Short answer
The original EU list of fragrance allergens that must be named on cosmetic labels above a threshold has 26 entries: amyl cinnamal, amylcinnamyl alcohol, anise alcohol, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, benzyl cinnamate, benzyl salicylate, butylphenyl methylpropional, cinnamal, cinnamyl alcohol, citral, citronellol, coumarin, eugenol, farnesol, geraniol, hexyl cinnamal, hydroxycitronellal, hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (HICC), isoeugenol, alpha-isomethyl ionone, limonene, linalool, methyl 2-octynoate, and oakmoss and treemoss extracts. Two of them — HICC and butylphenyl methylpropional — are now prohibited in EU cosmetics. Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 added many more, and Canada now uses the EU list. Many of these substances occur naturally in essential oils, so the list matters for natural perfumes too.
Why the list exists
These substances are known to cause allergic skin reactions in some people who have become sensitized to them. Naming them on the label lets people who know they are allergic avoid products that contain them. A named allergen is not a banned ingredient, and an unnamed one is not necessarily absent — it may be present below the threshold. The labeling rule and its thresholds (above 0.001% in leave-on products, 0.01% in rinse-off) are explained in EU fragrance allergen labelling.
The 26 original allergens and where they occur
| Label name | Often found in or used as |
|---|---|
| Amyl cinnamal | Synthetic jasmine-type material |
| Amylcinnamyl alcohol | Synthetic floral material |
| Anise alcohol | Floral-sweet material; occurs in some naturals |
| Benzyl alcohol | Many absolutes (e.g., jasmine); also used as a solvent and preservative |
| Benzyl benzoate | Balsams, ylang-ylang, jasmine; also a common solvent and fixative |
| Benzyl cinnamate | Balsams (Peru, Tolu) |
| Benzyl salicylate | Ylang-ylang, carnation-type accords; widely used as a blender |
| Butylphenyl methylpropional | Synthetic muguet material — now prohibited in EU cosmetics |
| Cinnamal | Cinnamon bark oil; spicy accords |
| Cinnamyl alcohol | Balsams; hyacinth-type accords |
| Citral | Lemongrass, litsea, lemon, verbena-type oils |
| Citronellol | Rose, geranium; rose accords |
| Coumarin | Tonka bean; hay, fougère and gourmand accords |
| Eugenol | Clove, cinnamon leaf, pimento; carnation accords |
| Farnesol | Several floral oils; floral-green accords |
| Geraniol | Rose, palmarosa, geranium; rose accords |
| Hexyl cinnamal | Synthetic jasmine-type material, widely used |
| Hydroxycitronellal | Synthetic muguet material |
| Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (HICC) | Synthetic muguet material — now prohibited in EU cosmetics |
| Isoeugenol | Clove-derived and spicy-floral accords |
| Alpha-isomethyl ionone | Synthetic violet and orris-type material |
| Limonene | All citrus oils, many other essential oils |
| Linalool | Lavender, bergamot, coriander, rosewood, ho wood and many others |
| Methyl 2-octynoate | Synthetic violet-leaf-type material |
| Evernia prunastri (oakmoss) extract | Chypre and fougère accords |
| Evernia furfuracea (treemoss) extract | Chypre and fougère accords |
The sources listed are typical, not exhaustive: the actual content of a natural depends on its species, chemotype and lot, and comes from the supplier's documents. See essential oil chemotypes.
Prohibitions within the list
- HICC was prohibited in EU cosmetics by Regulation (EU) 2017/1410, which also prohibited atranol and chloroatranol — components of oakmoss and treemoss extracts — so only extracts with these removed or reduced can be used.
- Butylphenyl methylpropional was prohibited by Regulation (EU) 2021/1902 as a substance classified as toxic for reproduction.
Both were classic muguet (lily of the valley) materials, which is why muguet accords have been rebuilt; see building a lily of the valley accord.
The expanded list
Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 amended Annex III to add further fragrance allergens — the European Commission describes 56 additional substances — including several natural extracts and some individual chemicals, with some entries grouping related substances. It applies to products newly placed on the EU market from July 31, 2026 and to all products on the market from July 31, 2028. For the authoritative list, use the regulation's text on EUR-Lex rather than a third-party copy; the dates and rule are covered in EU fragrance allergen labelling.
Other markets
- Canada incorporates the EU's Annex III allergens by reference; see selling perfume in Canada.
- Great Britain has its own Cosmetics Regulation; check the current GB position on the expanded list; see selling perfume in the UK.
- United States: MoCRA requires FDA to issue a fragrance-allergen labeling rule; at the time of writing it was still pending. See MoCRA requirements for fragrance brands.
Using the list in your records
- Flag each allergen-containing material in your library, and record allergen content from the supplier's allergen statement for each lot of a natural.
- Calculate finished-product levels for every product and market, as the label requires.
- Recalculate when a lot, supplier, concentration or formula changes.
Options for formulating with fewer declarations are discussed in formulating to reduce declarable fragrance allergens. The list is one part of the market rules summarized in perfume regulations by market.
Sources
- EUR-Lex — Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex III, checked October 9, 2026.
- EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2023/1545, checked October 9, 2026 (link format).
- EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2017/1410 (HICC, atranol, chloroatranol) and Regulation (EU) 2021/1902 (butylphenyl methylpropional), checked October 9, 2026 (link format).
- European Commission — Fragrance allergens labelling, checked October 9, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is linalool dangerous?
Linalool is one of the most widely used fragrance materials and occurs in many plants. It is on the list because it can cause reactions in sensitized people, mainly when it has oxidized. See linalool in perfumery.
Does a "natural" perfume avoid allergen labeling?
No. Allergens from essential oils count exactly like those added as aroma chemicals.
Written and reviewed by the RUŌOD Lab team. This article is general education about perfume formulation and record-keeping; it is not legal, regulatory or safety advice, and the examples are illustrations, not validated commercial formulas. How we write and check these guides.