There are over 3,000 different chemicals that are used to structure a variety of fragrances.
With many combinations that make up some of the most popular fragrances today, flavor and fragrance compound monitoring is even more of an essential step in the experimental and manufacturing processes. While flavor and fragrance analysis helps to create balanced and high-end products, it also helps to keep companies and the consumers that use their products safe.
While the fragrance industry dates back to 1370, it has since come a long way. Now, we can monitor different fragrances for potential contaminants. We can assess what goes into fragrances and what causes different reactions.
With technology in its current state, the importance and need for compound monitoring are still not fully understood. Continue reading as we talk about what it is, how it works, and why it’s vital to timely product release and success.
Identifying the Compounds That Makeup Fragrance Products
Perfume formulation analysis is vital to the outcome of a product. This applies to both the “safety for use” and aesthetic of that fragrance. In general, there are a variety of different fragrance compounds used in the F&F industry.
- Eugenol
- Cinnamaldehyde
- Vanillin
- Indole
- Benzaldehyde
- Citral
- Ethyl maltol
- Limonene
As mentioned, more than 3,000 chemicals are used to produce different fragrances. Like with anything, every ingredient presents different effects. They can also be reduced to different compounds. Citral, for example, can form aldehyde citronellal.
This can also be modified to produce isopulegol, an aromatic terpene in cannabis products. As another example, in high doses, indole can often induce higher chances of skin rashes. This is a good representation of a chemical that has multiple forms.
With indole, it’s something you’ll find that naturally occurs in human feces, yet, it’s put into perfumes. The smell is also very noticeable in its original state.
However, its scent profile changes when indole is present at a lower temperature. It will often give off a floral smell rather than a fecal scent. These are all reasons that compound monitoring is essential.
Flavor and Fragrance Compound Monitoring: Flavor Analysis
Different compounds can produce fluctuating flavor profiles. There are types of flavors that can’t be used in fragrances. The same goes for some fragrances that can’t be used in flavors.
When you are coordinating testing for fragrances, this is assessed. This might be a safeguard for manufacturers, but it’s also an excellent way to observe what goes into a product. In other cases, different flavoring agents are created with esters which form fruit-like scents.
Monitoring flavor compounds in perfumes allows you to perfect specific recipes. It’s not only a means of perfection, though.
Flavor analysis and compound monitoring are essential to combat problems like fragrance adulteration. This is basically when oils and perfumes get diluted with cheaper products. When synthetic products are used to cut costs, product quality is jeopardized.
One of the top goals of the perfume industry is to ensure no release of adulterated products. Working with experts in Diacetyl and all other compounds can help maintain this new standard. This is also an excellent way to prepare as the cosmetic industry moves to enforce regulations surrounding it.
Volatile perfume profiles are determined through different forms of analysis. As a good example, gas chromatography is a reliable way to assess compound identification. When you combine this with the use of mass spectrometry, you increase the reliability of this method.
GC is a way to separate and identify the contents of different fragrances. It’s also used to quantify what fragrances consist of.
MS works similarly and is mainly used as a form of quality control. It assists in isolating volatile components of fragrances and pairs well with GC applications.
Why Is Compound Monitoring Needed?
Flavor and fragrance compound monitoring provides more than just suitable perfume options. A form of art goes into structuring and stabilizing fragrance compositions. The compound monitoring process allows a company to identify the concentration levels of different products.
It helps monitor potency levels and match potential effects with the ingredients used in fragrant products. Perfume is a chemical compound made up of a mixture of different alcohols and oils. Other additives are used to form different fragrances along with a trace of water.
The truth is that with the variety of chemicals used to create an ideal fragrance, there is also a lot of thought that needs to go into the stability of that fragrance. Depending on the underlying makeup of a particular scent, the rate of alcohol evaporation could be faster or slower. Alcohol is used to help preserve the scent of perfume and cologne.
Additionally, alcohol, whether ethanol or isopropyl, is toxic. These two ingredients are the most toxic ingredients found in perfume and cologne options. With that, they are also the most essential.
It doesn’t only stabilize the scent and allows it to last longer. It also slows the process of oxidation.
This means that the different compounds that make up a fragrance can affect the shelf life of that product. Whether you are going for an alcohol-based or oil-based fragrance, the amount and type of ingredients you use will make a difference.
Overall, it allows you to know exactly how a fragrance is made. It’s a way to have transparency with consumers. It’s also a way to branch further properly with different fragrance recipes.
Optimizing Fragrance Products Before They Reach Consumers
Safe, stable, and quality products are the goal of fragrance companies. With the variety of compounds used to produce different fragrances, it’s not hard to make a wrong decision. Flavor and fragrance compound monitoring helps to ensure product safety, compound structure, and consumer satisfaction.
PHASE Associates specializes in comprehensive environmental health and safety. This extends to far more than the environment in which companies work and includes the products they create. To learn more, get in touch with our team today.
Our flavor and fragrance compounding services are offered to NJ, PA, DE, CT, NY, GA, VA and MD.