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@chemicalmatt any suggestions? The kaolin is a crucial element.. Are you saying to change supplier, or is there another solution to work around it? Why would Kaolin cause the fragrance to go “sour”?
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Kaolin is definitely the suspect for me in this ingredient list. Maybe the fragrance would adsorb to the kaolin and be “trapped” and altered by it.
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We make a product that’s not dissimilar to this with >25% kaolin and the fragrance remains absolutely fine. Maybe try an antioxidant? BHT or something like that.
Another option is micro contamination, but I’d say you’ve got a fairly robust preservative system. What’s the final pH?
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I have an oil phase and water phase that I mix together after heating. I have been putting the Kaolin in the oil phase, should I change that?
@LincsChemist What about Tocopherol or Rosemary Oleoresin? I’m trying to figure out the final PH but can’t find a ph meter that works well, any suggestions?
How is it I see so many other formulas with kaolin but they don’t have this issue?
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It appears to have been the fact that I use to put the kaolin in the oil phase. Instead I put it in after mixing the oil and water phases and that seems to have fixed it.. Time will tell to be sure, but it seems good now. Thank you all!
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