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Something that has baffled me for very long
IFRA’s standards. For example, benzyl benzoate in category 4 is allowed at up to 4.8% of the total product due to some concerns but in category 11 (in my case, candles), it is without restriction. Hypothetically, I could make a candle with 8% fragrance which would consists of only benzyl benzoate and the candle would be compliant? Why? If there are concerns over dermal exposure to the fragrance material, how can there not be a concern of vaporising that fragrance material and then inhaling it, potentially over the course of a few hours? Is there simply no concern when it comes to inhaling benzyl benzoate in a room?
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2 Replies
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Benzyl benzoate was actually used in Switzerland for inhalations but then withdrawn due to health concerns (allergies). Many of the topical products with balsam of Peru and cough syrups with tolu balsam have vanished from the market although they work great… at least for those who don’t get allergic reactions to it 🙂 .To answer your question: I also struggle with what’s allowed in candles and other ‘burning’ room fragrances. It’s probably assumed that part of the ingredients will burn to cinder… -
Yes, I imagine some of the benzyl benzoate would be fully combusted if it gets sucked into the wick and then the flame, but some of the benzyl benzoate would just evaporate from the melt pool due to the heat of the flame. IFRA standards really do not make much sense to me. Benzyl benzoate is just one example where this would apply.
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