Founder Diaries - Full Ingredient Disclosure - Transparency - Formula
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Written by Sonal Sahani, Founder - trained at ISIPCA, Versailles IFRA compliance certificates are held on file for every fragrance compound used in SOSA car fresheners. This document will be updated every time a formula changes. That is a commitment most brands would never make.
Most car freshener brands in India don't disclose their ingredients because they don't have to. There is no regulation requiring it. The word "fragrance" on a label is legally sufficient to hide hundreds of individual compounds - including phthalates, synthetic musks, and VOCs that accumulate in the enclosed cabin air you breathe every day. We are choosing to disclose anyway. This is every ingredient in a SOSA car freshener, what it does, why we chose it, and its safety profile. No trade secrets. No hiding.
If you are looking for a car freshener with a fully disclosed formula - this is it. Phthalate-free. Paraben-free. IFRA compliant. Three ingredients. Every one of them explainable in one sentence.
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In This Article
01 Why We're Doing This 02 The Full Ingredient Label 03 Every Ingredient - What It Is and Why It's There 04 What Changes Across the 8 Fragrances 05 What We Deliberately Don't Use - And Why 06 How We Test 07 What "Natural", "Phthalate-Free" and "IFRA Compliant" Actually Mean 08 Our Commitment
Why We're Doing This
SOSA was built because my mother got motion sickness on every car journey. Not because of the motion - because of what was hanging from the rearview mirror.
I had just started training at ISIPCA in Versailles. I knew enough about fragrance chemistry to look at the car freshener that was making her sick and understand that the problem was not the fragrance - it was the phthalate carrier the fragrance was suspended in. Diethyl phthalate. Never listed on the label. Present in 86% of car fresheners according to the NRDC. A documented trigeminal nerve irritant at the concentrations that build up in a sealed Indian hatchback on AC recirculation.
I spent two years developing a formula that would work without it. Five formulas that failed before one that held at 39 degrees in a Pune hatchback in April. Every decision in that formula was deliberate. Every ingredient was chosen over an alternative for a specific reason.
This page is the documentation of those decisions. I am publishing it because I believe you have the right to know exactly what you are breathing in your car. And because no other Indian car freshener brand has been willing to say it first.
"If we ever change a formula - this page will be updated within 30 days. That is a commitment I am making in writing." - Sonal Sahani
SOSA Car Fresheners - 8 Fragrances - One Clean Formula
Lemon, Jasmine, Lavender, Oud, Sandalwood, Sea Breeze, Icy Mint, Vetiver. Same base formula. Same safety standard. Different fragrance compound. Rs. 449 each.
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The Full Ingredient Label
Every SOSA car freshener contains three ingredients. This is what the label says:
Full Ingredient Declaration - All SOSA Car Fresheners
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipropylene Glycol, [Fragrance Compound]
Where [Fragrance Compound] is the variant-specific naturally-derived fragrance material - Citrus limon peel oil for Lemon, Lavandula angustifolia oil for Lavender, Jasminum sambac absolute for Jasmine, and so on. Full variant-specific compounds listed in the table below.
All fragrance compounds are IFRA compliant. Certificates held on file and available on request.
All fragrance compounds are IFRA compliant. Certificates held on file and available on request.
Three ingredients. Every one of them disclosed. Every one of them with a name you can look up. No trade secret. No umbrella term hiding a hundred compounds. This is the label no other Indian car freshener brand has published.
Three ingredients. All disclosed. All IFRA compliant. Shop SOSA car fresheners - phthalate-free, paraben-free, naturally-derived. Rs. 449.
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Every Ingredient - What It Is and Why It's There
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (CCT)
What it is A lightweight carrier oil derived from coconut oil. The name refers to the specific fatty acids (caprylic and capric) extracted from coconut and re-esterified into a triglyceride. Colourless, odourless, and stable at high temperatures.
What it does in our formula CCT is the base carrier - it is what the fragrance compound is dissolved in. It controls how the fragrance is held, how it releases into the air, and how stable the formula is over time. In an oil-based hanging freshener, the carrier is the most important ingredient after the fragrance itself.
Why we chose this over the alternatives We chose CCT over three alternatives. Fractionated coconut oil (FCO) is lighter but slightly less stable in Indian summer heat above 40 degrees. Jojoba oil is excellent but significantly more expensive with no performance benefit for a car freshener application. Phthalate carriers (diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate) are what the rest of the industry uses - they are cheaper and more effective at slowing evaporation, but they are endocrine disruptors that cross the placental barrier and are never disclosed on labels. CCT gives clean, heat-stable carrier performance without any of the safety concerns.
Safety profile CCT has an excellent safety profile. It is widely used in cosmetics, skincare, and food applications. IFRA compliant. No known endocrine disruption. No trigeminal irritation at any concentration used in fragrance. Non-toxic, non-irritating, non-sensitising at standard use levels. CAS number: 65381-09-1.
Dipropylene Glycol (DPG)
What it is A synthetic organic compound used as a fragrance fixative and diluent. Colourless, nearly odourless, and miscible with both water and oils. One of the most widely used ingredients in premium phthalate-free fragrance formulas worldwide.
What it does in our formula DPG is the fixative - it slows the evaporation rate of the fragrance compound so the freshener diffuses gradually over 30-45 days rather than releasing everything in the first week. Without a fixative, an oil-based freshener would be intense for three days and invisible by day ten. DPG is what gives the formula its sustained performance.
Why we chose this over the alternatives We chose DPG over two cleaner alternatives we considered. Triethyl citrate (derived from citric acid, fully natural) is a beautiful ingredient on paper but gives noticeably weaker fragrance performance - we would need to increase the fragrance compound percentage significantly to compensate, which increases cost and makes intensity harder to control. Vegetable glycerin works as a mild fixative but not at the level a car freshener needs for 30+ day performance in Indian conditions. DPG is the industry standard clean fixative used in every premium phthalate-free formula for good reason - it works, it is safe, and it is fully disclosable.
Safety profile DPG has been used in fragrance for decades and has an established safety record. IFRA compliant. No endocrine disruption. No known carcinogenicity. Non-irritating at standard fragrance use levels. It is a synthetically derived compound - we are transparent about that. The choice was between a synthetic clean fixative and a synthetic dirty one (phthalate). We chose the clean one. CAS number: 110-98-5.
Naturally-Derived Fragrance Compound (variant-specific)
What it is The fragrance material that gives each variant its character. Sourced from natural plant materials - cold-pressed peel oils, steam-distilled essential oils, or solvent-extracted absolutes depending on the botanical source. The specific compound varies by fragrance variant.
What it does in our formula The fragrance compound is the reason you buy the product. In our formula it serves one function: to smell exactly like what it says on the label, in a form that is safe to inhale in an enclosed car cabin for 30 minutes every day. The carrier and fixative exist entirely to support this compound - to hold it, release it gradually, and keep it stable in Indian heat.
Why we chose this over the alternatives We chose naturally-derived compounds over synthetic fragrance accords for three reasons. First, naturally-derived compounds have known molecular profiles - cold-pressed lemon peel oil contains d-limonene, linalool, and other terpenes that have been studied extensively. Synthetic lemon fragrance is a mixture of manufactured compounds approximating that profile, with less predictable behaviour in enclosed spaces at elevated temperatures. Second, naturally-derived compounds are significantly less likely to cause trigeminal irritation (headaches, nausea) in the concentrations that accumulate in a sealed car cabin. Third, they are specifically disclosable - we can name them on the label with their INCI name and CAS number, not hide them behind the word 'fragrance'.
Safety profile All fragrance compounds used in SOSA car fresheners are IFRA compliant - formulated within the concentration limits established by the International Fragrance Association. IFRA compliance certificates are held on file for every compound and available on request. No restricted or prohibited IFRA materials are used in any variant.
What Changes Across the 8 Fragrances
The base formula - CCT and DPG - is identical across all 8 variants. Only the fragrance compound changes. Here is the specific naturally-derived compound in each variant:
| Fragrance | Fragrance Compound | Source and Key Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lemon | Citrus limon peel oil (cold-pressed) | Cold-pressed from lemon peel. Contains d-limonene (documented natural anti-emetic), linalool, citral. The terpene most associated with reduced nausea in enclosed spaces. |
| Lavender | Lavandula angustifolia essential oil | Steam-distilled from lavender flowers. Contains linalool and linalyl acetate. Documented calming and stress-reducing properties. Ideal for long commutes and traffic stress. |
| Jasmine | Jasminum sambac absolute | Solvent-extracted from sambac jasmine - the mogra variety familiar in Indian culture. Rich, floral, warm. The Indian jasmine absolute rather than a synthetic approximation. |
| Sandalwood | Santalum album essential oil (or naturally-derived sandalwood accord) | Warm, woody, creamy. Slow evaporation rate makes sandalwood naturally long-lasting as a base note compound in an oil carrier. |
| Oud | Naturally-derived agarwood accord | Agarwood (oud) absolute is among the most expensive fragrance materials in the world. Our oud is a naturally-derived accord that captures the profile authentically. Rich, resinous, dark. |
| Vetiver | Vetiveria zizanioides root oil | Steam-distilled from vetiver roots. Earthy, smoky, grounding. One of the most stable fragrance materials at high temperatures - does not turn sharp or synthetic in Indian summer heat. |
| Sea Breeze | Naturally-derived marine accord | A clean, fresh, ozonic profile built from naturally-derived compounds. Light and non-accumulating in cabin air - one of the safest profiles for sensitive passengers. |
| Icy Mint | Mentha piperita (peppermint) essential oil + Eucalyptus globulus oil | Peppermint provides the cooling menthol note. Eucalyptus adds the fresh, clean depth. Both are steam-distilled essential oils. The combination is specifically alertness-supporting for morning commutes. |
8 Fragrances - Same Clean Base - Different Naturally-Derived Compound
Lemon, Jasmine, Lavender, Oud, Sandalwood, Sea Breeze, Icy Mint, Vetiver. Every one phthalate-free, paraben-free, IFRA compliant.Â
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What We Deliberately Don't Use - And Why
This section matters as much as the ingredient list. What is not in the formula is a choice. Here is every ingredient we considered and rejected - and the reason.
✕ Diethyl Phthalate (DEP) and Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP)
What it is Phthalate esters used as fragrance carriers and fixatives. The most common ingredients in conventional car fresheners - present in 86% of products tested by the NRDC in 2007. Never required to be disclosed on labels in India. They can be declared under the single word 'fragrance'.
Why other brands use it They work. Phthalates slow fragrance evaporation extremely effectively and make products last significantly longer at low cost. A phthalate-carrier freshener can last twice as long as an oil-based equivalent at a fraction of the formulation cost. This is why every cheap freshener uses them.
Why we don't Phthalates are endocrine disruptors. They mimic and block hormone signals at very low concentrations. They cross the placental barrier during pregnancy. At the concentrations that accumulate in a sealed Indian hatchback on AC recirculation in summer, they are documented trigeminal nerve irritants - the specific mechanism behind fragrance-triggered headaches. The EU has banned several phthalates from children's products. Indian regulation has not caught up. We chose not to wait for it.
✕ Synthetic Musks (Nitromusks and Polycyclic Musks)
What it is Synthetic aromatic compounds used to add musk base notes and extend fragrance longevity. Specifically - musk xylene, musk ambrette (nitromusks), and galaxolide, tonalide (polycyclic musks). Common in budget fragrance formulas as cheap alternatives to natural musk materials.
Why other brands use it They are persistent and extremely effective at adding longevity to a fragrance formula. A small amount of synthetic musk dramatically extends how long a freshener smells in a car cabin. They are also very cheap.
Why we don't Synthetic musks accumulate in cabin air rather than dissipating - they are persistent organic compounds that do not break down easily. In a sealed car on recirculation, they build up over the course of a drive. Several synthetic musks are restricted or under review by IFRA. Nitromusks in particular are associated with skin sensitisation and are banned or restricted in many markets. None appear in our formula.
✕ Alcohol Base (Ethanol)
What it is Ethyl alcohol used as a carrier in spray and gel car freshener formats. The solvent in most room sprays and many vent clip refills.
Why other brands use it It is cheap, universally available, and gives an immediate strong fragrance hit because it evaporates very rapidly and carries the fragrance into the air instantly.
Why we don't Rapid evaporation is the problem, not the feature. In a car cabin, an alcohol-based freshener gives a concentration spike immediately and then fades within hours to days. In Indian summer heat, an alcohol carrier evaporates even faster. The entry-moment concentration spike is precisely what triggers headaches and nausea in sensitive passengers. Our oil-based CCT carrier releases gradually with no spike - which is the only diffusion behaviour that is safe for daily use in an enclosed space.
✕ Gel Base (Glycol Gel Carriers)
What it is Glycol-based gel formulas used in gel car fresheners - the 'tin' or 'pot' format common in Indian petrol stations and car accessories shops.
Why other brands use it Gel formats are visually distinctive, shelf-stable, and give a continuous fragrance release without any mechanism. They are cheap to produce and easy to package.
Why we don't Gel formulas release fragrance through an uncontrolled evaporation surface - the entire exposed gel surface is releasing continuously at whatever rate the ambient temperature allows. In Indian summer, this means a gel freshener in a parked car becomes a high-concentration VOC source with no intensity control. The format also typically uses glycol-based carriers with higher VOC profiles than oil-based alternatives. Not in our formula.
✕ Parabens
What it is Preservative compounds (methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben) used to extend shelf life in cosmetics and fragrance products.
Why other brands use it Parabens are cheap, effective preservatives that prevent microbial growth and extend product shelf life significantly.
Why we don't Parabens are endocrine disruptors - the same category of concern as phthalates. They mimic estrogen activity at low concentrations. Several parabens are restricted in EU cosmetics regulation. Our formula does not require preservatives because the CCT carrier and DPG fixative are inherently resistant to microbial contamination - there is no water content to support microbial growth. No parabens needed, none used.
What Is Not in SOSA - Phthalates, Synthetic Musks, Parabens, Alcohol Base, Gel Carriers
Every ingredient we left out is an ingredient you are not breathing in your car every day. That is the whole point.
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How We Test
Two years. Five failed formulas. One that works.
The first formula used fractionated coconut oil as the carrier. It performed beautifully in Versailles in October. It turned rancid in a Pune hatchback in April. FCO oxidises at sustained temperatures above 40 degrees. We did not know that until we tested it in actual Indian conditions.
The second and third formulas used different fixative ratios. Both either faded too fast (under-fixed) or diffused too aggressively on warm days (over-fixed). Fragrance fixation in a car cabin is a balance between two failure modes and finding the right ratio takes iteration, not calculation.
The fourth formula was close. It worked in summer. It worked with sensitive passengers. It worked when parked in the sun for six hours. But the Oud variant turned sharp at 45 degrees - something in the interaction between the agarwood accord and the carrier at that temperature. The fifth variant iteration of the Oud fragrance compound fixed it.
The test we used throughout: park the car in direct sun in April in Pune for six hours. Seal the windows. Sit in the car for 20 minutes on recirculation. If a sensitive passenger (my mother, who has motion sickness) is comfortable at minute 20, the formula passes. If she is not, it fails and we start again.
That is the test that matters. Not a lab bench at 22 degrees. A sealed Indian hatchback at 50 degrees with a sensitive passenger inside. The formula you are buying passed that test.
Silent Beta Programme
Before launch, every SOSA car freshener fragrance was included in orders as an unlabelled sample. We collected feedback on fragrance character, intensity, longevity, and whether any passenger experienced headache, nausea, or discomfort. No variant launched until it had passed this real-world testing phase with zero reports of discomfort from sensitive passengers across a minimum of 30 individual journeys.
What "Natural", "Phthalate-Free" and "IFRA Compliant" Actually Mean
These terms appear on fragrance labels constantly and mean almost nothing without context. Here is what they actually mean - and what they do not.
"Natural Fragrance" - what it means and does not mean
"Natural fragrance" has no legal definition in India. A brand can call its fragrance natural while using synthetic carriers, phthalate fixatives, and a fragrance compound that contains restricted synthetic compounds - as long as the core scent molecule is of natural origin. The NRDC found phthalates in products explicitly labelled "all-natural" and "unscented."
When SOSA says naturally-derived fragrance compounds, we mean the fragrance materials are sourced from plant materials - essential oils, absolutes, cold-pressed peel oils. We name them with their INCI name and CAS number. That is what natural actually means in practice.
"Phthalate-Free" - what it means
Phthalate-free means the formula contains no phthalate ester compounds - specifically no diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), dimethyl phthalate (DMP), or other phthalate carriers or fixatives. It is a specific chemical commitment, not a general safety claim.
SOSA car fresheners are phthalate-free because CCT and DPG replace the carrier and fixative functions that phthalates would otherwise perform. The formula was specifically designed to be phthalate-free from the first version - it was not reformulated to remove them.
IFRA Compliance - What It Actually Means
IFRA - the International Fragrance Association - is the global industry body that sets safety standards for fragrance materials. They publish the IFRA Standards: a list of every fragrance material with concentration limits based on toxicology research, organised by product category and application type.
IFRA compliant means every fragrance material in the formula is used within the concentration limits IFRA has established for the specific application category. For car fresheners, this means the fragrance compounds are within the limits set for "leave-on" products in enclosed spaces.
IFRA compliance certificates are issued by fragrance suppliers and confirm that the specific compound, at the specific concentration used, meets IFRA standards. SOSA holds these certificates for every fragrance compound in every variant. They are available on request at hello@sosahomeandbody.com.
What IFRA compliance does not mean: it does not mean every IFRA-compliant ingredient is without any safety consideration at any concentration. It means the ingredient has been reviewed and is permitted within defined limits. We formulate within those limits.
IFRA compliant means every fragrance material in the formula is used within the concentration limits IFRA has established for the specific application category. For car fresheners, this means the fragrance compounds are within the limits set for "leave-on" products in enclosed spaces.
IFRA compliance certificates are issued by fragrance suppliers and confirm that the specific compound, at the specific concentration used, meets IFRA standards. SOSA holds these certificates for every fragrance compound in every variant. They are available on request at hello@sosahomeandbody.com.
What IFRA compliance does not mean: it does not mean every IFRA-compliant ingredient is without any safety consideration at any concentration. It means the ingredient has been reviewed and is permitted within defined limits. We formulate within those limits.
Our Commitment
A Living Document
If we ever change a formula - this page will be updated within 30 days of the change taking effect.
If we change a carrier - we will say what we changed to and why.
If we change a fragrance compound - we will name the new compound and explain the reason for the change.
If a new safety concern emerges about any ingredient we use - we will address it here before we address it anywhere else.
This is a commitment most brands would never make because it creates accountability. We are making it because accountability is the point.
Questions about our formula: hello@sosahomeandbody.com. IFRA certificates on request. We answer every question.
If we change a fragrance compound - we will name the new compound and explain the reason for the change.
If a new safety concern emerges about any ingredient we use - we will address it here before we address it anywhere else.
This is a commitment most brands would never make because it creates accountability. We are making it because accountability is the point.
Questions about our formula: hello@sosahomeandbody.com. IFRA certificates on request. We answer every question.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the ingredients in SOSA car fresheners?
Three ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (CCT - coconut-derived carrier oil), Dipropylene Glycol (DPG - clean fixative), and a variant-specific naturally-derived fragrance compound. Full variant breakdown is in the table above. All fragrance compounds are IFRA compliant.
Are SOSA car fresheners phthalate-free?
Yes. Explicitly and by design. The formula uses Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride as the carrier instead of diethyl phthalate, and Dipropylene Glycol as the fixative instead of phthalate fixatives. No phthalate compounds appear anywhere in the formula.
What does IFRA compliant mean for SOSA car fresheners?
Every fragrance compound used in SOSA car fresheners is formulated within the concentration limits established by the International Fragrance Association for leave-on products in enclosed spaces. IFRA compliance certificates are held on file and available on request at hello@sosahomeandbody.com.
Can I request the IFRA compliance certificates?
Yes. Email hello@sosahomeandbody.com with the specific variant you are asking about and we will provide the relevant certificate.
Will this page be updated if the formula changes?
Yes. This is a living document. If any ingredient changes, this page will be updated within 30 days of the change. The date at the top of the page reflects the last update.