Short answer
A perfume's ingredient list names every ingredient in descending order of amount, with those at 1% or less allowed in any order after the rest, using each market's standard names: in the EU and Canada, INCI names such as Alcohol Denat., Parfum, Aqua; in the US, the names FDA's regulations establish, with fragrance allowed to appear simply as "Fragrance". Fragrance allergens above the labeling threshold are named individually after the fragrance in the EU, Canada and Great Britain. Colorants are listed too. Write it from your finished-product formula, not from the concentrate, and update it whenever the formula changes.
A typical perfume ingredient list
An illustrative eau de parfum sold in the EU:
Alcohol Denat., Parfum (Fragrance), Aqua (Water), Limonene, Linalool, Coumarin, Citronellol, Geraniol, CI 14700, CI 19140
| Entry | What it is | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol Denat. | Denatured ethanol | Largest ingredient, so first |
| Parfum (Fragrance) | The whole fragrance concentrate | One entry for the fragrance; its position follows its amount |
| Aqua (Water) | Added water | Declared like any ingredient |
| Limonene, Linalool… | Fragrance allergens above the threshold | Named individually; any order below 1% |
| CI numbers | Colorants | Declared by Color Index number in the EU |
Why the list cannot be turned back into a formula is explained in why you can't recreate a perfume from its ingredient list.
How to write it
- Start from the finished product's formula by weight: alcohol, concentrate, water, colorants, any additives.
- Treat the concentrate as one ingredient, "Parfum" or "Fragrance", except for allergens and anything that is not part of the fragrance (a UV filter, a colorant, an antioxidant added to the product).
- Calculate each allergen's level in the finished product, from every source, and name those above the threshold for the product type. The method is in EU fragrance allergen labelling.
- Order the ingredients above 1% by descending weight; place those at 1% or less afterwards, in any order.
- Use the correct names for each market.
- Check the result against your formula version and record which version the label belongs to.
Market differences
| United States | EU | Great Britain | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Names | Established names under FDA regulations | Common ingredient names (INCI-based) | As EU (UK rules) | INCI |
| Fragrance | "Fragrance" (21 CFR 701.3) | "Parfum" | "Parfum" | "Parfum" or "fragrance" |
| Allergens named | Not yet required; MoCRA rule pending at the time of writing | Yes, above 0.001% leave-on / 0.01% rinse-off | Yes, under the GB list | Yes, same thresholds, EU list (from April 12, 2026) |
| Languages | English | As required by each member state | English | English and French |
The market pages give the detail: MoCRA, selling perfume in the EU, selling perfume in the UK and selling perfume in Canada.
The rest of the label
The ingredient list is one element. Labels also carry the product's identity, net quantity, the name and address of the responsible company, warnings, and — depending on the market — a batch code, a durability date or period-after-opening symbol, country of origin, and contact details for adverse-event reports. FDA's summary of US cosmetic labeling requirements lists the identity statement, net quantity, name and place of business, ingredient declaration and any required warnings; ingredients at 1% or less and colorants may be listed without regard to predominance. Net quantity for liquids is stated in fluid ounces under the US rules; most brands show milliliters as well (for example 50 mL / 1.7 fl oz).
Names that trip people up
- Alcohol: "Alcohol Denat." in the EU; in the US, specially denatured alcohol is commonly declared as "SD Alcohol" with its formula number. See what perfumer's alcohol is.
- Water: "Aqua" in the EU; "Water" in the US. Dual "Aqua (Water)" is common on labels used in several markets.
- Colorants: CI numbers in the EU; FDA names (for example "Red 33") in the US. See adding color to perfume.
- Carriers in purchased oils: a solvent in a fragrance oil is usually part of "parfum"; a carrier that is also an allergen may need to be named. See is your fragrance oil already diluted?
Keep labels and formulas in step
A label is a record of a specific formula version. When the formula changes — a reformulation, a new lot of a natural with a different allergen profile, a new concentration — recheck the label. Recording which label version goes with which formula version prevents the commonest labeling error: an old label on a new formula. The overview of market rules is in perfume regulations by market.
Sources
- US FDA — Summary of Cosmetics Labeling Requirements, content current as of November 18, 2025, checked October 9, 2026.
- US FDA — Fragrances in Cosmetics (fragrance may be listed as "Fragrance"), checked October 9, 2026.
- EUR-Lex — Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Article 19, checked October 9, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
My fragrance is all essential oils. How do I declare it?
The EU Regulation provides that perfume compositions and their raw materials are referred to by the term "parfum", with allergens above the threshold named as well; how individually named botanicals are handled varies by market and by the oil's function in the product. Check the current guidance for each market, and remember that natural sources do not exempt you from allergen declarations.
Do samples need an ingredient list?
Generally, consumer samples are cosmetics too. Very small packages often have provisions for putting the information on a leaflet, card or outer packaging; check the market's rules.
Written and reviewed by the RUŌOD Lab team. This article is general education about perfume formulation and record-keeping; it is not legal, regulatory or safety advice, and the examples are illustrations, not validated commercial formulas. How we write and check these guides.