Essentially Natural Geogard 221 – ECOCERT

Description

Essentially Natural Geogard 221 is a broad-spectrum preservative blend used to help protect water-containing personal
care products from microbial growth. It is widely used in natural and organic style formulations and is accepted for
compliant products when the rest of the formula is built appropriately. Geogard 221 performs across a broad range of
product types, including lotions, creams, shampoos, cleansers, gels and serums. It is typically added during cool down
and works best within its recommended pH range.

♡ Why we love it: Geogard 221 is one of the more practical preservation options for formulators working in water-based
personal care. It is easy to understand, flexible across many product types and supports cleaner, more reliable DIY
and small-batch formulation work.

Key Properties

• INCI Name: Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid
• Function: Broad-spectrum preservative
• Certification: ECOCERT, COSMOS compliant, NaTrue certified, Soil Association approved
• Usage Rate: 0.2-2%
• Recommended pH Range: 2-7
• Phase: Aqueous phase, commonly added at cool down
• Profile: Preservative for water-containing cosmetic formulations
• Suitable For: Lotions, Creams, Emulsions, Shampoos, Body Washes, Cleansers, Toners, Gels, Serums And Water-Based DIY
  Formulas
• Storage: Store tightly closed in a cool, dry place

What It’s Used For

• Preserving lotions, creams and emulsions
• Preserving shampoos, body washes and cleansers
• Preserving toners, gels and water-based serums
• Supporting shelf life in water-containing DIY formulas
• Reducing spoilage risk in suitable formulations
• Natural and organic style formulation work
• Products formulated within the recommended pH range

Who It’s For

This Product Is For:

• Water-based personal care formulations
• DIY makers who want an easy-to-use preservative option
• Formulas built to sit within pH 2-7
• Lotions, cleansers, gels and shampoos that need broad-spectrum preservation
• Formulators working on natural-style cosmetic products

This Product Is Not For:

• Anhydrous products with no water phase
• Formulas outside the recommended pH range
• A fragrance or aroma ingredient
• Use as a finished product on its own
• Food use
• Replacing good hygiene, stability testing or preservation testing

How To Use

• As a Preservative: Add at 0.2-2% into the aqueous phase, typically during cool down.
• pH Check: Check and adjust final formula pH to stay within 2-7 for best performance.
• Manufacturing Tip: Use accurate weighing and good manufacturing hygiene for more reliable preservation.
• Testing Tip: Check compatibility, appearance, scent, pH and stability in the finished formula.
• Scale-Up Tip: Challenge testing is recommended for products made for sale.
• Storage Tip: Keep the container tightly closed between uses.

Safety Instructions

• For cosmetic formulation use only
• For external use only
• Do not ingest
• Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes
• Patch test finished products before use
• Keep out of reach of children
• Store tightly closed in a cool, dry place
• Test final formulations for preservation, stability and suitability before use or sale

FAQs

Q: Do I still need good hygiene if I use a preservative?

A: Yes, preservatives support clean manufacturing practice, but they do not replace it.

Q: Can I use Geogard 221 in a shampoo?

A: Yes, it is commonly used in shampoos and other rinse-off products with a water phase.

Q: Why does pH matter with Geogard 221?

A: Its performance depends on pH, so staying within the recommended range helps it work more reliably.

Q: Can Geogard 221 preserve an oil-only balm?

A: It is intended for water-containing formulas, not anhydrous oil-only products.