It is estimated that between 1.7 and 4.1% of the general public show allergic reaction upon skin contact with ingredients common in the fragrance mix. The European Union seeks to protect those individuals sensitive to known fragrance allergens by mandating the disclosure of their presence in products above a certain concentration.

The DSQ mass spectrometer coupled with the TRACE GC Ultra proved to be a viable choice of instrumentation for the analysis of fragrance allergens based on EU criteria. Its ability to acquire SIM and full scan data during the same run provided both for sensitivity beyond that needed for the application and added confirmation and identification power based on full scan library matching. Using this method enabled robust identification and confirmation of the allergens in matrix.

In addition, the use of the TRACE TR-WAX column, which is excellent for resolving alcohols, ketones and aldehydes, was able to resolve three isomers of farnesol, while other columns were not able to resolve such polar alcohols.  

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