Press Release: Natural Perfumers Guild and Cropwatch Oppose Limits on Citrus Oil Usage in Perfumery

Proposed Citrus Oil Limits in Perfumery opposed by
The Natural Perfumers Guild and Cropwatch

IFRA proposed citrus oil limits are cultural vandalism on the art of perfumery and are based on bad science, reports NPG and Cropwatch.

For Immediate Release

MIAMI SHORES, Fla./EWORLDWIRE/Apr 24, 2008 --- Cropwatch and the Natural Perfumers Guild have joined to charge The International Fragrance Association with cultural vandalism, claiming the proposed limits to citrus in perfumes will destroy perfumes.

The Natural Perfumers Guild (NPG) and Cropwatch decry the science and proposals of the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) as slanted and overly-restrictive regarding the amounts of furanocoumarins to be permitted in perfume and fragranced products. According to NPG spokesperson Anya McCoy, "We are very disappointed that IFRA have not vigorously defended the use of citrus oil ingredients against pressure from Brussels, specifically the European Union Cosmetics Commission (EUCC)."

"You can get more oil in your hands slicing up a lime or a grapefruit than IFRA wants to allow in perfume or cosmetics with its new proposals," added McCoy."

Furanocoumarins in perfumes and essential oils can cause photosensitization and phototoxicity if incorrectly used by the end wearer, resulting in perhaps a tanning effect to the skin in blotchy areas where applied and not protected against sunlight.

Most pointedly, the furanocoumarins in citrus oils are found by Cropwatch and the NPG to be given such a bad rap by the IFRA, that if perfumers have to limit their use, fresh colognes and citrusy perfumes as they are known will cease to exist. "We believe this to be cultural heritage destruction of the artform of perfumery."

Tony Burfield of Cropwatch has updated the Furanocoumarins A-Z listing in Natural Aromatics. Cropwatch took on the task of constructing this database due to the relative unavailability of such data to essential oil users and perfume formulators. This database aims to provide of accurate information on citrus oil furanocoumarin distribution in raw materials.

Summation of the issue can be found at http://cropwatch.org/citrus%20intro.pdf.

The comprehensive database is available for download at http://cropwatch.org/Furanocoumarins%20A-Z.pdf.

The database expands on information about furanocoumarins - botanical species, variety, geographical region, processing methodology and time of season - which the IFRA previously published in an insufficiently detailed form to be useful.

Burfield added, "Furanocoumarin information is needed in the light of IFRA's proposals, currently set before the European Union (EU) Commission, whereby six major marker furanocoumarins have been identified by IFRA, and it is proposed that their concentration, in any combination, within retailed fragranced cosmetics should not exceed 5ppm for products left on the skin, and 50ppm in wash-off products.

"Such Draconian limits spell the end of the line for natural perfumery in traditional citrus colognes."

The Natural Perfumers Guild and Cropwatch contend that the IFRA and the EUCC don't have the rights to permanently encumber or damage the art of perfumery by denying perfumers the use of traditional citrus ingredients when a labeling solution warning about furanocoumarin risks, such as, "Only wear under heavy clothing," or, "Do not expose fragranced skin to sunlight for 12-24 hours," would easily suffice.

Learn more about the Natural Perfumers Guild at http://www.naturalperfumers.com.

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CONTACT:
Anya McCoy
Natural Perfumers Guild
Miami Shores, FL 33153
PHONE. 305-756-0065
http://www.naturalperfumers.com

KEYWORDS: Natural Perfumers Guild, Cropwatch, Tony Burfield, Mandy Aftel, Anya McCoy, citrus oil limits, International Fragrance Association, perfumery, perfume, IFRA, oppose citrus oil limits in perfumery

SOURCE: Natural Perfumers Guild

The Natural Perfumers Guild joins Cropwatch in condemning IFRA's "Cultural Vandalism"

Do you love a citrusy cologne? Are you sensible enough to perhaps cover up your skin where the cologne is applied if you receive a warning label on the bottle of perfume that sun exposure may cause blotchiness? Do you detest and resist government interference in your right to choose? Did you know the limits say that you can get more orange oil on your skin peeling the fruit than they will allow in a perfume?

The Natural Perfumers Guild and Cropwatch decry the bad science and bullying tactics of the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) and it's proposed limits to the use of raw aromatics containing amounts of furanocoumarins in amounts IFRA deems unacceptable. We deem it "Cultural Vandalism" of the historic art of perfumery.

There will be a press release on this issue in the next few days but in the meantime please visit Cropwatch for more information. Warning - complex and wonderful detailed offerings from Tony Burfield - the database is 111 pages long!

The Intro (only seven pages) is a wonderful Burfield rant, logical and impassioned - against the illogical and bureaucratic mess that IFRA has once again gotten itself into. The database can be found here.

Protecting the future of availability and freedom of choice regarding natural aromatics, the Natural Perfumers Guild is proud to be associated with as dedicated a scientist as Tony Burfield of Cropwatch.