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About RIFM

Hands in medical gloves holding a dropper above a glass bottle

The Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) is the world’s leading resource for the safe use of fragrance ingredients. Formed as a member-supported nonprofit organization in 1966, RIFM evaluates fragrance materials through our internationally recognized safety assessment and research programs.

What We Do & Why It Matters | Become a Member

Members List | Strategy & Plan | 2024 Progress

As part of RIFM’s commitment to transparency, we are expanding our educational video program to make complex fragrance-safety science easier to understand:

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How RIFM’s Fragrance Safety Science Protects the Environment

Our Vision

RIFM’s leadership in state-of-the-art science enables the enjoyment of fragrances around the world.

Our Mission

RIFM science and research builds international trust in and acceptance of the safe use of fragrance materials.

Our Core Values

• Scientific Excellence, Objectivity, Integrity, and Leadership
• Collaboration
• Transparency

RIFM History

1964

1964

International Flavors & Fragrances board chair A.L. Ameringen sends a letter to 7 fragrance industry leaders requesting a meeting about fragrance safety

1965

1965

Fragrance industry leaders meet and discuss pooling their science resources together for the maximum safety impact

1966

1966

RIFM is founded in NYC; Dr Thomas Parks becomes first RIFM president

1967

1967

The Expert Panel for Fragrance Safety is founded and holds its first meeting

1970

1970

RIFM moves to New Jersey; Dr Donald Opdyke becomes the second RIFM president

1973

1973

RIFM publishes its first safety monograph in peer-reviewed journal, Food and Cosmetics Toxicology

1979

1979

RIFM holds its first Information Exchange (INFOX) in New Jersey

1983

1983

RIFM establishes the RIFM Fragrance Materials Database; Dr Richard Ford becomes third RIFM president

1984

1984

RIFM begins evaluating fragrance ingredients for systemic toxicity

1990

1990

RIFM makes the Database available to all RIFM members via VAX

1993

1993

RIFM forms the Joint Environmental Task Force

1995

1995

Dr Emil Pfitzer becomes fourth RIFM president; Dr Raymond Suskind becomes first chair of the Expert Panel for Fragrance Safety

1998

1998

First 4 Criteria Documents published; Database made available to subscribers 24/7 via internet; Dr Ladd Smith becomes fifth RIFM president

1999

1999

RIFM begins screening fragrance ingredients using the Environmental Framework for Prioritizing Aquatic Risk Assessment; RIFM rebrands with new logo

2000

2000

RIFM explores animal-alternative testing and launches Respiratory Program and Exposure Studies

2002

2002

RIFM collaborates with the University of Delaware to study the persistence of fragrance ingredients in soil

2003

2003

RIFM publishes its first group summary in peer-reviewed journal, Food and Chemical Toxicology

2005

2005

Quantitative risk assessment (QRA) developed; RIFM begins inhalation exposure studies; RIFM delivers first webinars to members

2006

2006

IFRA issues first Standards based on QRA; RIFM begins research on fate and effects of fragrance ingredients in aquatic sediment

2008

2008

RIFM publishes a peer-reviewed special issue dedicated to the QRA

2009

2009

RIFM develops the 2-Box Air Dispersion Model for Inhalation Exposure and the Multiple Particle Path Deposition (MPPD) Inhalation Exposure Model

2010

2010

RIFM begins its collaboration with Creme Global on the Creme RIFM Aggregate Exposure Model

2012

2012

RIFM begins using BlueScreen to screen for the genotoxic potential of fragrance ingredients; Dr David K. Wilcox becomes sixth RIFM president

2013

2013

RIFM develops a new Criteria Document and adds a computational toxicologist to staff; RIFM issues its first concentration survey on fragrance materials

2014

2014

RIFM completes first Fragrance Material Safety Assessments based on the new Criteria Document; RIFM develops the in silico Skin Absorption Model and the Toxicology Data Search Engine; RIFM collaborates with Elsevier to make all peer-reviewed RIFM safety assessments and research available open access via the Fragrance Material Safety Resource Center

2015

2015

RIFM publishes Criteria II Document; Dr James C. Romine becomes seventh RIFM president

2016

2016

RIFM celebrates 50th Anniversary

2017

2017

RIFM establishes Editing and Publishing Team

2018

2018

RIFM develops organizational strategy with focus on completing safety assessments for all fragrance ingredients in use and sharing its findings with a broader audience

2019

2019

RIFM develops communications strategy to translate RIFM’s work for nonscientist fragrance safety stakeholders

2020

2020

1000 fragrance materials with safety assessments are peer-reviewed and published; RIFM rebrands with new logo

2021

2021

RIFM publishes a dozen peer-reviewed research papers focused on New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) to support science-based alternatives to animal testing 

2022

2022

RIFM publishes Safety Assessments covering 1500 discrete fragrance materials. RIFM publishes peer-reviewed Criteria Document for Natural Complex Substances (NCS)

2023

2023

Dr. Anne Marie Api, PhD, becomes RIFM’s eighth president. RIFM publishes first Safety Assessment of a Natural Complex Substance (NCS) for petitgrain mandarin oil

2024

2024

RIFM completes safety assessments covering 2,000 fragrance-producing ingredients. RIFM publishes low-exposure paper showing fagranced product user exposure to fragrance is orders of magnitute below safe-use levels

2025

2025

RIFM celebrates 10th Anniversary of the Fragrance Material Safety Resource Center. RIFM publishes updated Environmental Framework.

1964

International Flavors & Fragrances board chair A.L. Ameringen sends a letter to 7 fragrance industry leaders requesting a meeting about fragrance safety

1965

Fragrance industry leaders meet and discuss pooling their science resources together for the maximum safety impact

1966

RIFM is founded in NYC; Dr Thomas Parks becomes first RIFM president

1967

The Expert Panel for Fragrance Safety is founded and holds its first meeting

1970

RIFM moves to New Jersey; Dr Donald Opdyke becomes the second RIFM president

1973

RIFM publishes its first safety monograph in peer-reviewed journal, Food and Cosmetics Toxicology

1979

RIFM holds its first Information Exchange (INFOX) in New Jersey

1983

RIFM establishes the RIFM Fragrance Materials Database; Dr Richard Ford becomes third RIFM president

1984

RIFM begins evaluating fragrance ingredients for systemic toxicity

1990

RIFM makes the Database available to all RIFM members via VAX

1993

RIFM forms the Joint Environmental Task Force

1995

Dr Emil Pfitzer becomes fourth RIFM president; Dr Raymond Suskind becomes first chair of the Expert Panel for Fragrance Safety

1998

First 4 Criteria Documents published; Database made available to subscribers 24/7 via internet; Dr Ladd Smith becomes fifth RIFM president

1999

RIFM begins screening fragrance ingredients using the Environmental Framework for Prioritizing Aquatic Risk Assessment; RIFM rebrands with new logo

2000

RIFM explores animal-alternative testing and launches Respiratory Program and Exposure Studies

2002

RIFM collaborates with the University of Delaware to study the persistence of fragrance ingredients in soil

2003

RIFM publishes its first group summary in peer-reviewed journal, Food and Chemical Toxicology

2005

Quantitative risk assessment (QRA) developed; RIFM begins inhalation exposure studies; RIFM delivers first webinars to members

2006

IFRA issues first Standards based on QRA; RIFM begins research on fate and effects of fragrance ingredients in aquatic sediment

2008

RIFM publishes a peer-reviewed special issue dedicated to the QRA

2009

RIFM develops the 2-Box Air Dispersion Model for Inhalation Exposure and the Multiple Particle Path Deposition (MPPD) Inhalation Exposure Model

2010

RIFM begins its collaboration with Creme Global on the Creme RIFM Aggregate Exposure Model

2012

RIFM begins using BlueScreen to screen for the genotoxic potential of fragrance ingredients; Dr David K. Wilcox becomes sixth RIFM president

2013

RIFM develops a new Criteria Document and adds a computational toxicologist to staff; RIFM issues its first concentration survey on fragrance materials

2014

RIFM completes first Fragrance Material Safety Assessments based on the new Criteria Document; RIFM develops the in silico Skin Absorption Model and the Toxicology Data Search Engine; RIFM collaborates with Elsevier to make all peer-reviewed RIFM safety assessments and research available open access via the Fragrance Material Safety Resource Center

2015

RIFM publishes Criteria II Document; Dr James C. Romine becomes seventh RIFM president

2016

RIFM celebrates 50th Anniversary

2017

RIFM establishes Editing and Publishing Team

2018

RIFM develops organizational strategy with focus on completing safety assessments for all fragrance ingredients in use and sharing its findings with a broader audience

2019

RIFM develops communications strategy to translate RIFM’s work for nonscientist fragrance safety stakeholders

2020

1000 fragrance materials with safety assessments are peer-reviewed and published; RIFM rebrands with new logo

2021

RIFM publishes a dozen peer-reviewed research papers focused on New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) to support science-based alternatives to animal testing 

2022

RIFM publishes Safety Assessments covering 1500 discrete fragrance materials. RIFM publishes peer-reviewed Criteria Document for Natural Complex Substances (NCS)

2023

Dr. Anne Marie Api, PhD, becomes RIFM’s eighth president. RIFM publishes first Safety Assessment of a Natural Complex Substance (NCS) for petitgrain mandarin oil

2024

RIFM completes safety assessments covering 2,000 fragrance-producing ingredients. RIFM publishes low-exposure paper showing fagranced product user exposure to fragrance is orders of magnitute below safe-use levels

2025

RIFM celebrates 10th Anniversary of the Fragrance Material Safety Resource Center. RIFM publishes updated Environmental Framework.
Leadership Teams

Learn about the experts who shape RIFM