What are flavor oils?
Flavor oils are produced in the food industry for the purpose of flavoring foods.

Can all flavor oils be used in lip products?
Water soluble flavors will not work in most lip bases because most lip bases are oil and wax based.

Will my baking flavors work in lip gloss?
You can try but in general, they will not work because they are not intended to be incorporated into a 100% oil base.

What are flavor fragrances?
Flavor fragrances are fragrance oils that have been IFRA approved for lip contact and have been produced using GRAS ingredients.

What does GRAS mean?
GRAS stands for “Generally Recognized as Safe”

In terms of performance, what is the difference between flavor oils and flavor fragrances?
Flavor oils have taste and smell. The flavor is a natural taste that is most often improved with the addition of a sweetener. 

Flavor fragrances have a strong aroma and no flavor. You should always add a sweetener to flavor fragrances. Your nose will smell the aroma and the mouth will taste the sweetness in the lip base. Together this tricks the brain into thinking it is tasting the aroma.

Are flavor oils all natural?
Not all flavor oils are all natural but they are all made of GRAS ingredients.

Are flavor fragrances all natural?
Not all flavor fragrances are all natural but they are all made of GRAS ingredients.

When do I add flavor and/or flavor fragrances to the lip base?
You will want to melt your base and cool it to 140ºF. Add flavor or flavor fragrance, stir well and pour into the container. If the base becomes thick when pouring, you can reheat it to a liquid state. This will not hurt the formula.

I used a flavor oil in my lip gloss. How do I list it on the ingredient label?
The amount of flavor used will determine where it is placed on the ingredient label. You will use the term “flavor” as the ingredient name.

I used a flavor fragrance in my lip gloss. How do I list it on the ingredient label?
The amount of flavor fragrance used will determine where it is placed on the ingredient label. You will use the term “fragrance” as the ingredient name.

Are flavors naturally sweet?
In general they are not naturally sweet. You will need to add a sweetener to your base for added sweetness.

Are flavor fragrances naturally sweet?
No, they are not naturally sweet. You will need to add a sweetener to your base for added sweetness.

I cannot taste the lip gloss made with a flavor oil. What can I do to improve on the flavor?
You can add additional flavor oil. Additional flavor will not create a bitter taste. You can also incorporate a sweetener to boost the flavor.

My flavor fragrance tastes bitter. What did I do wrong?
Flavor fragrances will always taste bitter if too much oil is added. Adding less oil will eliminate the bitter taste.

What common sweeteners can I add to my flavor oils to improve the taste?
There are several sweeteners used by manufacturers. These include the Crafter’s Choice Super Sweet, Liquid Saccharin, Stevia and Powdered Sugar.