GHS Pictograms and CLP Labelling: A Practical Guide for Fragrance Producers

Contents

The Label Is Silent — The Symbol Speaks
Recognising the Pictograms
Mandatory Label Elements
Step-by-Step: Preparing a Correct Label
Field Notes and Frequently Asked Questions
Related Articles

The Label Is Silent — The Symbol Speaks

The moment a bottle of fragrance oil reaches the shelf, the small diamond shape with its orange border tells you everything you need to know. This is the GHS pictogram (Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals). In Turkey, the legal counterpart of this system is the SEA Regulation; in Europe it is known as CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging).

If you are a producer or aspiring retailer, a label is not decoration — it is a legal obligation. An incorrect or incomplete label can lead to shipment rejection, regulatory fines, and, at worst, harm to the consumer. In this guide we explain how to read the symbols, which statements are mandatory, and the most common mistakes made in practice.

A label exists not to conceal a hazard, but to explain correct and safe use. Transparency is safety.

Recognising the Pictograms

GHS pictograms consist of a black symbol on a white background within a red border. Let's look at the ones you will encounter most often in the world of fragrance oils and perfumery raw materials.

Pictogram	Name / Symbol	Typical Context in Fragrance
GHS02	Flame	Flammable liquids — high-alcohol concentrates, solvents
GHS07	Exclamation mark	Raw materials with risk of skin/eye irritation or allergic reaction
GHS08	Health hazard	Certain synthetic molecules — respiratory sensitisation, etc.
GHS09	Environment	Certain fragrance components toxic to aquatic organisms
GHS05	Corrosion	Some aggressive solvents / acidic or alkaline substances

Tip: You do not "guess" which pictogram a fragrance oil requires. The Safety Data Sheet (SDS / MSDS) provided by your supplier and the IFRA compliance certificate tell you. Read the documentation first, then produce the label.

We cover flammability in greater depth in a dedicated section; a concentrate with a high alcohol content will typically carry GHS02, which directly affects transport, shipping, and storage.

Mandatory Label Elements

Under CLP/SEA, a label for a hazardous mixture is far more than a symbol. The following elements must appear together.

Element	Purpose
Product identifier	Product name and identities of hazardous components
Supplier information	Manufacturer/importer name, address, telephone number
Pictogram(s)	Communicates the hazard class visually
Signal word	"Danger" or "Warning"
H statements	Hazard statements — nature of the hazard (e.g. H226: Flammable liquid and vapour)
P statements	Precautionary statements — preventive action (e.g. P210: Keep away from heat/open flames)
Net quantity	Contents by volume or mass on consumer-facing packaging

Common mistake: Applying only the pictogram and omitting the H and P statements. The symbol says "hazard present"; the H/P statements say "what kind and what to do." They complement each other — if either is missing, the label is non-compliant.

Step-by-Step: Preparing a Correct Label

Start with the documentation, finish with the visual. Do not skip steps.

Gather the SDS
Request a Safety Data Sheet from your supplier for every raw material and finished product. Classification comes from this document — it cannot be improvised.
Read the IFRA certificate
Limits are based not on the total fragrance oil percentage but on individual substances, allergens, and product category (leave-on vs. rinse-off). Never generalise with statements such as "any fragrance oil is safe up to 20%."
Determine the classification
Identify the relevant hazard classes — flammability, skin sensitisation, environmental toxicity, and so on — from the documentation. This step tells you which pictograms are required.
Select the H and P statements
Write the standard codes corresponding to each hazard class in full. Use the official translations for your target language.
Add the allergen declaration
In finished cosmetic products, specified fragrance allergens present above the threshold must be listed in the ingredient declaration. This is also the basis for patch testing.
Test readability
Pictogram size, contrast, and print durability are all essential. Alcoholic vapour in contact with the bottle surface must not cause the label to fade.

FIGURE 01Process Strip — Step by Step

Tip: Storage and transport go hand in hand with labelling. A product carrying GHS02 must be stored in a cool, dark location away from any ignition source. Correct storage conditions protect both the safety and the scent of the product.

Field Notes and Frequently Asked Questions

A label is the product's word of honour. When done correctly, it protects you in the eyes of both the law and the consumer. The rest is your signature.

When in doubt, do not guess the classification. Request an up-to-date SDS and IFRA certificate from your supplier — the label is simply the visible expression of those documents.

All the H and P statements won't fit on a small bottle — what should I do?

Regulations allow some flexibility for very small packaging; however, the pictogram, signal word, and the most critical hazard information must still be present. Peel-off (fold-out) labels or hang tags are widely used solutions. Nevertheless, never omit the mandatory core information. If in doubt, consult your SDS provider and the applicable regulations.

My fragrance oil carries GHS02 (flame) — can I ship it by courier?

Separate rules apply to the transport of flammable liquids; most couriers do not accept such products as standard parcels, or impose special conditions. The pictogram itself signals this risk. We cover transport and shipping regulations in a dedicated section — always check your carrier's dangerous goods policy before dispatching.

I use a natural fragrance oil — surely no pictogram is needed?

This is a mistaken assumption. "Natural" does not automatically mean "safe" — safety depends on the level of use. Many natural essential oils can be skin sensitisers, flammable, or toxic to the environment. Whether a material is natural or synthetic makes no difference; classification is always based on SDS and IFRA data, and the label must reflect that.

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