What it is
In the register’s words: “Sorbic Acid is the organic acid.”
- EU register name (INCI)
- SORBIC ACID
- CAS number
- 110-44-1
- EC number
- 203-768-7
What the register lists it for
These are the uses the European Commission’s CosIng register lists for Sorbic Acid in any cosmetic, hair roles first. They say why a maker might add it, not what it does in one formula, and they aren’t a safety rating.
- Fragrance
-
Gives the product its smell or covers an unpleasant one. A label may name each scent ingredient or group them as Fragrance (Parfum).
Register definition: “Imparting an odour or taste. Creating a perceivable pleasant smell and/or masking a bad smell.”
- Preservative
-
Stops bacteria, mold and yeast growing in the bottle. EU law allows only the preservatives on its own list for this role.
Register definition: “Exclusively or mainly intended to inhibit the development of micro-organisms in the cosmetic product. All authorised preservatives are substances in the positive list of Annex V to the Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009.”
Where it sits on each label
US labels list ingredients from most to least, except that those at 1% or less may follow in any order. A name near the top is a large part of the formula. A label doesn’t mark where the 1% point falls, so further down, the order says little about how much is in it.
- Shampoos 2 labels First five names: 0 of 2 Shampoos without it
- Clarifying shampoos 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Clarifying shampoos without it
- Rinse-out conditioners 2 labels First five names: 0 of 2 Rinse-out conditioners without it
- Deep conditioners 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Deep conditioners without it
- Stylers 2 labels First five names: 0 of 2 Stylers without it
- Heat protectants 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Heat protectants without it
- Curl refreshers 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Curl refreshers without it
Every label, product by product (10)
- Bouclème Curl Cleanser Shampoo 32nd of 35 names
- Bouclème Fragrance Free Curl Cleanser Shampoo 17th of 18 names
- Camille Rose Clean Rinse Clarifying Shampoo Clarifying shampoo 27th of 34 names
- Bouclème Curl Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 31st of 38 names
- Bouclème Fragrance Free Curl Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 14th of 17 names
- Bouclème Intensive Moisture Treatment Deep conditioner 29th of 50 names
- Bouclème Super Volumising Foam Styler 26th of 36 names
- Kristin Ess Sea Salt Air Dry Mousse Styler 47th of 47 names
- OLAPLEX Nº.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum Heat protectant 23rd of 31 names
- Curlsmith Shake & Shine Curl refresher 41st of 51 names
Each line runs from the first name on a label to the last; a dot is where this ingredient sits. Makers change formulas now and then; if the list on your bottle differs, go by your bottle.
Your next step
Other fragrance ingredients on these labels
- Fragrance (Parfum) 133 labels
- Potassium Sorbate 61 labels
- Sodium Benzoate 61 labels
- Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil 32 labels
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride 26 labels
- Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil 26 labels
- Sodium Chloride 26 labels
- Benzoic Acid 25 labels
Updated · The name, numbers and uses come from the European Commission’s CosIng entry (CC BY 4.0); we write the uses in US spelling and put the hair ones first. The labels are each maker’s own. The order rule is the FDA’s Cosmetics Labeling Guide. All our sources are on the Sources page.