Humans are exposed to harmful chemicals through various methods on a daily basis. AROMATICA has been excluding the harmful ingredients that have been identified harmful by various professional data for those who want to protect themselves and their loved ones from harmful ingredients. Since its establishment in 2004, AROMATICA has been accumulating a database on potential harmful chemicals based on experiences with strict product certifications such as EWG VERIFIED™, ECOCERT, Vegan, and COSMOS, as well as its advancement into the strict European and American markets.
Despite the rapidly-growing “clean beauty market,” it is not easy for consumers to choose safe products due to the absence of a definitive standard and definition of clean beauty. As the brand leads natural, organic, vegan, and clean beauty in Korea, AROMATICA has constructed the “Worry List” based on the understanding and compilation of various safe cosmetic standards to suggest a new standard for safe and clean beauty that satisfies all criteria.
Our definition of clean beauty includes “Biocompatibility & Sustainability” to avoid potentially dangerous substances that have undesirable effects and are harmful to the human body. Based on several years of experience, we have learned that natural ingredients are not necessarily all safe and synthetic ingredients are not always harmful.

• SAVE THE SKIN

  We will conduct sustainable activities to consume renewable energy and minimize energy consumption.

• SAVE THE PLANET

  We will conduct sustainable activities to consume renewable energy and minimize energy consumption.

• BIOETHICS

  We are cruelty-free and do not conduct animal testing on our products, but rather develop products that pursue the coexistence between humans, animals, and the environment.

In 2011, AROMATICA raised the issue regarding the safety of cosmetic ingredients while introducing EWG Skin Deep Database to the Korean cosmetic market. As a result of the issues of asbestos-containing cosmetics and humidifier sterilizers, the Korean cosmetic market began to pay attention to ingredients and safety. However, it is still using green score* ingredients rated 2 or lower on the danger scare according to EWG Skin Deep criteria. What customers really want to know is what kind of ingredients in cosmetic products are safe and effective.
*Many products claim to be “EWG green grade,” but no such phrase exists. Ingredients indicated with green color are classified as a safe grade, low hazard.
For the past 20 years, we have been making good products with safe ingredients based on various data on harmful ingredients, our experiences of advancing into the strict European and American markets, and strict product certifications, such as EWG VERIFIED™, Vegan, and COSMOS/ECOCERT. We present the following complex and strict standards.

 

<Ingredients Usable in KFDA Natural Organic Cosmetics>

 

* Korea’s natural/organic cosmetic standard is very similar to COSMOS/ECOCERT natural/organic cosmetic standard and process. Organic ingredient content in Korean organic cosmetics is 10% similar to that of ECOCERT, but COSMOS requires 20% or more organic ingredient. In the future, AROMATICA plans to develop organic/natural certified products that comply to the stricter standard of COSMOS, as well as the Korean standard, and get certified accordingly.

<Organic Cosmetics>

 

<Natural Cosmetics>

 

Beginning with “AROMATICA's Declaration of Environmental Management and Respect for Life” in 2013, AROMATICA has been making various attempts and practicing change steadily both domestically and internationally. We are introducing “sustainable packaging” that practices product planning to maximize the recycling rate of resources, such as the use of biodegradable and recyclable containers and packaging materials, the use of paper tape on parcel boxes, and paper buffers instead of vinyl. We are also making efforts to minimize electric consumption and the production of organic waste. In 2019, we completed the construction of a “Sustainable Smart  Factory” to reduce carbon emissions and increase the energy recycling rate by generating sustainable energy, such as using energy obtained from the outdoor air temperature for refrigeration and heating.

We practice bioethics that prohibit humans from inflicting unilateral exploitation, unethical pain, torment, or cruelty on animals. We oppose causing animals pain and using innocent animals for cosmetic production and ingredient testing. As the effectiveness of animal testing is low and alternative technologies are being developed, animals that suffer due to animal testing have the right to avoid such abuse. Accordingly, AROMATICA does not conduct animal testing on any ingredients or products.
Vegans who practice the strictest standards among several classifications of veganism do not consume any type of animal foods, including dairy products, eggs, and honey. AROMATICA does not use animal-derived ingredients to practice bioethics and sustainability, as well as to prevent disease contamination such as mad cow disease, avian influenza, and hand-foot-and-mouth disease.
Among animal-based ingredients, lanolin is an animal oil extracted from wool and it is used as an ingredient in lip balms, lip glosses, lipsticks, balms, and nipple creams. This oil is obtained after purifying a solvent that is extracted from waste liquid after washing wool, so it is likely to contain pesticides or insecticides. It is being used widely in natural cosmetics and organic cosmetics as an alternative ingredient for Petroleum (Vaseline), but this matter often causes allergic reactions.
AROMATICA does not use animal-derived ingredients such as lanolin (wool), mink oil (mink), animal-based elastin, animal-derived collagen (pig skin, fish), keratin (animal horns, feathers), snail cream (snail secretion), hyaluronic acid (chicken combs), bees wax (bee hives), milk, honey, or eggs.

Essential oils are natural aromatics used as the basic matter for aromatherapy. Essential oil means 100% pure, natural, volatile oil extracted from flowers, leaves, stems, fruits, peels, and resin according to the characteristics of herbs. They have been used as natural remedies since the olden times to improve the health of the mind and body and to boost self-immunity. Recently, essential oils have been receiving attention as alternative medicines.
Synthetic fragrance is made through a synthetic manufacturing process that separates fragrance from petroleum and natural gases based on an analysis of the chemical structures of certain substances contained in expensive natural fragrances. Synthetic fragrances are being used in various industries. Particularly, in the cosmetic industry, they are used as part of packaging to artificially increase the attractiveness of cosmetic products. The main purpose of using artificial fragrance, rather than natural fragrance, is economic efficiency. Under the pretext of price competitiveness, there are several thousands of different kinds of indiscreetly produced synthetic fragrance and there are scores of compounds, but they are indicated simply as one ingredient named, “Fragrance” or “Parfum.”
The biggest problem of natural fragrances is the high unit cost. To produce 1 gram of oil, it sometimes requires several hundreds of flower bulbs, depending on the plant. Furthermore, cultivation amounts can vary greatly depending on climate and low yields have a great influence on the price.
Did you know that it is legal to withhold information on the substances used for the production of synthetic fragrance? A negative aspect of synthetic fragrances is that they are being applied to various products with industrial development and they have become part of our daily lives. Among the components of synthetic fragrances, phthalate is known to cause disruption in human reproduction and development and in the internal system. According to a report titled “Not Too Pretty” (2002), phthalate was detected in several products under testing. Substances such as DBP and DEP are prohibited in Europe. However, currently, there is no legal system that can protect us from these substances.
Can synthetic fragrances, which imitate natural fragrances, provide the therapeutic features of plant-based essential oils? Synthetic fragrance cannot reproduce the various natural features of plant-based ingredients, demonstrating different actions in the human body as well.
The founder of AROMATICA, Jerry Kim, tries to resolve the dangers of cosmetics and household items made with synthetic fragrance and harmful substances with the apothecary formula, created based on his deep understanding of the effects of herbs and plants. He is the first-generation Korean aromatherapist who is committed to physical and mental freedom through the strong energy of natural essential oils. His role is different from that of perfumers who make new fragrances by simply mixing several aromatics and trying to mask the true scents of products.
AROMATICA will not use harmful fragrances that withhold its ingredients, using only natural essential oils that contain the scent of nature. We will conduct continuous research on how to exclude ingredients that are known to cause allergic reaction. In the upcoming years, we will take continuous steps towards the truth and transparency.