Combining Rosemary Water and Probio-Protect™

You've asked about combining Rosemary Water and Probio-Protect™ in a formulation and whether the antimicrobial properties of Rosemary Water would affect Probio-Protect™, potentially reducing its preservative effect.

Here's a breakdown:

1. Probio-Protect™: This product is a preservative derived from the fermentation of Lactobacillus. It contains antibacterial peptides called bacteriocins, which provide the preservative action. It is important to note that Probio-Protect™ itself is not live bacteria, but rather the product of fermentation and extracted active compounds.

2. Rosemary Water: The Rosemary Water you are referring to, as per its description, contains Phenoxyethanol 0.5% added by the manufacturer as a preservative. While Rosemary Water naturally contains some compounds with antimicrobial properties from the plant, the presence of added Phenoxyethanol is a significant factor.

Potential Interaction:

Combining two different preservative systems – the Phenoxyethanol in the Rosemary Water and the bacteriocins in Probio-Protect™ – can have complex and sometimes unpredictable effects on the overall preservation efficacy of your final formulation. It's not a matter of the Rosemary Water killing live bacteria within Probio-Protect™ (as it doesn't contain live bacteria), but rather how the two distinct preservative mechanisms interact with each other and with the rest of your formula.

Conclusion:

While it's possible to combine these ingredients, you cannot assume that the combined effect will provide adequate or stable preservation. The interaction between different preservative types needs careful consideration. To ensure your final product is safely preserved against microbial growth, it is highly recommended to perform a Challenge Test on your finished formulation. This test will confirm whether the combination of ingredients provides sufficient and long-lasting protection.