Pungent Odor in Serum Formulation
Asked by: thelittledraco
On: June 12, 2022
Product Type:
Cosmetics
Question
A user has formulated a liquid serum containing Glycosamin, Repair ac, Fullerine, QuickColl, Ectoin, Mind, DMI, and a toner base. They observe a strong, pungent odor after applying the serum, although the smell is not present when smelling directly from the bottle. What ingredient is causing this odor, and how can it be resolved?
Answer
Serum Odor Issue
The strong, pungent smell that develops after applying your serum is most likely caused by Dimethyl Isosorbide (DMI). DMI is a solvent with an ether-like odor that can become more noticeable as the serum dries on the skin.
Quick-Coll® also has a characteristic odor which might contribute, but DMI is the primary suspect for the pungent smell.
To resolve this, you can:
- Add a cosmetic-grade fragrance to mask the smell.
- Include Odor-Kill at 1% in your formula to help absorb the odor.
Always test new additions in a small batch first.
Related Products Mentioned
Ectoine (Ectoin, from Bio-fermentation)
Cosmetics
Quick-Coll®
Cosmetics
Dimethyl Isosorbide (DMI)
Cosmetics
