Flavors and fragrances are used in cosmetics primarily enhancing the sensory experience and making products more appealing. Flavors are used mostly in lip and oral products, such as lip balms, toothpaste, lipsticks to create a pleasant taste while fragrances are commonly found in perfumes, lotions, shampoos, and body washes.
Also brands often use unique flavors and fragrances to differentiate their products.
These agents can be natural or synthetic and are designed to impart a pleasant taste, desired odor and mask undesirable ones.
International Fragrance Association (IFRA) and Flavor & Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) set safety guidelines for fragrance and flavor use.