Fragrance Regulation (IFRA)
The global safety standard that caps how much of each fragrance ingredient you can use, the certificate you need from your supplier, and what to actually do to keep a scented product compliant.
If your product has a scent, IFRA is the standard that decides how much of each fragrance ingredient you are allowed to use. IFRA, the International Fragrance Association, publishes safety standards that cap or ban specific fragrance materials based on scientific safety data, and the limits change depending on how the product is used. It is not a law, but it is the global industry benchmark, and retailers, manufacturers, and the EU all expect you to meet it.
How it works in practice
The IFRA Standards set a maximum use level for each restricted ingredient, and those levels differ by product category, because a fragrance sitting on your lips is a different exposure than one in a rinse-off wash or a candle. Compliance means keeping each restricted material below the maximum for the specific way your product is used.
The document that proves it is an IFRA Certificate of Conformity. Here is what to do with it.
Get the certificate from your fragrance supplier. IFRA itself does not issue these, and there is no company that certifies on IFRA’s behalf. Your fragrance house is responsible for providing an IFRA Certificate of Conformity for the scent you buy, so ask for it up front.
Match it to your product category. Tell your supplier exactly what you are making, whether that is a leave-on lotion, a lip product, a rinse-off cleanser, or a candle, so the certificate reflects the right category and the right maximum use level.
Formulate at or below the max. The certificate states the highest percentage of the fragrance you can use for your product type. Stay at or under it, and confirm the final formula complies.
Keep it in your safety file. The certificate is part of substantiating that your product is safe, which MoCRA now legally requires, and retailers or EU authorities may ask to see it.
Allergen labeling is separate
IFRA governs how much you can use, not what you have to disclose. Fragrance-allergen labeling is a different rule: the EU already requires listing certain fragrance allergens on the label, and the US is finalizing its own fragrance-allergen disclosure rule under MoCRA. So even a fully IFRA-compliant scent may still trigger labeling obligations, and you should plan to disclose allergens where the market requires it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IFRA compliance?
IFRA compliance means keeping every restricted fragrance ingredient in your product at or below the maximum use level set by the IFRA Standards for your product type. It is proven with an IFRA Certificate of Conformity, which your fragrance supplier provides. IFRA is a global industry safety standard rather than a law, but it is widely expected by manufacturers, retailers, and regulators.
Where do I get an IFRA certificate?
From the fragrance supplier that sells you the scent. IFRA does not issue certificates and there is no third party that certifies on its behalf. Each fragrance house is responsible for providing an IFRA Certificate of Conformity for the fragrance and the product category you are using it in.
Does IFRA cover fragrance allergen labeling?
No. IFRA sets safe usage levels, but disclosing fragrance allergens on the label is a separate requirement. The EU requires listing certain allergens, and the US is finalizing a fragrance-allergen disclosure rule under MoCRA, so a compliant scent can still carry labeling obligations.
Sources
- IFRA, “IFRA Standards”. The safety standards, product categories, and the supplier’s responsibility to provide a Certificate of Conformity.