Re: body spray alcohol percentage

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue,

You really don't need 63% alcohol to ensure preservation. You only need a

minimum of 15% ethanol as I stated in my earlier post. The question that was

asked of Maurice had to do with the amount of alcohol needed to make a " germ

killer " (post copied below).

The information I quoted in my earlier post comes from the Cosmetics &

Toiletries Ingredient Resource Series, Preservatives for Cosmetics by D.C.

Steinberg. In there, it notes:

" Non-cosmetic approvals: At concentrations above 60% alcohol is approved as a

Category I OTC antiseptic in the U.S. "

" Activity: Active against everything but dependent on concentration. As a

disinfectant (or antiseptic), levels above 60% will show complete kill in less

than 1%. "

" Inactivators: When the concentration falls below approximately 15%, alcohol

becomes a growth medium. "

" Incorporation: Alcohol is used as a solvent in many cosmetic applications.

Products with concentrations above 15% alcohol are " self-preserved. "

That's why it is important that the alcohol be at least 15% in a formulation,

unless another preservative is used. Unless is making an OTC

disinfectant, she only needs to make sure she has at least 15% alcohol by volume

in her formulation (and the alcohol needs to be 95% ethanol (vol./vol.) with

water. If she is using 70% isopropyl alcohol, for example, she'd have to

recalculate the amount of 70% isopropyl alcohol needed to have the minimum

concentration of 15% alcohol needed for preservation.

That's also why I use Isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle when I'm formulating.

It's a great surface disinfectant.

Regards,

Jen

>I want to know what percentage of alcohol you should use in a

>recipe for it to be a germ killer.ÿ A local chemist told me 65%, but

>he works mostly with food and wasn't sure.ÿ I have seen a few

>recipes with aloe gel and alcohol and they don't seem to use

>much alcohol at all.

You'll need 62% to 95% Ethyl Alcohol.

Maurice

body spray alcohol percentage

Di,

A long time ago Maurice suggested using 63% alcohol to ensure preservation. I

made a note of this because I make eau de toilettes. You could check with him.

Sue in Ontario

[Guest guest]

There was an error in one sentence; it should read:

" Activity: Active against everything but dependent on concentration. As a

disinfectant (or antiseptic), levels above 60% will show complete kill in less

than 1 minute. "

Jen

----- Original Message -----

From: Welch

Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2004 6:53 PM

The information I quoted in my earlier post comes from the Cosmetics &

Toiletries Ingredient Resource Series, Preservatives for Cosmetics by D.C.

Steinberg. In there, it notes:

" Non-cosmetic approvals: At concentrations above 60% alcohol is approved as a

Category I OTC antiseptic in the U.S. "

" Activity: Active against everything but dependent on concentration. As a

disinfectant (or antiseptic), levels above 60% will show complete kill in less

than 1%. "

" Inactivators: When the concentration falls below approximately 15%, alcohol

becomes a growth medium. "

" Incorporation: Alcohol is used as a solvent in many cosmetic applications.

Products with concentrations above 15% alcohol are " self-preserved. "

[Guest guest]

>The alcohol I am using is Perfumer's Alcohol by the Chemistry

>Store. I wish I knew more about this but I am very new in this area

>and just testing it out before I am happy with the outcome.

> " This product consists of 90% SDA 40 Alcohol and 10% DI Water. "

>What would the correct ratio's be for this? Any help would be

>appreciated!

100 = 90

X = 15

X = (100 X 15)/90

X = 1500/90

X = 16.67%

So if you add 16.67% of the Chemistry Store's alcohol to your formula, you will

have 15% ethanol.

Good luck!

Maurice

--------------------------------------------------------

Maurice O. Hevey

Convergent Cosmetics, Inc.

http://www.ConvergentCosmetics.com

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[Guest guest]

>100 = 90

>X = 15

>X = (100 X 15)/90

>X = 1500/90

>X = 16.67%

>So if you add 16.67% of the Chemistry Store's alcohol to your formula, you will

have 15% ethanol.

>Good luck!

This is assuming that The Chemistry Store did their math and dilution correctly.

Maurice

--------------------------------------------------------

Maurice O. Hevey

Convergent Cosmetics, Inc.

http://www.ConvergentCosmetics.com

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