This can be a little confusing, we are glad you asked! There is a great variety of different alcohols, both nature-based and chemically made. Their characteristics are very different; and so are their functions. Some alcohols (like the most common type, ethyl alcohol) have antibacterial properties and can be incredibly harsh and drying to the skin. However, there are many alcohols that many of us wouldn't know were labeled as such. In fact there are hundreds of alcohols that work to benefit the skin and are able to operate in the form of antioxidants, emulsifiers, surfactants, solvents, and humectants. The alcohols used in become products belong to the so-called 'fatty alcohols' group and are derived from vegetable oils and fats. These fatty alcohols are moisturising and protective to the skin and act as humectants, meaning they allow water to bind to the skin.

It is also important to note that while you see 'parfum' listed in our ingredients we do not use perfume, which is alcohol based and can damage the skin. Parfum contains essential oils (and not alcohol like perfume does), which are known not only for their smell but also for their healing and nourishing properties.