BHT – BUTYL HYDROXYTOLUENE – technical antioxidant for protecting raw materials and fragrance compositions from oxidation

BHT — BUTYL HYDROXYTOLUENE

BHT is a technical antioxidant used to help slow the oxidation of raw materials and fragrance compositions that are sensitive to air, light and time. It is not used to build an olfactory note: its function is to help protect material stability.

When it is useful

It is particularly useful when working with citrus materials, essential oils, terpenes, aldehydes and other raw materials that oxidize easily. It can be added to a sensitive raw material, a base or a fragrance concentrate, after verifying the actual need and compatibility with the formula.

What it does — and what it does not do

BHT can help slow oxidation and therefore preserve odor, color and perceived quality for longer. However, it cannot restore a raw material that has already oxidized, and it does not replace an antimicrobial preservative: it acts against oxidation, not against bacteria, yeasts or molds.

How to work with it

It is used at very low levels and must be completely solubilized in the chosen system. The dosage should not be applied automatically: it should be assessed according to the oxidative sensitivity of the formula and confirmed through comparative trials and stability testing.

When to choose it

It is particularly appropriate when a formula contains a significant proportion of natural materials or molecules that are sensitive to oxidation and the goal is to improve stability over time without changing the olfactory profile.

IFRA Category 4: nessuna restrizione (IFRA 51)

The value refers to the maximum concentration in the finished product, not to the percentage of the raw material in the fragrance concentrate.