Ingredients

1,4-Dioxane is a synthetic carcinogen that appears as an unintentional contaminant in cleaning and personal care products using ethoxylated surfactants — including sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) and many polyethylene glycols. Because it is a manufacturing byproduct rather than an added ingredient, it does not appear on labels. This page covers what 1,4-dioxane is, how it forms, regulatory action, and how NFP's surfactant choices avoid it.

2-Butoxyethanol is a glycol ether solvent commonly used in conventional glass cleaners and multipurpose cleaners. It is a volatile organic compound with respiratory and exposure concerns. This page covers what it is, how it works, safety data, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS) is an anionic surfactant closely related to sodium lauryl sulfate, with ammonium as the counterion instead of sodium. It is used in shampoos, body washes, and cleaning products. This page covers what it is, how it works, its safety profile, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) is a phthalate ester used as a plasticizer in vinyl products. It is banned in children's toys in the US and classified as a reproductive toxicant by the EU. This page covers what it is, safety data, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Borax (sodium tetraborate) is a naturally-occurring mineral salt widely promoted in DIY and "natural" cleaning circles. Despite its mineral origin, it is classified as a reproductive toxin in the European Union and carries restrictions in consumer products. This page covers what borax is, where it appears in conventional cleaning, regulatory context, and why Natural Flower Power does not include it in any formulation.

Butylparaben is a synthetic preservative in the paraben family with the strongest estrogenic activity of the commonly used parabens. It is used in some cosmetics and personal care products. This page covers what it is, how it works, its safety and regulatory profile, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Chloroform is a suspected human carcinogen that historically saw direct use as a solvent and anesthetic. Today its primary household relevance is as a byproduct formed when chlorine-based disinfectants react with organic matter on surfaces and in drains. This page covers what chloroform is, where exposure happens in cleaning, regulatory classifications, and why Natural Flower Power's chlorine-free formulation choice eliminates the formation pathway.

Cocamide DEA (cocamide diethanolamine) is a coconut-derived surfactant and foam booster historically used in shampoos, dish soaps, and bubble baths. It was added to the California Proposition 65 carcinogens list in 2012. This page covers what cocamide DEA is, the regulatory action that drove industry reformulation, and why Natural Flower Power uses cocamide DIPA — a related compound with a different safety profile — instead.

Cocamide MEA is a nonionic surfactant made by condensing coconut-derived fatty acids with monoethanolamine. It mainly boosts and stabilizes foam and thickens liquid cleansers, working alongside primary surfactants rather than as the main cleanser. It belongs to the ethanolamide family with cocamide DEA and cocamide DIPA. This page covers what it is, how it works, and why we do not use it.

Cold-pressed citrus oils are extracted by mechanically pressing orange and lemon peels, capturing hundreds of naturally occurring compounds. This guide explains how cold-pressed oils differ from isolated synthetic limonene, why the whole-peel composition matters, how the oils behave in cleaning products, and where Natural Flower Power uses real cold-pressed citrus oils.

D&C dyes are petroleum-derived synthetic colorants approved for use in drugs and cosmetics (but not food). They add color to personal care products and some cleaning products. This page covers what they are, safety data, and why Natural Flower Power does not use them.

DEET, chemically N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, is one of the most widely used insect repellents, applied to skin and clothing to deter mosquitoes and ticks. It is a synthetic compound registered as a pesticide rather than a cleaning ingredient, and consumers in adjacent categories often ask about it. This page is a neutral reference covering what DEET is, how it works, and how it is regulated.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is the most widely used phthalate plasticizer globally. It is classified as a probable human carcinogen and reproductive toxicant. This page covers what it is, safety and regulatory data, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

DMDM hydantoin is a formaldehyde-releasing preservative used in shampoos, conditioners, and some cleaning products. It slowly releases formaldehyde to prevent microbial growth. This page covers what it is, how it works, its safety profile, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Diazolidinyl urea is a formaldehyde-releasing preservative that releases more formaldehyde than imidazolidinyl urea. It is used in shampoos, conditioners, and lotions. This page covers what it is, how it works, its safety profile, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is a phthalate ester classified as an endocrine disruptor and reproductive toxicant. It was banned in children's toys in the US and restricted in EU cosmetics. This page covers what it is, safety and regulatory data, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Diethanolamine (DEA) is an organic compound used as a pH adjuster, emulsifier, and foam booster in some cleaning products and personal care items. It has documented safety concerns related to nitrosamine contamination. This page covers what it is, how it works, its safety profile, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Diethyl phthalate (DEP) is a phthalate commonly used as a fragrance fixative and solvent in personal care products. It is often hidden under the generic 'fragrance' label. This page covers what it is, how it works, its safety and regulatory profile, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) is a synthetic chelating agent used in cleaning products and personal care items to soften water and improve product stability. It has environmental persistence concerns. This page covers what it is, how it works, safety data, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Essential oils are concentrated aromatic extracts of plants, valued in cleaning products for both scent and functional properties. This guide covers what essential oils are, how they are produced, the antimicrobial and solvent roles they can play, how regulators treat them, and which specific oils Natural Flower Power does and does not use.

Ethanolamines are a family of amino-alcohol compounds — monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), and triethanolamine (TEA) — used as pH adjusters, surfactants, and emulsifiers, along with fatty derivatives like cocamide DEA and MEA. This hub explains what unites the family, how nitrosamine formation and Proposition 65 shape their regulation, and why Natural Flower Power formulates without any of them.

Ethylparaben is a synthetic preservative in the paraben family with properties intermediate between methylparaben and propylparaben. It is used in cosmetics and personal care products. This page covers what it is, how it works, its safety profile, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

FD&C dyes (such as Blue 1, Yellow 5, and Red 40) are petroleum-derived synthetic colorants approved for use in food, drugs, and cosmetics. They have no cleaning function. This page covers what they are, safety concerns, and why Natural Flower Power does not use them.

Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen that was historically used as a preservative in cosmetics and household products. It is now rarely added directly but can be released by other preservatives. This page covers what it is, how it works, its safety profile, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are a family of ingredients that slowly release small amounts of formaldehyde to keep products free of microbial growth. This reference page introduces the most common members, including DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15, and the ureas, explains how they work, and links to a detailed page on each one, plus formaldehyde itself.

Glyceryl caprylate, also called glyceryl monocaprylate, is a plant-derived ingredient made from glycerin and caprylic acid, both of which can come from vegetable oils. It works as an emollient and skin-conditioning agent and is often used to support a product's preservative system. This neutral reference explains what glyceryl caprylate is and how it functions, without endorsing or dismissing it.

Hydrogen peroxide is a strong oxidizing agent used in household bleaching products, disinfectants, and stain removers. It decomposes into water and oxygen. This page covers what it is, how it works, its safety profile, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Imidazolidinyl urea is a formaldehyde-releasing preservative widely used in cosmetics and personal care products. It releases formaldehyde to prevent microbial growth. This page covers what it is, how it works, its safety profile, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Isothiazolinones are a family of preservatives used to protect water-based products from microbial growth. The class includes benzisothiazolinone (BIT), methylisothiazolinone (MIT), and methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI). This guide explains how the members differ, how each is regulated, and why Natural Flower Power uses BIT as its preservative while not using MIT or MCI.

Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI) is a synthetic preservative in the isothiazolinone family, most commonly used in a 3:1 blend with methylisothiazolinone (MIT). It is a potent contact allergen. This page covers what it is, how it works, its safety profile, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) is a synthetic preservative in the isothiazolinone family used in cleaning products and personal care. It is a strong contact allergen with significant regulatory restrictions. This page covers what it is, how it works, its safety profile, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Methylparaben is a synthetic preservative in the paraben family, widely used in cosmetics, personal care products, and some cleaning products to prevent bacterial and fungal growth. This page covers what it is, how it works, its safety and regulatory profile, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Methylparaben and propylparaben are two preservatives from the paraben family that are often used and reviewed together. Combining a shorter- and longer-chain ester broadens the range of microbes controlled across an emulsion. Regulators such as the EU SCCS assess parabens partly as a class. This page explains what they are, how they work, and why we use BIT instead.

Mineral oil and petrolatum are refined derivatives of petroleum, used as emollients, lubricants, and moisture barriers in personal-care items and, less often, in some cleaning products. Their properties depend heavily on refining grade, which is why highly refined, pharmaceutical- and food-grade versions are regulated differently from crude fractions. This page compares petroleum-derived and plant-derived options and explains the refining context.

Monoethanolamine (MEA) is the smallest member of the ethanolamine family — alongside DEA and TEA — used in cleaning and personal care products as a pH adjuster, emulsifier, and surfactant builder. It is a documented respiratory and skin irritant. This page covers what MEA is, how it differs from DEA and TEA, regulatory considerations, and why Natural Flower Power excludes the entire ethanolamine class.

Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE) are nonionic surfactants used in industrial and consumer detergents. They break down into nonylphenol (NP), an endocrine disruptor banned in consumer products across the European Union since 2005. NPE remains permitted in U.S. cleaning products. This page covers what NPE is, how it works, the regulatory split between regions, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a class of synthetic "forever chemicals" that resist environmental degradation and accumulate in human tissue. They appear in some conventional cleaning and personal care products as water-, grease-, and stain-repellents. This page covers what PFAS are, regulatory action underway in the United States, and why Natural Flower Power excludes all intentionally-added PFAS.

Parabens are a family of preservatives long used to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold in cosmetics and personal-care products. This reference page introduces the most common members, including methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butylparaben, explains how they preserve a formula, and links to a detailed page on each one so you can read the specifics that interest you.

Petroleum-based solvents are carbon compounds refined from crude oil and used to dissolve grease, thin formulas, and carry other ingredients. This hub covers the ones most relevant to household cleaning — 2-butoxyethanol, toluene, chloroform, and mineral oil — what the safety and regulatory record shows for each, and why Natural Flower Power builds its cleaners without petroleum solvents.

Phenoxyethanol is a synthetic preservative commonly used as a paraben alternative in cosmetics, personal care products, and some cleaning products. This page covers what it is, how it works, its safety profile, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Phosphates are inorganic builders historically used in dish soaps and laundry detergents to soften water and boost cleaning performance. They are banned or restricted in many states due to aquatic pollution and algal bloom concerns. This page covers what they are, safety data, and why Natural Flower Power does not use them.

Phthalates are a family of chemicals used mainly to soften plastics and, in the case of a few members, to help hold fragrance. This reference page introduces the most discussed members, including diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, DEHP, and benzyl butyl phthalate, explains where they appear, and links to a detailed page on each one.

Surfactants are the molecules that do the actual cleaning in soaps and detergents, loosening grease and lifting soil so water can rinse it away. This guide explains what plant-derived surfactants are, the coconut and corn-sugar sources they come from, how they work at the molecular level, and which specific surfactants Natural Flower Power uses across its products.

Polyethylene glycols, or PEGs, are a family of petroleum-derived polymers used in some laundry detergents, dish liquids, and personal-care products as thickeners, solvents, and surfactant components. Because they are made by ethoxylation, PEGs and related ethoxylated ingredients can carry trace 1,4-dioxane, a manufacturing byproduct now regulated in several regions. This page explains what PEGs are and how they are assessed.

Potassium sorbate is a mild preservative and the potassium salt of sorbic acid, used to control molds and yeasts in foods and cosmetics. Like sodium benzoate, it works best in mildly acidic products and loses strength as pH rises. This page covers what it is, how it works, its regulatory status, and why we use benzisothiazolinone instead.

Every water-based cleaner needs a preservative to stop bacteria and mold from growing in the bottle. Preservatives fall into distinct classes — parabens, formaldehyde-releasers, isothiazolinones, phenoxyethanol, and organic acids — each with its own safety and regulatory profile. This hub compares those classes and explains why Natural Flower Power preserves with benzisothiazolinone (BIT) rather than the others.

Propylene glycol is a synthetic humectant and solvent widely used in personal care, cleaning products, food, and pharmaceuticals. While generally regarded as safe by the FDA, it is a documented contact allergen and not the best fit for plant-derived formulations. This page covers what propylene glycol is, where it appears, the dermatological sensitization data, and why Natural Flower Power uses vegetable glycerine instead.

Propylparaben is a synthetic preservative in the paraben family with stronger antimicrobial potency than methylparaben. It is used in cosmetics, personal care products, and some food products. This page covers what it is, how it works, its safety profile, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) — including benzalkonium chloride and didecyldimethylammonium chloride — are synthetic antimicrobials used in disinfectant sprays, wipes, fabric softeners, and some cleaning products. Recent research identifies them as a chemical class of emerging concern for asthma and reproductive effects. This page covers what quats are, how they work, regulatory context, and why Natural Flower Power does not use them.

Quaternium-15 is a formaldehyde-releasing preservative that releases more formaldehyde than most other FRPs. It was banned in EU cosmetics in 2017. This page covers what it is, how it works, its safety profile, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Sodium benzoate is a common preservative and the sodium salt of benzoic acid, most active in acidic, low-pH products. It is well known for the studied context in which benzoate and vitamin C can form small amounts of benzene under certain conditions. This page explains what it is, how it works, its regulatory status, and why we use benzisothiazolinone instead.

Sodium hydroxide — lye, caustic soda — is a strong base used as the active ingredient in drain cleaners, oven cleaners, and some heavy-duty degreasers. It causes severe chemical burns on contact with skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. This page covers what sodium hydroxide is, where it appears in household products, safety considerations, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it in any formulation.

Sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) is a strong oxidizing agent used as a disinfectant and bleaching agent in household cleaning products. It has respiratory and environmental concerns. This page covers what it is, how it works, safety data, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) is an anionic surfactant produced by ethoxylating sodium lauryl sulfate. It is used as a gentler alternative to SLS in shampoos, soaps, and cleaners. This page covers what it is, how it works, its safety profile, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is an anionic surfactant used as a primary cleanser and foaming agent in soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, and household cleaners. It is effective but can irritate skin at higher concentrations. This page covers what it is, how it works, its safety profile, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Sulfates are a family of surfactants used to create lather and lift away soil in cleaning and personal-care products. This reference page introduces the most common members, including sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, and ammonium lauryl sulfate, explains how they work, and links to a detailed page on each one and to the plant-derived alternatives used in their place.

"Fragrance" on a label can stand for dozens of undisclosed scent chemicals, phthalate fixatives that extend scent, and lab-made aroma molecules such as synthetic musks and synthetic limonene. This hub explains how fragrance labeling and trade-secret rules work, what the ingredient classes are, and why Natural Flower Power scents with cold-pressed and essential oils instead.

Synthetic fragrances are blends of lab-made aroma chemicals used in most conventional cleaning products and personal care items. They can contain dozens to hundreds of undisclosed individual chemicals. This page covers what they are, how they work, regulatory context, and why Natural Flower Power uses essential oils instead.

Synthetic limonene is a manufactured version of d-limonene, the primary aroma chemical in citrus essential oils. It is cheaper and more standardized than natural citrus oils but lacks their complexity. This page covers what it is, how it compares to natural limonene, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Synthetic musks (including galaxolide and tonalide) are lab-made fragrance chemicals used to provide long-lasting base notes in conventional cleaning products and personal care items. They persist in the environment and human tissue. This page covers what they are, concerns, and why Natural Flower Power does not use them.

Tea tree oil is an essential oil steam-distilled from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia. It has documented laboratory antimicrobial activity, a moderate skin-sensitizer classification, and the clearest pet-toxicity record of any common essential oil. This page covers what it is, how it works, its safety profile, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Thyme oil is an essential oil steam-distilled from Thymus vulgaris. Its thymol chemotype has well-documented antimicrobial activity, and thymol is an EPA-registered antimicrobial active ingredient in its own right. This page covers what it is, how it works, its safety profile, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Toluene is a petroleum-derived aromatic solvent used in nail polishes, some industrial cleaners, and coatings. It is neurotoxic at high exposure levels and classified as a reproductive toxicant. This page covers what it is, safety data, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Triclosan is a synthetic antimicrobial agent that was banned by the FDA in over-the-counter antiseptic wash products in 2016. It was widely used in antibacterial soaps and some cleaning products. This page covers what it is, how it works, its safety profile, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.

Triethanolamine (TEA) is an organic compound used as a pH adjuster, emulsifier, and surfactant in cleaning products and cosmetics. It carries nitrosamine contamination concerns similar to diethanolamine. This page covers what it is, how it works, its safety profile, and why Natural Flower Power does not use it.