Skin Irritation from Perfume Spray (Alcohol/Fragrance)

Subject: Skin Irritation from Perfume Spray

Hello,

Thank you for sharing your perfume formula and the skin irritation issues you're experiencing (dryness, stinging, tightness, pain). Your formula uses a high concentration of Ethyl Alcohol (99.9%) and a significant amount of fragrance/fixative.

It is true that high-proof alcohol, like the Ethyl Alcohol 99.9% you used, can be very drying and irritating to the skin because it strips away natural oils. The high concentration of fragrance and fixative could also potentially contribute to irritation for some individuals.

As the staff suggested, the best approach is to identify which ingredient is causing the reaction. Please try testing each component separately on a small area of your skin:

• Test the Ethyl Alcohol (99.9%) alone.
• Test the fragrance oil and LastFix mixture (or each separately if possible).

Based on your test results:

• If the Ethyl Alcohol causes irritation: The staff recommends using Fractionated Coconut Oil as the base for your perfume instead of alcohol. This would result in an oil-based perfume (like a rollerball) rather than an alcohol-based spray, which is much gentler on the skin.
• If the fragrance oil or LastFix causes irritation: You may be sensitive to that specific fragrance blend or fixative. The staff recommends trying a different fragrance oil.

Regarding your questions about diluting the alcohol:

• Diluting your current mix: You could potentially add distilled water to your existing alcohol-based mixture to lower the alcohol concentration. However, this might cause the fragrance oils and LastFix to become insoluble, leading to a cloudy mixture or separation. The optimal amount of water would depend on the specific solubility of your fragrance components. Diluting with water might reduce dryness but won't eliminate the effects of alcohol entirely. Switching to an oil base is a more effective solution if alcohol is the primary issue.
• Diluting a 40% alcohol perfume: Yes, it is possible to dilute a perfume that is already 40% alcohol by adding distilled water. However, similar to the point above, adding too much water might exceed the solubility limit of the fragrance oils in the alcohol/water mixture, causing cloudiness or separation.

In summary, testing the individual ingredients is key to finding the cause of the irritation. If alcohol is the problem, switching to an oil base like Fractionated Coconut Oil is a recommended solution for a gentler product. If the fragrance is the problem, try a different scent.

Relevant products mentioned:

• Ethyl Alcohol (99.9%): Product ID 706
• Fractionated Coconut Oil: Product ID 169

We hope this helps you create a perfume that is comfortable to wear!