What does the Creme RIFM Model tell us about fragrance exposure?
As part of its mission to ensure the safe use of fragrance ingredients, the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) continues to refine and apply advanced tools for exposure assessment. One of our most powerful tools is the Creme RIFM Aggregate Exposure Model, a probabilistic model built on real-world data and designed to estimate consumer exposure to fragrance ingredients across multiple product types.
The Creme RIFM Model uses detailed habits and practices data, including how often people use products, how much they apply, and how those products are formulated. It then calculates realistic exposure levels across multiple routes (dermal, inhalation, oral) and accounts for product co-use. Because it is data-driven and probabilistic, the model does not rely on overly conservative assumptions but instead provides a robust, realistic picture of how people are actually exposed.
At INFOX® 2025 in Paris, we will present a comprehensive update on the Creme RIFM Model and what it tells us about fragrance exposure. The data clearly show that overall exposure to fragrance materials is extremely low, even when accounting for the co-use of multiple products. These results are consistent across various product categories and demographic groups and are further validated by a transparent, peer-reviewed approach.
The model’s adaptability is another strength—it is updated regularly as new data become available and has been stress-tested in collaboration with international stakeholders, including regulators and academic scientists. Its use enhances both consumer safety and regulatory confidence by helping us prioritize which materials may need further testing and which pose minimal risk based on actual exposure.
Ultimately, the Creme RIFM Model exemplifies how modern exposure science can support safety assessment decisions with a high degree of confidence, without relying on animal testing and while improving transparency. It is a cornerstone of RIFM’s data-driven approach to fragrance safety.
Meet Gretchen Ritacco in Paris!
Ms. Ritacco will demonstrate how the innovative Creme RIFM Exposure Model provides reliable, data-driven insights into real-world fragrance exposure at RIFM’s INFOX® 2025 in Paris on September 29, 2025. Click here to learn more and register for the event.
Principal Scientist Gretchen Ritacco, MS, leads RIFM’s Photoirritation/Photoallergy Safety Assessment and Research Programs and the Creme RIFM Aggregate Exposure Model for Fragrance Materials.