Question 1

What does Melissa Officinalis do in a cosmetic formula?

Accepted Answer

This ingredient is used primarily as a botanical skin-conditioning material, often positioned for soothing support and antioxidant contribution. In some formats, its volatile fraction can also contribute scent.

Question 2

Is Melissa Officinalis clean?

Accepted Answer

From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient is generally accepted when it is a simple botanical extract made with approved solvents. The main caveat is sensitization potential from naturally occurring fragrance constituents, especially when the volatile fraction is used at higher levels.

Question 3

Is Melissa Officinalis sustainable?

Accepted Answer

This material is plant-derived and generally biodegradable, with sourcing tied to agricultural cultivation rather than petrochemical feedstocks. Its footprint depends on farming practices, extraction solvent, and yield, since volatile fractions require more plant material than simple aqueous or glycerin extracts.

Question 4

Is Melissa Officinalis COSMOS-approved?

Accepted Answer

It is generally compatible with COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic standards when sourced from permitted plant material and processed with approved methods such as water, ethanol, glycerin, or carbon dioxide extraction. It aligns best with Green Chemistry when renewable feedstock, low-impact solvents, and biodegradable outputs are used, while fragrance allergen labeling rules may still apply.

Question 5

How does Melissa Officinalis work chemically?

Accepted Answer

This ingredient is a complex botanical mixture, with polar extracts typically containing phenolic compounds such as rosmarinic acid and flavonoids, while volatile fractions contain terpenoid fragrance molecules. Extracts are commonly used around 0.1% to 5%, while volatile fractions are used much lower, often below 0.5%, and benefit from protection against air, light, and heat to limit oxidation.