The information here describes the ingredient in general. Its possible sources may vary and do not necessarily show the origin or form used in a particular YUMA product. For product-specific information, check the relevant product page.
Furfural is an ingredient used in perfumery to add gourmand and food-like notes. It delivers a volatile bitter almond note and can contribute to coffee-like aromas. Produced from bran, cereal straws, and other plant materials, it also occurs naturally in red clover oil (Trifolium pratense).
Furfural belongs to the furan molecule category, which is associated with aromas of baked bread, nuts, and caramel. This category is widely used in the fragrance industry, particularly for food applications.
A notable characteristic of furfural is its extremely low detection threshold. Although it evaporates quickly, its presence is detectable even at concentrations of a few ppm (parts per million).
Furfural is also found in the distillation waters of various essential oils, including ambrette seed, angelica seed, Ceylon cinnamon, petitgrain bigarade, and lavender.
Due to its toxicity, furfural is subject to strict regulations in perfumery. Regulatory rules ensure its safe use in fragrance compositions by limiting its concentration to levels that do not cause adverse reactions.
Historical discovery: Furfural was discovered in 1832 by the German chemist Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner during experiments to synthesize formic acid.
Furfural has such a low detection threshold that the human sense of smell can detect it even when present at a concentration of just a few parts per million, despite evaporating very rapidly.
Everyday scents: When you smell freshly baked bread, warm pastries, or caramel, you are experiencing molecules from the same family as furfural. Furan molecules are responsible for many of the most familiar and enjoyable scents in daily life.
The IFRA Standards form an industry self-regulatory system. They may prohibit or restrict the use of particular fragrance ingredients, or set specifications, according to end use. The status below reflects the IFRA data recorded for this ingredient. It is not a product certification and does not replace applicable law or assessment of the finished product.
IFRA categories group end uses by the type and level of exposure. A restriction or maximum concentration applies only to the stated category and does not automatically apply to another use. Check the related IFRA document for the applicable Standard version and its full conditions.
| Category | Max concentration |
|---|---|
| 1. Lip products and children's toys | 0.001% |
| 2. Deodorants and antiperspirants | 0.001% |
| 3. Face cosmetics and masks | 0.001% |
| 4. Perfumes and fragranced products | 0.001% |
| 5A. Body lotions and powders | 0.001% |
| 5B. Face moisturizers and toners | 0.001% |
| 5C. Hand creams and sanitizers | 0.001% |
| 5D. Baby care products | 0.001% |
| 6. Oral care products | 0.001% |
| 7A. Rinse-off hair treatments | 0.001% |
| 7B. Leave-on hair products | 0.001% |
| 8. Intimate care products | 0.001% |
| 9. Rinse-off body products | 0.001% |
| 10A. Home care (non-aerosol) | 0.001% |
| 10B. Household aerosols and sprays | 0.001% |
| 11A. Products with minimal skin contact (no UV exposure) | 0.001% |
| 11B. Products with minimal skin contact (UV exposure) | 0.001% |
| 12. Products with no direct skin contact | 0.05% |