Our Commitment

At Hoshi Gato, we prioritize your safety without compromising on scent quality. That's why all our fragrances are meticulously crafted with the latest IFRA guidelines in mind. We're dedicated to staying abreast of the most recent scientific research, ensuring that you can enjoy our scents with peace of mind.

Curious about the measures we've implemented to safeguard your well-being? Dive deeper into our commitment to safety and uncover fascinating insights into the world of perfumery below.

What is the IFRA?

The IFRA, or International Fragrance Association, serves as a vital collective for fragrance professionals, advocating for both industry advancement and public safety. Through regular publication of updated guidelines, they ensure the safe formulation and enjoyment of fragrances for all.

What is Prop 65?

From the OEHHA website: 

"Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, was enacted as a ballot initiative in November 1986. The proposition protects the state's drinking water sources from being contaminated with chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm, and requires businesses to inform Californians about exposures to such chemicals.

Proposition 65 requires the state to maintain and update a list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity."

What does that mean for our perfumes? Well, whenever a certain chemical, natural or synthetic, is shown to potentially cause cancer or reproductive harm, we have to claim that on our website.

Our perfumes are formulated with the utmost care and attention to the scientific data. Many chemicals listen on the OEHHA website are naturally occurring in foods, drinks, plants, and other things that humans regularly come into contact with. Our perfumes are of comparable safety and quality to other perfumes which conform to the IFRA guidelines.

Are your Fragrances Natural?

At Hoshi Gato, we blend both natural and synthetic ingredients in our fragrances. While there's a common misconception that natural ingredients are inherently safer for the body than synthetic ones, the truth is they're often composed of the same aroma chemicals found in synthetic perfumery. Whether sourced from nature or created synthetically, we prioritize safety in the utilization of all our ingredients, ensuring they're used in the most secure manner possible.

What's the difference between a natural and a synthetic material?

Natural materials are derived from legally determined "natural processes". These processes require that the material is extracted from a natural source in a way that involves minimal processing and does not create unnatural products. Natural aroma chemicals include naturally extracted isolates, essential oils, absolutes, resinoids, concretes, and similar extractions. 

While synthetic ingredients can be chemically identical to naturals, they are not derived in a natural manner. For example, alpha pinene is found in many natural materials, but can be synthetically created as well. When alpha pinene is artificially synthesized, it is considered synthetic. Synthetic materials, of course, can also be exclusively synthetic and not naturally occuring. Basically, anything that is not extracted from a natural material in a "natural" manner (as described above) is synthetic.

Are your Fragrances Vegan and Cruelty-free?

Our perfumes are free from any animal derived materials. Any typically animal-derived musks in our fragrances are synthetic and we do not test on animals. (Additionally, my animals aren't allowed in the lab, ever!). However, it's probable that most aroma chemicals have been tested on animals at some point. This is also true for most cosmetic and skincare ingredients. Perfumes which claim to be vegan often do so with the understanding that the specific chemicals they use have not been tested on animals, even if the approval process for them previously involved animal testing. Veganism contains a wide variety of standards and beliefs. We will let you decide if regulatory testing is something you consider vegan or not.

What Does "Potential Allergen" Mean?

You might have noticed that we're open about including all IFRA-restricted chemicals and ingredients in our fragrances. These restrictions are mainly because some folks might have allergic reactions to them. But don't worry! Following IFRA guidelines usually means most people won't have any issues. However, there's a chance that someone might be extra sensitive to a particular allergen, which could lead to a rash or some redness. If you know you're sensitive to fragrances, we suggest doing a quick patch test before diving in completely—just to be on the safe side!

What is a Top, Middle, and Base Note?

The terms "top, middle, and base" when it comes to perfume notes aren't exactly rooted in hard science. Different folks tend to have their own interpretations of what fits into each category. However, the general consensus is that they refer to how long each note sticks around in a fragrance. You might notice some variation here, though. For example, one perfume might label a certain scent as a "top" note, while another might call it a "middle" note—it all depends on how it's blended in that specific perfume.

Ambient temperature and your personal skin temperature can affect how fragrances wear as well. Aroma chemicals that last 4 hours on one person's skin can last 2 on another's. This can be because of temperature, amount applied, area applied, and application frequency.

Here's how we typically break it down:

Top Note:

Lasts for less than 2 hours on the skin.

Middle Note:

Lasts for 2-6 hours on the skin.

Base Note:

Lasts for 6+ hours in the skin.

How should I test my fragrance?

We recommend wearing the fragrance on the skin before determining whether you want to purchase a full size. All of our fragrances are formulated to bloom on the skin. Testing on a scent strip can be inaccurate in terms of how the fragrance will smell on you. Since aroma chemicals evaporate at different rates, largely based on chemical properties, your skin temperature, and the weather, smelling fragrances out of the bottle or on a strip can give a very different experience. 

We also recommend trying the fragrance on clothing. Clothing generally doesn't absorb as much body heat and can hold onto fragrance longer. Layering these experiences, skin and clothing, can create a fuller experience! The fragrance on your skin will bloom quickly and have more sillage. The fragrance on your clothing will stay closer to you and top notes will last longer.

We also recommend applying fragrance in places where it won't overwhelm and fatigue your nose. 

Here are some good places to test your fragrance:

• On the neck, behind the ears
• On the inner wrists
• On clothing, over your heart

Do you use fragrance oils?

Nope! Our perfumes are fragrance oil-free! We make our perfumes using quality perfumery ingredients like isolates, essential oils, and absolutes!