What’s in the RIFM Database?
When the RIFM Database was first established in 1983, under then-President Richard Ford, its purpose was clear: to gather and centralize scientific data related to fragrance and flavor materials to support safety evaluations. By 1990, RIFM began offering access to the Database via VAX as a benefit to member companies, and in 1998, it went online, granting members 24/7 access and ushering in a new era of data accessibility for fragrance safety stakeholders.
Today, the RIFM Database is the world’s most comprehensive fragrance safety resource, cataloging data on more than 8,000 materials. These are chemically grouped to better understand their safety profiles, and the Database itself houses over 80,000 references, including approximately 200,000 individual human health, respiratory, environmental, and toxicological endpoints.
It’s an ever-growing or evolving and growing? tool. RIFM scientists review multiple scientific journals monthly and collect new data from member companies regularly. The Database is updated and maintained daily, ensuring users have access to the latest, most complete information.
The scope of data includes summaries of:
- RIFM-sponsored studies
- Company-submitted data
- Government reports
- Peer-reviewed publications
Users can search the Database by chemical, author, keyword, or reference, making it easy to find relevant data quickly. It also includes inventory information and the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) Standards, supporting safety compliance worldwide.
To enhance user experience, the RIFM Database also includes interactive animal-alternative tools and visualizations that allow members to track material groupings, explore data trends, and generate tailored reports. These tools support faster, more informed decision-making across research and regulatory workstreams.
For over 40 years, the RIFM Database has supported our mission of advancing the science behind fragrance safety. It is a critical tool for stakeholders worldwide, offering transparency, scientific integrity, and a shared commitment to protecting consumer and environmental health.
Meet Christen Sachse-Vasquez in Paris!
Ms. Sachse-Vasquez and her colleague, Scientific Literature Specialist Kimberly Arencibia, will present on the RIFM Database and offer participants a hands-on demonstration of this critical tool at INFOX® 2025 in Paris on September 29, 2025. Click here to learn more and register for the event.
RIFM’s Executive Director of Technical Information & Services, Christen Sachse-Vasquez, manages the RIFM Database operations and staff, in addition to IT functions and strategies.