Fragrance

Components with the agomat function give cosmetics a pleasant smell or mask the natural smell of raw materials, so they are important primarily for the sensory perception of the product. Such substances almost do not change the basic care effect of a cream, shampoo or gel, but they significantly affect the comfort of use: the product seems more "fresh", soft or luxurious. They are often referred to in formulations as Fragrance or Parfum; regulators note that it can be a complex mixture of natural and synthetic molecules, and sometimes fragrance is added even to products without a pronounced odor to hide the smell of other ingredients. (fda.gov)

On skin and hair, such ingredients work mainly indirectly: they do not moisturize or regenerate on their own, but improve the consumer properties of the product and the impression of application. This is especially important for perfumed lotions, shampoos, shower gels, and hair products, where the smell remains part of the overall experience. Typical examples of substances with this function are linalool and limonene, as well as mixtures of aromatic components combined under the designation Parfum. At the same time, the FDA indicates that scented compositions are among the ingredients that can most often cause sensitivity or allergic reactions in susceptible people, therefore, products without fragrance are usually chosen for very reactive skin. (fda.gov)

The safety of such components is assessed according to the same general principles as other cosmetic ingredients: the manufacturer is obliged to ensure their safe use in the finished product. IFRA industry standards are also aimed at the safe use of scented substances in different product categories, taking into account the level of skin contact. Therefore, the fragrance in the composition itself is not an indicator of benefit or harm: it all depends on the formula, concentration and individual tolerance. (fda.gov)