A new ingredient from Ashland adds fragrance and acts as a preservative for wipes and other personal care products

Since the ingredient was launched earlier this year the company has featured it at cosmetics industry tradeshows and events including in-cosmetics global in London and just this month at the World of Wipes International Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

The new ingredient is called ConaromTM b aromatic, and according to a recent Ashland press release it is “based on naturally derived hops extract.”

The fragrance of the new ingredient is said to be a moderate floral, spice-like scent. The company believes it’s a distinct enough scent that it can be used in formulations to help distinguish finished personal care or cosmetic products from similar ones.  

For Ashland ConaromTM b aromatic is just one more example of what the specialty chemical company aims to be doing at all times. That is, bringing new solutions to the industry. “Ashland is continuing to build on our innovations presented earlier this year at in- cosmetics Global in support of consumer market trends,” Vito Consiglio, vice president of personal and home care at Ashland, tells the press. “The drive to solve is in our DNA and we will continue to bring new energy in the personal care ingredient space.”

What, why, how

Billed as a multifunctional, sustainable ingredient, ConaromTM b aromatic can be used in formulation not just to impart its distinct scent, but also as a preservative. “At dosages of 0.3 to 2% it contributes to microbial stabilization by delivering broad antimicrobial protection as a secondary effect,” explains the Ashland press release.

The company anticipate that ConaromTM b aromatic, which is apparently a nature identical Phenylpropanol, will be most commonly used in skin care, hair care, and body care emulsions such as sun care, body wash, shampoo, conditioners, and wet wipes.

Ashland hopes that “formulators will appreciate the liquid state, good formulation compatibility and broad pH applicability,” and the company release goes on to note that “Conarom b aromatic can be added to formulations at any phase of production when worked into products at ambient temperature.”