Only about 1500 of the more than 5000 materials used in fragrances have been tested for safety. The testing that is done is generally limited to acute oral and dermal toxicity, irritation and dermal sensitization, and phototoxicity. Testing is limited to individual materials, there is little effort to address synergistic and modifying effects of materials in combination though the RIFM is aware that they occur. Early on in testing it was found that when similar materials were tested together more positive sensitization reactions occurred than when the materials were tested individually. Testing procedures were changed so only unrelated materials were used in a testing sequence.
Present testing is adequate.
Musk ambrette was found to have neurotoxic properties. This was first discovered in 1967 when mice were feed varying levels of musk ambrette. Since dietary consumption of musk ambrette are generally very low, the impact was discounted and no assessment was made of exposures from fragranced products. In 1985 after studies were published on the neurotoxic effects and it was determined musk ambrette was readily absorbed through the skin, the IFRA recommended that Musk ambrette not be used in direct skin contact products. Musk ambrette had been used in fragranced products since before the 1920s.