STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES

The International Perfume Foundation (IPF) recognizes the need to protect the sustainable development of flowers and plants grown and processed for their essences while also helping the people (and pollinators) that depend on them. For this reason, IPF is certifying the entire supply chain, including: growers, harvesters, processors, bottler/distributors, schools and Natural Perfumers.

We are doing this knowing that consumers are looking for:
​
Authenticity—Consumers want their essential oils to really be natural, without synthetics or Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) in seeds or cuttings.
Integrity—Consumers want to know their essential oils are grown and harvested sustainably, just like many of the other products they purchase and pay more for.
Transparency—Consumers want to know more about who grew and processed these essential oils and how they do business.

IPF CERTIFICATION CATEGORIES 

CERTIFICATION FOR NATURAL PERFUMERY SCHOOLS
To become an IPF Certified Natural Perfumery School requires a curriculum that includes: 

1. Teaching the history and culture of natural perfumes.
2. Teaching the importance of the olfactive sense.
3. Teaching IPF Natural Perfumer Standards.
4. Providing information to students about the importance of IPF Certification Standards:

1. Natural Perfumers
2. Growers
3. Processors
4. Harvesters
5. Indigenous Harvesters
6. Essential Oils
7. Sustainable packaging
8. Emphasizing the importance of following the New Luxury Code.
9. Teaching the Business of Natural Perfumery and to encourage students to become IPF Certified Natural Perfumers.
10. At least one instructor must be an IPF Certified Natural Perfumer

Required Documentation for Application:

1. A course outline of your natural perfumery curriculum including: topics, requirements, learning objectives, and hours of instruction. 
2. Copy of your business license
3. A list of all instructors. 
4. A typed professional CV or bio for all primary instructors.

CERTIFICATION FOR FLOWERS AND PLANTS GROWERS
IPF Certifies Flower and Plant Growers that incorporate these Standards*: 

1. The use of sustainable growing practices for water, air and land management 
2. Do not use GMO seeds or cuttings 
3. Do not use synthetic pesticides 
4. Follow the New Luxury Codeof respect
5. Incorporate bees and other pollinators into their growing practices when possible
6. Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices including biologicals.  

*Please be advised that an international committee of essential oil experts (which IPF is participating in) is currently updating sustainable essential oil standards for growers that will be completed later this year and IPF will then be certifying using these new SEOS standards.

CERTIFICATION FOR FLOWER AND PLANT HARVESTERS
IPF Certifies Flower and Plant Harvesters that incorporate these Standards*: 

1. Respect for water, air, land, plants, animals and insects within harvest areas                             
2. Follow the New Luxury Code of respect
3. Harvested materials must be either solely from Harvester’s efforts or from other Harvester also in compliance with IPF Standards
4. No harvesting of flowers or plants from the CITES list. 

*Please be advised that an international committee of essential oil experts (which IPF is participating in) is currently updating sustainable essential oil standards for Flower and Plant Harvesters that will be completed later this year and IPF will then be certifying using these new SEOS standards.
 
CERTIFICATION FOR INDIGENOUS FLOWER AND PLANT HARVESTERS 
IPF Certifies Indigenous Flower and Plant Harvesters that incorporate these Standards*: 

1. Respect for water, air, land, plants, animals and insects within harvest areas                             
2. Use the New Luxury Code of respect
3. Harvested materials must be either solely from Harvester’s efforts or from other Harvester also in compliance with IPF Standards
4. No harvesting of flowers or plants from the CITES list 

*Please be advised that an international committee of essential oil experts (which IPF is participating in) is currently updating sustainable essential oil standards for Indigenous Flower and Plant Harvesters that will be completed later this year and IPF will then be certifying using these new SEOS standards.

CERTIFICATION FOR ESSENTIAL OIL PRODUCERS
IPF Certifies Essential Oil Producers that incorporate these Standards*: 

1. Avoid selling animal musk (civet, musk, deer and beaver)
2. Avoid conducting animal testing
3. Follow the New Luxury Code of respect
4. Must purchase and use flowers and plants from IPF Certified Growers
5. Cannot use:
     - Synthetic aroma compounds
     - Isolates
     - Phenoxyethanol
     - Phthalates (including DEP)
     - Glycols (including dipropylene and propylene)
     - Ethoxylated compounds
     - Parabens 

*Please be advised that an international committee of essential oil experts (which IPF is participating in) is currently updating sustainable essential oil standards for producers that will be completed later this year and IPF will then be certifying using these new SEOS standards.

CERTIFICATION FOR ESSENTIAL OIL BOTTLERS / DISTRIBUTORS
IPF Certifies Essential Oil Bottlers/Distributors that incorporate these Standards: 
     1. Avoid using animal musk (civet, musk, deer and beaver)
     2. Avoid conducting animal testing
     3. Follow the New Luxury Code of respect
     4. Must source and purchase from IPF Certified Growers or Producers when available
     5. Cannot use:
                - Synthetic aroma compounds
                - Isolates
                - Phenoxyethanol
                - Phthalates (including DEP)
                - Glycols (including dipropylene and propylene)
                - Ethoxylated compounds
                - Parabens ​

CERTIFICATION FOR NATURAL INCENSE PRODUCERS
IPF Certifies Natural Incense Producers that incorporate these Standards: 

1. Use all natural oils
2. Avoid using animal musk (civet, musk, deer and beaver)
3. Avoid conducting animal testing
4. Follow the New Luxury Code of respect
5. Cannot use:

                - Polyaromatic hydrocarbons
                - Benzene
                - Carbonyls
                - Other synthetic aroma compounds
                - Phenoxyethanol
                - Phthalates (including DEP)
                - Glycols (including dipropylene and propylene)
                - Ethoxylated compounds
                - Parabens 
   
CERTIFICATION FOR NATURAL CANDLE PRODUCERS
IPF Certifies Natural Candle Producers that incorporate these Standards: 

1. Use all natural oils
2. Avoid using animal musk (civet, musk, deer and beaver)
3. Avoid conducting animal testing
4. Follow the New Luxury Code of respect
5. Cannot use:

              - Polyaromatic hydrocarbons
              - Benzene
              - Carbonyls
              - Other synthetic aroma compounds
              - Phenoxyethanol
              - Phthalates (including DEP)
              - Glycols (including dipropylene and propylene)
              - Ethoxylated compounds
              - Parabens
 
CERTIFICATION FOR NATURAL PERFUMERS
IPF Certifies Natural Perfumers that incorporate these Standards: 

1. ​Formulate perfumes from 100% natural materials.
2. Source materials from sustainable, biodynamic and natural sources that do not include GMO.
3. Follow the New Luxury Code of respect.
4. Cannot use:
   - Animal musks 
   - Animal testing (by perfumers or their suppliers)
   - Synthetic Compounds
   ​- Parabens, Phthalates (carcinogens and endocrine disruptors)
   - Isolates 
   - Phenoxyethanol
   - Glycols 
   - Ethoxylated compounds   

CERTIFICATION FOR NATURAL SKIN CARE PRODUCERS
IPF Certifies Natural Skin Care Producers that incorporate these Standards: ​
        1. Formulate skin care products from 100% natural materials.
        2. Source materials from sustainable, biodynamic and natural sources that do not include GMO.
        3. Follow the New Luxury Code of respect.
        4. Cannot use:
              - Animal musks 
              - Animal testing (by producers or their suppliers)
              - Synthetic Compounds
              ​- Parabens, Phthalates (carcinogens and endocrine disruptors)
              - Isolates 
              - Phenoxyethanol
              - Glycols 
              - Ethoxylated compounds
    
CERTIFICATION FOR NATURAL RETAILERS
IPF Certifies Natural Retailers that incorporate these Standards: 
      1. Encourage, promote and sell IPF Certified Natural Perfumes. 
      2. Encourage, promote and sell other IPF Certified Natural products such as Candles, Incense and  Essential Oils.
     3. Follow the New Luxury Code of respect