Become a Corporate Member

IFA Corporate Membership is extended to companies and service suppliers operating within the aromatherapy, natural skincare, essential oils, and related wellbeing sectors that advocate the safe use of aromatherapy and the responsible sourcing of aromatic materials in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.

Corporate Membership is designed to connect companies with the IFA professional network and to support the promotion of ethical and responsible practice within the aromatherapy industry.

Corporate Membership is recognition of a company’s commitment to the ethos and standards of the IFA. It should not be interpreted as certification, approval, or endorsement of any product or service.

• IFA Corporate Member Logo™: Use of the official IFA Corporate Member logo on website and approved marketing materials, enhancing confidence and credibility.
• Directory Referrals: Inclusion in the IFA Corporate Member directory, shared with members, the public, and press via the IFA website and social media channels.
• Database Visibility: Introduction of your company to the wider IFA global database through direct and indirect communications, increasing visibility beyond directory placement.
• Corporate Member Certificate: Official certificate confirming Corporate Membership status for display across internal and external platforms.
   
• Other Promotional & Engagement Opportunities: Access to a range of exclusive profile-raising and engagement opportunities, including:
  • Sales & Offers Promotion: Opportunity for offers and promotions to be featured across IFA communications, member channels and digital platforms, increasing awareness to a highly targeted professional audience.
  • Editorial Features: Opportunity for editorial contributions to be featured in Aromatherapy Times Magazine, a British Library–registered and archived publication, accessible for public and research reference, offering lasting visibility and enhanced credibility.
  • International Exhibition Exposure: Inclusion within promotional literature presented at selected international exhibitions and industry events attended by the IFA, offering high-profile global industry exposure.
  • Aromatherapy Awareness Week: Inclusion in the IFA’s annual Aromatherapy Awareness Week, a national campaign and key industry initiative designed to raise awareness of aromatherapy and the profession, generating wider public interest and engagement.
  • Supplier Benefits Listing: Opportunity to become an IFA discount provider and be featured within the member benefits and discounted supplier website sections, providing additional exposure to IFA members and website visitors.
  • Trade Stand Priority: Priority access to trade stand booking for IFA conferences and selected IFA-hosted events, offered to Corporate Members prior to general release, subject to availability.
  • Press & Procurement Opportunities: Priority consideration for IFA supply, sourcing and charitable project opportunities, which may generate additional profile through associated publicity and media coverage.
     
• Professional Development & Learning Access: Access to educational content and resources designed to support continued professional development and ongoing learning, including:
  • Aromatherapy Times Magazine: Complimentary quarterly copy of Aromatherapy Times Magazine.
  • Expert Webinars: Access to member webinars featuring internationally respected experts, educators and industry authorities.
  • Legislative & Regulatory Updates: Updates on key developments affecting essential oils, aromatherapy products and cosmetic regulation.
  • Research Hub: Access to an extensive library of over 1,000 curated research paper references supporting evidence-informed practice.​​​​​​
  • Preferential Event Rates: Access to discounted member rates for IFA conferences, exhibitions and selected educational events throughout the year.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

Company Requirements

• Scope: Operate within aromatherapy, natural skincare, holistic wellbeing, and related wellbeing sectors as product-based companies supplying finished goods for retail or professional use.
  * This scheme is not intended for service-based organisations (e.g. spas or training providers), for whom alternative pathways such as course accreditation may be more appropriate
• Website: Have a publicly accessible website for verification and monitoring purposes.
• Value Alignment: Demonstrate alignment with the values, ethics and objectives of the IFA.
• Public Standing: Be in good public standing, including disclosure of any upheld complaints, regulatory findings, or product recalls that may be relevant to membership status​​​​​​.

Product Information & Consumer Safety

• Product Information: Provide clear and sufficient product information to allow informed purchasing decisions
• Safe Use Guidance: Include safe usage instructions, including dilution guidance where appropriate
• Claims Compliance: Ensure no medicinal, therapeutic, diagnostic or preventative claims are made unless legally permitted​​​​​​
• Labelling Compliance: Ensure product labelling and marketing complies with recognised labelling and safety guidance:

Labelling & Safety Guidance (Summary Requirements)
Corporate Members must ensure all products meet recognised labelling standards consistent with relevant regulatory and industry guidance, including IFRA and ISO principles where applicable, and where relevant compliance with UK Cosmetic Regulations and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).

Labelling must include:

• Common and botanical name (including chemotype where relevant)
• Plant part used
• Country of origin
• Method of extraction
• Batch number
• Best before / use by date where applicable
• Dilution level where applicable
• Base ingredient(s) used (if blended or formulated), e.g. carrier oil, wax, balm, cream, lotion, gel, or other suitable medium
• Full ingredient declaration (INCI or internationally recognised nomenclature appropriate to product type)
• Safety and storage instructions
• Precautionary warnings (e.g. external use only)
• Supplier name and contact information

Additional Expectations:

• Storage and Packaging: Products must be stored and packaged appropriately to maintain quality, stability and safety (e.g. dark glass containers where relevant).​​​​​​
• Product Representation: Products must be accurately described and marketed, with no misleading claims regarding purity, dilution, origin, composition, or quality.​​​​​​
• Marketing Claims: The use of unregulated marketing terms such as "therapeutic grade" is not recognised as a valid quality or classification standard and should not be presented as evidence of product quality.​​​​​​
• Language and Information Accessibility: Product labelling and packaging may be in languages other than English; however, sufficient English-language supporting documentation (e.g. product specification or safety data sheet) must be provided to enable assessment.

• Quality & Transparency (Advisory Guidance): The IFA encourages Corporate Members to support transparency and best practice within the industry. Whilst not a mandatory requirement, suppliers may wish to provide supporting documentation such as Certificates of Analysis (COAs), Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) reports, physical and chemical profile data (where applicable for essential oils), and peroxide values for fixed oils, in line with best practice guidance referenced in IFA training.​​​​​​

Ethical & Sourcing Standards

• Ethical Sourcing: Demonstrate a clear commitment to the ethical sourcing of essential oils, including consideration of fair trade practices, responsible harvesting, and respect for producer communities.
• Environmental Responsibility: Demonstrate environmental responsibility and sustainable practices across sourcing, production, packaging, and distribution, including efforts to minimise environmental impact.
• Animal Welfare / Testing: Products must not involve animal testing at any stage of development or production, and suppliers should demonstrate compliance with recognised cruelty-free principles where applicable.

All Corporate Members must comply with the IFA Corporate Membership Terms & Conditions throughout the duration of their membership.

The IFA Corporate Member logo must not be used on products, product packaging, or product labelling under any circumstances.

Corporate Membership applies to the company as a whole and must not be used in any way that implies endorsement of specific products, formulations, or commercial offerings, including:

• Individual products
• Third-party brands or suppliers
• Multi-brand retail offerings
• Specific product ranges or formulations

Corporate Members operating with multiple brands or product lines must ensure that IFA membership is not presented, directly or indirectly, as an endorsement of any individual brand, product, or range sold.

The IFA Corporate Membership application process consists of two stages.

Stage 1: Company Assessment

To apply, please complete the Corporate Membership Application Form in full.

Applications will be reviewed against the IFA Corporate Membership criteria, including business activities, product scope, public standing, ethical standards, and alignment with the values and objectives of the IFA.

To avoid unnecessary costs and delays, please do not send products, samples, or supporting product documentation at this stage.

Applicants who successfully complete Stage 1 will be invited to proceed to Stage 2.

Stage 2: Product Review

Applicants who successfully complete Stage 1 will be invited to submit representative products for review.

The purpose of this stage is to enable the IFA to verify that the products supplied are consistent with the information provided during the application process and align with the standards and expectations of the Corporate Membership Scheme. This review focuses on product presentation, packaging, labelling, consumer information, ingredient declarations, and general quality indicators, rather than laboratory testing or product analysis.

The number and type of products requested will depend upon the nature of the business and product range. In most cases, applicants will be asked to provide up to five products that fairly represent the range being sold. For example, this may include an essential oil, massage blend, face oil, cream, balm, or other relevant aromatherapy products.

As part of the Stage 1 application, applicants must provide website links, product photographs, and basic product information to enable an initial review of the product range and to determine whether products fall within the scope of the Corporate Membership Scheme. The IFA will confirm which products are required for Stage 2 submission.

Products submitted for review must:

• Be supplied in their final retail packaging exactly as they would be received by a customer.
• Include all labels, packaging, inserts, and accompanying product information normally provided at the point of sale
• Be within their stated shelf life and in a condition suitable for review.

Following completion of the product review stage, applicants will be notified of the outcome of their Corporate Membership application.

Timescale

Provided all required information is clear and complete, most applications are processed within approximately one month.