In many of the published studies, it is not known how the substance being tested compares to the cosmetic ingredient. Therefore, if it is not known whether the chemicals being discussed are cosmetic ingredients, the test substances will be identified simply as "vanilla extract;" if it is known that the substance is a cosmetic ingredient, the terminology "Vanilla Planifolia…" or "Vanilla Tahitensis…" (e.g. Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract) will be used. CHEMISTRY Definition Vanilla planifolia and Vanilla tahitensis are 2 orchid species, and Vanilla tahitensis is a hybrid between Vanilla planifolia and Vanilla odorata. 2 The United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines vanilla beans as the properly cured and dried fruit pods of Vanilla planifolia Andrews and Vanilla tahitensis Moore [21 CFR 193.6]. According to the Dictionary, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract is the extract of the fruit (bean) of Vanilla planifolia, and Vanilla Tahitensis Fruit Extract is the extract of the fruit (bean) of Vanilla tahitensis; vanilla extract is a technical name for both. 1 The FDA defines vanilla extract as the solution in aqueous ethyl alcohol of the sapid and odorous principles extractable from vanilla beans (21 CFR 169.175). It should be noted that vanillin (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde) is the primary component of the extract of the vanilla bean. 3 It should also be noted that neither synthetic vanilla nor artificial vanilla are derived from Vanilla spp. Thus, data on synthetic or artificial vanilla are not applicable to the ingredients in this report.