Odor Issue with Poly-Conditioner Pro in Natural Shampoo and Alternative Conditioners

Regarding the strong odor of Poly-Conditioner Pro in your natural shampoo formulation:

You mentioned using 2% fragrance, but it wasn't enough to mask the smell. While Poly-Conditioner Pro is generally used in conditioners without significant odor issues, its interaction with your specific natural shampoo base (from fractionated coconut oil) might be contributing to the perceived strong smell or making it harder to mask.

To address the odor:

• Although 2% fragrance is typically sufficient, some base odors are particularly challenging to cover. You might consider trying a different type of fragrance specifically formulated for odor masking, or potentially increasing the fragrance concentration if appropriate for your product type and regulatory limits.
• Alternatively, as suggested by the staff, consider using a different conditioning agent which might have a less prominent inherent odor.

For non-silicone alternatives to achieve soft and smooth hair, the staff has provided several excellent options:

• Poly-Conditioner Eco (Polyquaternium-7): Often a cost-effective alternative.
• Lanofree (Synthetic Lanolin)
• BTAC (Behentrimonium Chloride)
• CTAC (Cetrimonium Chloride)

These alternatives can be used individually or combined to achieve the desired conditioning effect without using silicones. Switching to one of these might also resolve the odor issue you are experiencing with Poly-Conditioner Pro in your specific base.