Beauty rooted in
biology.
Florin was not created to mask or suppress. It was created to understand. Every ingredient in our formula was chosen because it works with the biology of mature skin, not against it. This is what we know, and why it matters.
What is 2-Nonenal?
At the heart of age-related body odour is a single compound: 2-nonenal. It is an unsaturated aldehyde, a class of organic molecule that the human nose detects with remarkable sensitivity. The scent it produces is often described as waxy, grassy, or faintly oily, distinctly different from the sharp, acidic odour associated with sweat in younger bodies.
2-nonenal is not produced by sweat itself. It is the result of a cascade of biological processes that unfold gradually on the surface of the skin, driven by changes that begin in our forties and become more pronounced over time. Understanding this process is essential, because it means that conventional deodorants and antiperspirants have very little effect on 2-nonenal at all.
The key distinction
2-nonenal is not a sweat odour. It is a skin odour. This is why the usual products do not work, and why Florin was made.
Research published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology confirmed that 2-nonenal is found almost exclusively on the skin of people over 40, and that its concentration increases progressively with age. This discovery changed how scientists understood mature skin odour entirely.
How 2-Nonenal forms and why
The formation of 2-nonenal is not random. It follows a precise biological pathway, tied directly to the hormonal and cellular changes of ageing. There are four interconnected processes at work.
Omega-7 fatty acids accumulate on the skin surface
As we age, sebaceous glands produce a higher proportion of omega-7 unsaturated fatty acids, particularly palmitoleic acid and vaccenic acid. These compounds are deposited on the skin surface through sebum, the skin's natural oil. In younger skin, these specific fatty acids are present in far lower concentrations.
Oxidation breaks the fatty acids down
Once on the skin surface, these omega-7 fatty acids are exposed to oxygen and environmental oxidative stress. Ageing skin has reduced antioxidant capacity, meaning it is less equipped to protect against oxidative reactions. The fatty acids undergo lipid peroxidation, breaking apart into smaller molecular fragments.
2-Nonenal is the byproduct of that breakdown
2-nonenal is one of the primary volatile compounds produced when these fatty acids oxidise. It does not wash off easily because it binds to proteins on the skin and in fabrics. Its odour threshold is extremely low, meaning the human nose can detect it in tiny concentrations.
Declining antioxidant defence accelerates the process
The skin naturally contains antioxidants including vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 that slow oxidation. These decline significantly with age and with falling oestrogen levels. As a result, the same amount of fatty acid on the skin surface is far more likely to oxidise in a person over 50 than in someone younger.
More fatty acids on the skin surface, combined with less antioxidant protection and greater oxidative stress, produces more 2-nonenal. Florin interrupts each stage of this process.
Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract
The persimmon has been used in East Asian skincare and wellness traditions for centuries, but its relevance to 2-nonenal odour is a more recent scientific discovery. The Diospyros kaki fruit, the Japanese persimmon, contains one of the highest natural concentrations of polyphenolic tannins found in any plant. These tannins are extraordinarily complex molecules with a specific and powerful action against aldehyde compounds like 2-nonenal.
In their concentrated extract form, persimmon tannins work through a mechanism called aldehyde binding. The polyphenol molecules form chemical bonds directly with the 2-nonenal compound, effectively neutralising it at the molecular level before it can volatilise into the air and become detectable as odour. This is fundamentally different to deodorant masking, which simply adds fragrance over an existing smell.
Clinical studies demonstrated that persimmon extract reduced the concentration of 2-nonenal on the skin surface by over 90% within two hours of application. The extract is gentle enough for daily use on mature skin and does not disrupt the skin microbiome or interfere with normal skin pH. Unlike antibacterial agents, it targets the odour compound itself, not the skin's beneficial bacterial ecosystem.
How persimmon tannins work
Four specific mechanisms that make concentrated persimmon extract the most effective natural solution to 2-nonenal yet discovered.
Aldehyde binding
Persimmon tannins contain hydroxyl groups that form stable chemical bonds with the aldehyde group of 2-nonenal. The compound is effectively captured and rendered odourless before it can evaporate from the skin surface.
Antioxidant interruption
The same polyphenols that bind 2-nonenal also act as potent antioxidants on the skin surface, scavenging free radicals and slowing the lipid oxidation process that generates the compound in the first place. Persimmon extract addresses both the symptom and part of its cause.
Microbiome safe
Unlike broad-spectrum antimicrobials, persimmon tannins act selectively on chemical compounds rather than living organisms. The skin's beneficial bacterial ecosystem remains entirely undisturbed, supporting long-term skin health alongside odour control.
Sustained action
Persimmon tannins form a light, invisible film on the skin surface that continues to bind 2-nonenal as it forms throughout the day. This gives the extract a sustained deodorising effect without requiring reapplication.
The complete formula
Florin contains no fillers and no unnecessary additions. Every ingredient was chosen for a specific, evidence-based purpose. Here is what each one does, and why it is in the formula.
The defining ingredient of the Florin formula. Concentrated extract from the Japanese persimmon fruit provides the highest density of polyphenolic tannins of any ingredient in our formula. These tannins bind directly to 2-nonenal molecules on the skin surface, neutralising the compound at source before it can become detectable as odour. Simultaneously, the extract delivers potent antioxidant protection that slows the oxidation of fatty acids and reduces the rate at which 2-nonenal forms. This dual action, addressing both the compound and its cause, makes persimmon extract uniquely effective for age-related odour.
Green tea extract is included for its exceptional concentration of catechins, a class of polyphenol antioxidant that works alongside persimmon tannins to slow lipid oxidation on the skin surface. By reducing oxidative stress, green tea extract helps to lower the rate at which omega-7 fatty acids break down into 2-nonenal, addressing the problem at an earlier stage in the formation process. It also has gentle soothing properties that support comfort in sensitive mature skin.
Cold-pressed from the seeds of the Japanese camellia flower, tsubaki oil has a fatty acid profile that closely mirrors the skin's own sebum. It is exceptionally rich in oleic acid, which penetrates deeply to replenish lipids lost through hormonal changes without leaving a greasy residue. In the context of mature skin, this barrier restoration is essential, as a compromised lipid barrier allows greater oxidative stress to reach the skin surface, which accelerates 2-nonenal formation.
A deeply effective humectant derived from plant sources, glycerin draws moisture from the environment and from the deeper layers of the skin, holding it at the surface where it maintains softness and suppleness. Mature skin has a reduced ability to retain moisture due to declining hyaluronic acid production and a thinner stratum corneum. Glycerin compensates for this directly, creating a conditioning environment in which active ingredients penetrate more effectively.
Sorbitol is a naturally occurring polyol with strong humectant properties that complement and extend the moisturising action of glycerin. It also plays a role in the texture of the formula, contributing to a smooth, non-tacky feel on the skin and improving the even distribution of active ingredients across the skin surface. Sorbitol is well tolerated by sensitive skin and adds a softness that mature skin particularly benefits from.
Virgin coconut oil contributes medium-chain fatty acids, particularly lauric acid, which have a natural affinity for the proteins that 2-nonenal binds to on the skin surface. This aids the effective removal of the compound during cleansing. Coconut oil also provides gentle antibacterial properties that support a balanced skin environment, along with deep nourishment that leaves skin soft and smooth after rinsing.
Unrefined shea butter is one of the richest plant-derived sources of triterpene alcohols, compounds with clinically demonstrated anti-inflammatory and barrier-repair properties. For mature skin, which experiences increased sensitivity and a reduced ability to repair daily micro-damage, shea butter provides meaningful structural support to the lipid barrier. It also contains a natural concentration of vitamin E and other antioxidant compounds that add a further layer of protection against oxidative damage.
Extra virgin olive oil provides a rich concentration of squalene, a compound naturally produced by human sebaceous glands that declines sharply with age. Squalene plays a critical role in surface-level antioxidant protection, acting as a first line of defence against the oxidative reactions that produce 2-nonenal. Olive oil also contains polyphenols including oleuropein, which add further antioxidant capacity and contribute to the formula's skin conditioning properties.
A mild amphoteric surfactant derived from coconut, lauramidopropyl betaine provides the cleansing action that removes 2-nonenal and its fatty acid precursors from the skin surface without disrupting the skin barrier or stripping natural moisture. Unlike sulphate-based surfactants, it maintains the skin's native pH and is well tolerated by the sensitive, dryer skin common in older adults. It also produces a rich, conditioning lather that improves the sensory experience of cleansing.
Decenal is a naturally occurring aromatic aldehyde responsible for the characteristic warm, waxy, slightly floral scent notes found in certain botanicals including orris root and violet. It contributes to the sophisticated scent profile of the Florin formula at a very low concentration, creating a fragrance impression that feels skin-like and natural rather than overtly perfumed. It was chosen specifically because it complements rather than fights the skin's own chemistry.
The remaining ingredients form the structural and functional foundation of the formula. Aqua, purified water, is the medium that carries and stabilises all active ingredients. Sucrose, derived from sugar cane, provides additional moisturising properties and acts as a natural preservative aid. Sodium chloride adjusts the viscosity of the formula to achieve the right texture for application. Sodium hydroxide is used in precisely controlled micro-quantities to balance the pH of the final formula to match the natural pH of mature skin, between 4.5 and 5.5, ensuring active ingredients perform at their optimal level. Tetrasodium EDTA binds trace metals in water that would otherwise catalyse oxidation reactions within the formula itself, preserving the potency and stability of active ingredients throughout the product's shelf life.
Your skin deserves
the right answer.
Everything on this page is the reason Florin exists. Not to mask, not to suppress, but to understand and solve. Try the complete system and notice the difference a formula built for your biology can make.