Linalool: why this common fragrance ingredient is also a label allergen
Arin Editorial · how this is made
If you know the scent of lavender, bergamot or jasmine, you've met linalool. It's a common fragrance ingredient in perfumes and cosmetics, and it often shows up as a separate line on labels. Here's what that means.
Where it comes from, what it does
Linalool is a fragrance compound found in more than 200 natural oils, including lavender, ylang-ylang, bergamot, jasmine and geranium. It appears in about 90-95% of prestige perfumes and also in creams, shampoos, cleaning products and household goods to give a fresh, floral scent.
The catch: oxidation changes it
Linalool itself isn't considered a direct allergen. But when exposed to air, it oxidises, and some of the breakdown products can cause allergic skin reactions. In a UK study, 483 people were tested with a 3% solution of oxidised linalool; 2.3% had a positive allergic response. So the issue isn't fresh linalool but aged, oxidised linalool.
What regulators say
The European Union lists linalool in Annex III of its cosmetics regulation, meaning it's a restricted substance. The SCCS has published several opinions on fragrance allergy, emphasising consumer information and labelling of allergens. Laboratory records also flag skin sensitisation and irritation categories, but that doesn't mean every product triggers a reaction.
In the EU, linalool is restricted under Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009; it is not banned.
If you see linalool on a label, don't panic. Choose fresh products, keep them tightly closed, and don't keep half-used bottles for months. If you have sensitive skin, do a small patch test first and stop if it irritates.
Sources
- European Commission, Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex III
- SCCS opinions on fragrance allergy and linalool
- EPA ToxValDB