All of these words describe the components that make up much of the products we use in our lives, everyday. Often these terms are interchangeable, whether substances are used in foods, packaging, personal care or household products.

It’s also important to note that all ingredients, whether “natural” or “synthetic” are, in fact, chemicals. Being from a natural source or manufactured does not make an ingredient any better or worse from a safety standpoint. On this site, you will see information about ingredients in general. They are not categorized here according to their natural or synthetic source as this is not an accurate determinant of their relative safety in the products you use.