Many products we use every day contain fragrances. Some are regulated as cosmetics by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Others belong to product categories that are regulated depending on how the product is intended to be used. So how do you know if a fragrance product is regulated as a cosmetic? If a product is intended to be applied to a person’s body to make the person more attractive, it’s a cosmetic under the law. Perfumes, cologne and aftershaves, for instance.

Fragrance ingredients are commonly used in products like shampoos, shower gels, shaving creams, and body lotions. Products labelled “unscented” may also contain fragrance ingredients. This is because the manufacturer may add just enough fragrance to mask the unpleasant smell of other ingredients.

Some fragrance products applied to the body are intended for therapeutic use, such as treating or preventing disease, or affecting the structure or function of the body. Products intended for this type of use are treated as drugs under the law, or sometimes as both cosmetics and drugs. For example, products labelled as easing muscle aches, soothing headaches, helping people sleep.

Products that may contain fragrance ingredients, but are not applied to the body, are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and include items like laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and room fresheners.

There is no regulatory definition for “essential oils”. Often used in “aromatherapy” products, if the oil is intended to treat or prevent disease, or to affect the structure or function of the body, it’s a drug. A massage oil to lubricate the skin is a cosmetic. But if claims to relieve aches or relax muscles, apart from the action of the massage itself, it’s a drug, or possibly both a cosmetic and a drug.

Source : USFDA

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