Ingredients

The Science of Scent: Our Philosophy on Ingredients

At Rook Perfumes, we believe in transparency, safety, and the art of the possible. As a brand founded by a doctor, our approach to ingredients is guided by clinical evidence and a deep respect for the chemistry of the natural world.

There is a common misconception in the beauty world that "natural" equals "safe" and "synthetic" equals "harmful." We’re here to peel back the curtain on the science of scent.

The "Natural" Myth: Everything is Chemical

The truth is, everything you smell is a chemical. A single Rose essential oil is a complex cocktail of over 300 individual chemical compounds, including Geraniol and Linalool. When we use a "synthetic" aromachemical, we are often using a high-purity version of a single molecule found in nature.

Why We Use Aromachemicals

While we love the depth of naturals, essential oils are actually some of the most restricted ingredients in a perfumer's palette. Because they are so complex, they often contain potent allergens or phototoxic compounds.

We use a strategic balance of naturals and aromachemicals because:

Safety & Precision: Aromachemicals allow us to remove the "noise" and potential irritants found in raw extracts, keeping only the beautiful scent molecule.
IFRA Compliance: The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) sets incredibly strict limits on essential oils. For example, many citrus oils and jasmine extracts are highly restricted due to skin sensitivity. By using safe, lab-validated alternatives, we can create the bold, long-lasting scents you love without compromising your skin's health.
Sustainability: Sourcing rare woods or animal-derived notes (like musk) is often ecologically damaging. Bio-identical synthetics allow us to protect the planet while delivering an uncompromising olfactory experience.

Dispelling the Hormone Myth

You may have heard claims that perfumes act as "hormone disruptors" or "endocrine modulators." From a medical and toxicological perspective, the evidence does not support this for modern, regulated perfumery.

Most "hormone" scares come from laboratory studies where animals are exposed to isolated chemicals at doses 1,000 to 10,000 times higher than what you would ever find in a bottle of perfume. Furthermore, the human skin is an incredible barrier; the vast majority of fragrance molecules are too large to ever enter your bloodstream.

Our Promise: IFRA Compliant & Doctor-Led

At Rook, we don’t just follow the rules; we embrace them.

Global Safety Standards: Every Rook fragrance is 100% IFRA compliant. We monitor every update to global safety standards to ensure our formulas are ahead of the curve.
Rigorous Testing: Our founder, Dr. Nadeem Crowe, brings his NHS background to the lab, ensuring that every blend is scrutinized for safety before it ever reaches your skin.

We don't choose between nature and science—we use the best of both to create wearable art that is as safe as it is evocative.

Acresford

Ingredients: Alcohol denat, Parfum, Propylene glycol.

Allergens: Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Geraniol, Linalol, Citronellol, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Citral.

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Amber

Ingredients: Alcohol denat, Parfum, Propylene glycol.

Allergens: Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl salicylate, Hexyl cinnamal, Benzyl Benzoate, Linalol, Amyl cinnamal, Coumarin.

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Baklava Musk

Ingredients: Alcohol denat, Parfum, Propylene glycol.

Allergens: Linalol, Citronellol, Limonene, Geraniol.

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Misk

Ingredients: Alcohol denat, Parfum, Propylene glycol, Isopropyl myristate.

Allergens: Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Hydroxycitronellal, Benzyl Cinnamate.

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Faqqua Iris

Ingredients: Alcohol denat, Parfum, Propylene glycol, Isopropyl myristate.

Allergens: Linalol, Alpha-isomethylionone.

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Flaming Dandelion

Ingredients: Alcohol denat, Parfum, Isopropyl myristate, Propylene glycol.

Allergens: Benzyl Alcohol, Linalol, Limonene, Benzyl Benzoate, Geraniol, Farnesol, Benzyl Salicylate.

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Forest

Ingredients: Alcohol denat, Parfum, Isopropyl myristate, Propylene glycol.

Allergens: d-Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Benzyl Alcohol.

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Greengrocer

Ingredients: Alcohol denat, Parfum, Propylene glycol.

Allergens: Muscenone, Benzyl salicylate, Caryophylene, Linalool, Cineols, alpha-Cedrene, beta-Cedrene.

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Jaffa

Ingredients: Alcohol denat, Parfum, Propylene glycol, Isopropyl myristate.

Allergens: Linalol, Limonene, Geraniol.

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Origami

Ingredients: Alcohol denat, Parfum, Isopropyl myristate, Propylene glycol.

Allergens: Linalol, Limonene, Geraniol.

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Rook

Ingredients: Alcohol denat, Parfum, Isopropyl myristate, Propylene glycol.

Allergens: Benzyl Alcohol, Coumarin, Alpha-Isomethylionone, Benzyl Salicylate, Eugenol, Citral, d-Limonene, Benzyl Benzoate, Amyl Cinnamal, Linalol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Isoeugenol, Oakmoss extract, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Cinnamyl Alcohol.

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