Since the serum is so good, I thought I'd also buy a toner. It absorbs well into the skin. When I use it after applying a pre-lotion to the décolleté, it absorbs even better and leaves my skin feeling softer. I've just started using it, but I haven't experienced any itchiness. As other reviews have said, it does have an ethanol scent, but I wonder if that's unavoidable since it's kojic acid. I'm using it without worrying about that.