Background
The Fragrance Mix II consists of the following fragrances: 5%
alpha-Hexyl cinnamaldehyde, 1%
Citral, 0.5%
Citronellol, 2.5%
Farnesol, 2.5%
Coumarin and 2.5%
Hydroxymethylpentylcyclohexenecarboxaldehyde (for further information
see the single allergens). The Fragrance Mix II is a screener for a general
sensitization to fragrances. The patch test substance is produced with 10 %
hard paraffin to ensure the homogeneity. The 6 allergens in the Fragrance
Mix II belong to the 26 fragrances that have to be declared on cosmetics if
their concentration exceeds a certain limit.
The fragrance mix is used to
screen for contact allergy to fragrances. The term fragrance means any
natural or synthetic substance or substances used solely to impart an odor
to a cosmetic product. Natural fragrances are usually of botanical origin
and may contain several hundred different chemicals (such as balsams,
esential oils and spices like cinnamon, cloves,
vanilla and cardamom). Over 90% of all fragrances used is synthetic.
Although many fragrances are thus not included in the fragrance mix, the mix
correlates well with contact allergies to fragrances in general.
Fragrance-free does not guarantee that the product does not contain any
fragrance products. The
ROAT is recommended to test stay-on cosmetics.
SynonymsAroma
chemicals
Colognes
Essential oils of plants and animals
Fragrance mix
Masking or unscented perfumes
Perfumes
Toilet water
UsesCosmetics, oral
hygiene products
Topical medications like ointments and suppositories
Household products (room fresheners, waxes, polishes, cleaning agents,
insect repellents, washing powders and softeners, etc.)
Industrial exposure
(metalworking fluids, paints, rubber, plastics, insecticides, herbicides,
etc.)
Paper products, fabric, clothes Flavors (candy, soft drinks, foods)
Technical fluids
Cross-ReactionsUnusual ReactionsFragrances may
cause photo-allergic reactions. Pseudoallergic immediate reactions may
relate to redness, itching and tingling within 5-10 minutes of application
of mainly cinnamic aldehyde, benzoic acid and sorbic acid in cosmetics and
occur as high as in 17% of tested individuals, 10% of these reactions are
followed by a delayed type reaction on the fragrance-mix.
Back to list of contact allergens
Referenties
| 1. |
Lynde, CW, Mitchell JC. Patch testing
with balsam of Peru and fragrance mix. Contact Dermatitis, 1982.
8(4): p. 274-7. |
| 2. |
Malten, KE, et al. Reactions in selected
patients to 22 fragrance materials. Contact Dermatitis, 1984.
11(1): p. 1-10. |
| 3. |
de Groot AC, et al. Patch tests with
fragrance materials and preservatives. Contact Dermatitis, 1985.
12(2): p. 87-92. |
| 4. |
Larsen WG. Perfume dermatitis. Journal
of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1985. 12(1 Pt 1): p.
1-9. |
| 5. |
Enders F, Przybilla B, Ring J. Patch
testing with fragrance mix at 16% and 8%, and its individual
constituents. Contact Dermatitis, 1989. 20(3): p. 237-8. |
| 6. |
Safford RJ, et al. Immediate contact
reactions to chemicals in the fragrance mix and a study of the
quenching action of eugenol. British Journal of Dermatology,
1990. 123(5): p. 595-606. |
| 7. |
de Groot AC, et al. Frequency of
false-negative reactions to the fragrance mix. Contact
Dermatitis, 1993. 28(3): p. 139-40. |
| 8. |
Becker K, Temesvari E, Nemeth I. Patch
testing with fragrance mix and its constituents in a Hungarian
population. Contact Dermatitis, 1994. 30(3): p. 185-6. |
| 9. |
Johansen JD Menne T. The fragrance mix
and its constituents: a 14-year material. Contact Dermatitis,
1995. 32(1): p. 18-23. |
| 10. |
Katsarou A, Armenaka M, Kalogeromitros D
et al. Contact reactions to fragrances. Ann Allergy Asthma
Immunol 1999;82:449-455. |
| 11. |
Larsen WG, et al. Fragrance contact
dermatitis: a worldwide multicenter investigation (part I). Am J
Contact Dermatitis 1996;77-83 12. Scheinman P. The foul side of
fragrance-free products. J.Am Acad Dermatol 1999;41:1020-1024. |
Author(s):Allergology: background information on allergens.
ICD10: L23.9