Phenoxyethanol (also spelt phenoxyethanol, pentoxyethanol, or pentoxethanol) is an artificial preservative and stabiliser commonly found in cosmetics, skin care, and personal care products with antimicrobial properties that protect against bacterial growth as well as mould growth in products used daily. Phenoxyethanol is indispensable in upholding both product effectiveness and safety over time.
But that is only part of the picture. Phenoxyethanol plays an integral part in maintaining fragrance products as it plays an unnoticed but significant part in protecting the scent itself.
Scents used in cosmetics can be delicate. Exposure to oxygen, light, or heat may compromise them or alter them over time, which is where phenoxyethanol comes into play: "Protecting Aromatic Stability."
Deodorisers help preserve the original scent profile by protecting against microbial contamination, which could alter or change it over time, ultimately changing or weakening it.
Preserving Shelf Life without Heavy Scents
Certain preservatives contain strong scents, which may clash with a product's intended fragrance. Phenoxyethanol's neutral smell makes it perfect for maintaining balance and clarity within complex scent compositions.
As consumers demand lighter, modern skincare formulations, formulators are increasingly turning to ingredients like phenoxyethanol that work at lower concentrations (usually under 1%) than ever before, such as helping fragrances stand out without being obscured by large, bulky stabilisers. This allows fragrances the space they deserve.
Phenoxyethanol has received approval by regulatory bodies such as the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and the FDA as long as its concentration falls within safe levels (usually up to 1%). However, most cosmetic products contain far below this limit.
Formulating cosmetic products demands using high-grade phenoxyethanol preservative, since its purity and grade can have a direct impact on its final performance, stability and safety profile.
Protector of Fragrances Phenoxyethanol may not be front and centre when you think about fragrance products. Still, its presence has an essential backstage role: safeguarding their safety and sensory quality so the scent you fell in love with at first still smells just as pleasant months later.
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