Ingredients · Not for the smell

Triethyl citrate (TEC)

Say ittrye-ETH-il SIT-rayt

Odorless.

What it is

There to carry, keep or colour the perfume, not for its smell.

What perfumers do with it

Odorless solvent and mild fixative; a common phthalate-free diluent for aroma materials

Worth knowing

Also a food additive (E1505) that helps whipped egg whites hold their foam.

Also called

TEC; E1505