Fragrance industry solvents
In the fragrance and cosmetics industry, different solvents differ quite markedly in volatility, polarity, skin feel, and the safety/marketing story that comes with them.
Ethanol is the classic solvent for fine fragrance, body mists, hair mists, and room sprays. It is a polar solvent that evaporates very quickly, giving a cool, dry sensation on skin and helping the fragrance “pop” strongly in the top notes. Ethanol dissolves most perfume compositions well and is fully miscible with water, which makes it easy to build clear, transparent fragrance systems-something oil-based solvents cannot achieve. In practice, the industry typically uses denatured ethanol specifically approved for cosmetics/perfumes, or “perfumers alcohol,” which is a blend of ethanol with a small amount of other solvents such as DPG. Its drawbacks are that it is highly flammable, subject to regulatory and transport restrictions, and can dry out the skin if used at high levels in leave-on skincare products.
DPM (Dipropylene Glycol Methyl Ether) is a glycol ether with medium-to-slow evaporation, fully water-soluble, with a very mild odor and a relatively high flash point. In fragrance applications, DPM is typically used as a coupling agent: it helps bridge hydrophobic fragrance oils with the water/ethanol phase, reduces cloudiness/haze, and slows down the evaporation rate of formulas such as room sprays, cleaners, floor/mopping liquids, and fabric sprays. Because of its strong polarity and a safety profile primarily established for industrial/household use, DPM is generally better suited to home-care, household, or rinse-off products rather than as a main solvent for high-end leave-on skincare.
TPM (Tripropylene Glycol Methyl Ether) is similar to DPM but “heavier”: it is less volatile, virtually odorless, fully water-soluble, and has low toxicity. In fragrance and home-fragrance contexts, TPM is suitable for systems that require a very slow and stable evaporation rate, for example certain reed diffuser bases or room sprays/cleaners that need long-lasting fragrance on surfaces. Compared with DPM, TPM feels “heavier” and dries more slowly; in return, it prolongs the presence of the scent, but is less appropriate when a quick-dry, non-tacky skin feel is required.
MMB (3-Methoxy-3-methyl-1-butanol) is a solvent strongly associated with air-care: a clear liquid, fully soluble in water, with a very mild to almost neutral odor, low toxicity, and a favorable environmental profile. MMB dissolves and is highly compatible with most fragrance ingredients, and its evaporation profile is quite “smooth”: it does not flash off as quickly as ethanol but is not as sluggish as many polyols. It is therefore often used as a solvent/coupling agent for water-based room sprays, home fragrances, and premium fragranced cleaning products. In cosmetics, MMB can be used at moderate levels in certain spray or rinse-off products, but it is generally positioned more strongly in home-care and air-care applications.
IPM (Isopropyl Myristate) is an oily ester (isopropyl alcohol + myristic acid), virtually odorless, insoluble in water, very skin-softening, and providing a “dry touch”-it absorbs quickly with low greasiness. In cosmetics, IPM is regarded as an important emollient/solvent for creams, lotions, dry massage oils, bath oils, make-up, and some topical pharmaceuticals, thanks to its ability to dissolve mineral oils, esters, some fragrance components, and to enhance the penetration of actives through the skin. In fragrance, IPM is often used as a solvent for alcohol-free perfume oils, dry-oil perfumes, or to fine-tune the skin feel of body oils. Compared with ethanol or DPM/MMB, IPM evaporates very slowly, functioning more as an oily carrier and, to some extent, a fixative rather than a volatile solvent.
DPG (Dipropylene Glycol) is a nearly odorless polyol, soluble in water yet also blending well with most essential oils and fragrance oils, with a high boiling point and very low volatility. Thanks to its stability and almost neutral base odor, DPG is a standard solvent for many fragrance applications: reed diffusers, burner oils, perfume oils, incense, and potpourri oils. It dilutes the fragrance, reduces harshness, slows the evaporation rate, and increases scent longevity in the environment. In cosmetics, DPG can be used as a mild humectant and co-solvent in alcohol-free fragrances or personal care products; however, because its texture can feel somewhat “heavy” and tacky at higher levels, it is usually not the first choice for premium creams.
TEC (Triethyl Citrate) is the ester of citric acid and ethanol, with a very mild odor, medium polarity, and a favorable safety profile, widely used in cosmetics and in certain fragrance formulations. TEC functions as a plasticizer, fixative, dispersant, and deo-active: it softens polymer films, improves the dispersion of water-insoluble UV filters, and partially inhibits odor-causing enzymes in deodorant products. In fragrance/cosmetics, TEC is used in deodorants, hair sprays, nail polishes, sunscreens, and in some perfume or body spray formulas as a low-volatility fixative that is “clean” from a marketing standpoint (derived from citric acid) and highly compatible with many other ester systems.
In summary: Ethanol is the “backbone” of alcohol-based fine fragrances; DPM, TPM, MMB, and DPG are polar solvents/coupling agents for room sprays, air-care, and diffusion bases, mainly differing in evaporation rate and solubility; IPM and TEC are esters positioned more on the cosmetics side-IPM is oriented toward a dry, soft skin feel, while TEC is oriented toward plasticizer/fixative and deo-active functions. Choosing which solvent to use in a given formula typically depends on the product format (spray or oil), desired skin/surface feel, the expected level of “naturalness”/regulatory positioning, and the target balance between evaporation rate and fragrance longevity.
