Ingredients glossary

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We’ve listed below in alphabetical order all the various functions our ingredients perform - from fragrances to preservatives, emulsifiers to solvents.

Use the letter links to easily navigate to each section.

A

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Abrasive: Removes dirt to leave surfaces clean or polished through rubbing/ brushing
Alkalinity Source: Increases the alkalinity of the product to help in the washing away of dirt.
Anti-redeposition Agent: Helps prevent the removed dirt in washing water from reattaching to a surface
Antifoaming Agent: Prevents excessive foam or bubbles forming when a product is used
Antioxidant: Helps to prevent reactions promoted by oxygen in the product, which can cause product spoilage.

B

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Buffering Agent: Maintains the right acidity / alkalinity balance of a product
Builder: Reduces water hardness, makes cleaning products more effective
Bulking Agent: Diluant. Dilutes solids or liquids to allow for more accurate dosing

C

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Colourant: Colours the product, your hair or skin
Corrosion Inhibitor: Prevents corrosion of packaging

E

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Emulsifier: Helps two or more liquids, that don't usually combine to form a single solution; often referred to as an 'emulsion'
Emulsion Stabiliser: Prevents a mixture from separating and helping to increase a product's shelf life
Enzyme: Boosts the cleaning properties of a product to help remove specific stains at lower temperatures e.g. fats, egg, blood.
Evaporation Aid: Helps a product dry faster

F

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Fabric Conditioner Agent: Helps to soften and improve the feel of a fabric
Fragrance: Provides a distinctive, pleasant smell

H

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Hydrotrope: Allows cleaning agents to be uniformly dispersed within a product.

O

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Opacifier: Makes the product appear more opaque or pearly
Optical Brightener: Provides additional brightness to the surface to which product is applied.
Oxidising Agent: In laundry and household care products stains are removed by oxidation (bleaching).

P

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Pearlescer: Helps to give products a shimmery appearance
pH Adjuster: Controls the acidity / alkalinity balance of products
Preservative: This prolongs the shelf-life of the product, even once it has been opened, protecting it from bacteria, yeasts and moulds
Propellant: A compressed gas that helps expel product from a can

S

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Sequestrant: Helps prevent impurities from water from causing adverse effects on product performance, appearance, or stability.
Softness Extender: Makes a softening agent more effective and last longer
Solubiliser: Helps an ingredient in the product dissolve better
Solvent: Dissolves substances or ingredients
Structurant: Gives a product form or shape
Surfactant: An ingredient which helps to clean or remove dirt and oil, creating foam when used with water

T

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Tablet Disintegrant: Helps tablets break up so the product works faster

V

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Viscosity Controlling Agent: Controls the density or thickness of a product