Truth About Preservatives
Let’s talk about the one ingredient that doesn’t get nearly enough love: preservatives.
While they may not sound glamorous, preservatives are the unsung heroes of safe skincare—especially in products that contain water, milk, honey, or botanicals. At Sultry Scents, we’re all about indulgent ingredients, but we also take your safety seriously. Here’s why preservatives aren’t just important—they’re non-negotiable.
1. Water + Time = Bacteria’s Dream
If a product contains water (think aloe vera juice, goat milk, hydrosols, or even water-based extracts), it’s the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and yeast. Without a preservative, your luxurious lotion or body spray could turn into a petri dish—and you might not even see it happening.
2. “Natural” Doesn’t Always Mean Safe
We love natural ingredients as much as you do, but when someone says their product is preservative-free and contains water-based ingredients? That’s a red flag.
Spoiled products can cause irritation, rashes, and even serious infections. In one tragic case reported by CBS News, a woman in California died after using a face cream contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa—a harmful bacterium that entered her bloodstream and caused irreversible damage. The cream was illegally imported and contained no preservative.
Preservatives aren’t the enemy—they’re your insurance policy against invisible dangers.
3. Preservatives ≠ Toxic
Not all preservatives are harsh. In fact, many modern options—like Liquid Germall Plus, Optiphen, and Leucidal Complete—are gentle, effective, and used at very low percentages (usually under 1%).
At Sultry Scents, we use skin-safe, broad-spectrum preservatives in all water-based products to keep your skin (and your products) protected from bacteria, mold, and yeast.
4. Soap Gets a Pass (Usually)
Not all products need preservatives. For example, cold process soap is cured and doesn’t contain free water, so it’s naturally shelf-stable. But scrubs, lotions, sprays, or anything that contains water—or is used in wet environments—must be preserved.
5. Shelf Life Matters
Preservatives also extend your product’s shelf life, which means less waste and more value for you. Nobody wants to toss a half-used body lotion because it started to smell “off.”
The Takeaway?
At Sultry Scents, we’re committed to crafting luxurious, handmade products that don’t compromise on safety. Every ingredient we use is carefully selected—including the ones you don’t always see.