Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Perfuming
Added for scent. Can be natural or synthetic. Common irritant and allergen — one of the top reasons people react to products.
Solvent
Dissolves other ingredients so they distribute evenly in the formula. Often the invisible "base" everything else is mixed into.
Fights Bacteria
Traditional Use
A naturally occurring compound found in various plants and essential oils, used historically in traditional medicine. In the early 20th century, it was identified and synthetically produced for use as a fragrance component and preservative in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.