Comments by a Chemist

AI’s New Sense of Smell

How ScentRadar and a Wave of Next Gen Tools Are Redefining Fragrance Creation The fragrance industry is experiencing a technological pivot that only a few years ago seemed unlikely. Scent creation, once viewed as an exclusively artistic discipline, is now entering the realm of machine learning, behavioural prediction and emotional analytics. OnScent’s launch of ScentRadar is the latest signal that the future of perfumery will be powered by both instinct and intelligence. ScentRadar is a proprietary AI platform that ingests massive volumes of digital behaviour and transforms them into predictive scent insights. Instead of relying solely on past sales, static

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Kills 99.99% of Germs…: The Fine Print Behind Big Claims

From supermarket shelves to social media ads, claims like “Kills 99.99% of germs” and “Antibacterial surface cleaner” dominate the homecare space.  Let us unpack the regulations governing germ-killing claims in the Australian homecare market, how they compare globally, and what formulators and marketers must consider to stay compliant. Understanding the Claims: What Do They Really Mean? These claims are based on log reduction testing, a logarithmic scale used to quantify the reduction of microorganisms during disinfectant efficacy tests. In household products, these claims relate to the antimicrobial efficacy, with each representing different levels of germ-killing power. “Kills 99% of germs”

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3 Essential Steps to Build Brand Trust with Your Customers

In today’s competitive skincare market, establishing and maintaining trust with your customers is crucial for sustained business success. Trust doesn’t just foster loyalty; it turns satisfied customers into true advocates for your brand. This is particularly important in an industry where products significantly affect users’ wellbeing and self-esteem. Here, we delve into three essential steps that skincare companies can take to build and strengthen brand trust. 1/  Gain a Deep Understanding of the Skincare Products You Are Creating Knowledge is power, particularly when it comes to formulating skincare products. For instance, if you are developing a product with Vitamin C,

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Packaging Matters – Formulating for a Future Brand

In the realm of beauty and personal care, the allure isn’t just in the product itself – it’s in the promise it holds, the experience it offers, and perhaps most strikingly, the packaging that speaks it’s language! From the sleek lines of luxury skincare to the vibrant colours of cosmetic palettes, packaging plays a pivotal role in shaping consumer perceptions and driving purchasing decisions. In the landscape of Australia’s beauty and personal care market, the numbers speak volumes. According to projections, this year alone is poised to witness a staggering $11.2 billion in revenue. And as per data sourced from

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Supply of Products

Over the past few weeks, we have talked about your product, your packaging and labelling and although we spoke briefly about supply last month I would like to dwell a little deeper and what to expect. As previously mentioned, the last thing you want to do as a small brand is to finally get your break that you have been working so hard towards and have stock rejected, not be able to supply or not be compliant with their requirements. So let’s break this down and have a look, why would your stock get rejected when they ordered in the

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Creating Your Product – Where to Start

Do you want to create a stand-out beauty and cosmetics brand? Well, the secret ingredient you need is a strong niche. One of the biggest mistakes we see in the industry is a failure to niche, causing both short and long term problems for brands. Your main goal in developing your brand should be to create a highly focused beauty brand that reflects the needs, values, and desires of your chosen niche. By doing so, you create a much stronger brand that is more likely to succeed in today’s competitive market. At pH Factor, we are big believers in the

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