News + Events

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2025

RIFM Principal Scientist Dr. Isabelle Lee to Deliver Keynote at the 8th World Candle Congress

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – The Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) is proud to announce that Principal Scientist Isabelle Lee, PhD, will deliver the Keynote Address at the 8th World Candle Congress, taking place May 5–8, 2025, at the Rosen Centre in Orlando, Florida (candles.org/world-candle-congress-2025).

Dr. Lee, who leads RIFM’s Skin Sensitization Safety Assessment and Research programs, will present “Exposure to Fragrance Ingredients in Consumer Products Is Extremely Low.” Her keynote will highlight key findings from RIFM’s internationally recognized, peer-reviewed research on fragrance ingredient exposure, including real-world data showing how minimal such exposures are across a broad range of consumer products.

“I’m honored to speak at this critical global forum for candle safety,” said Dr. Lee. “I look forward to sharing how rigorous scientific analysis of fragrance ingredient exposure helps build confidence in the safety of everyday products that bring comfort and enjoyment to people worldwide.”

Dr. Lee is the lead author of several landmark publications on fragrance exposure, including the comprehensive low-exposure study published in Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology (PMID: 38286303). The study examined real-world use of 3,000 fragrance ingredients across over 70 product types using global market data from over 75 countries and over 25 million product scans. The findings showed that, in every case, exposure levels were below established safety thresholds—often significantly so. The study also marked the first time such a broad dataset was used to quantify consumer exposure, setting a new benchmark for fragrance safety science.

RIFM’s science-based approach to fragrance safety underpins industry benchmarks and supports informed decision-making by regulators and manufacturers worldwide.

To learn more about real-world exposure to fragrance, watch this short video: https://youtu.be/RkG47ZtGN_0?si=JpVa46VTcaYBWGB2

About RIFM
The Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) collects, analyzes, and evaluates scientific data to determine the safety of fragrance ingredients. RIFM’s mission is to ensure that fragrance ingredients are safe for use by the consumer and the environment. Its research is evaluated by an independent Expert Panel for Fragrance Safety and made publicly available through peer-reviewed publication.

Media Contact:
The Research Institute for Fragrance Materials, Inc. (RIFM)
Gary Sullivan
Marketing & Communications Manager
gsullivan@rifm.org