Pungent Odor in Serum Formulation

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?

MySkinRecipes Expert · Accepted 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: