Fragrance Allergens of special concern

Through evaluation of available clinical studies, in 2016 the Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety of the EU identified a number of fragrance ingredients as allergens of special concern that were frequently found to cause allergenic reactions.

Linalool and Limonene are particularly common fragrance ingredients and are used each in almost a quarter of all skincare products. They especially frequently cause allergic reactions in their oxidized form, when they have/had contact to air. In high concentrations, they also cause allergic reactions to a higher percentage of the population than other fragrances tested: 7% for Linalool and 4% for Limonene.

Geraniol, Citral, Coumarin, Eugenol and Hydroxycitronellal are also common fragrance ingredients that have been consistently shown to cause allergic reactions.

Lyral or Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde (HICC) is noted by the SCCS of the EU as particularly harmful.

The SCCS considers that the number of cases of HICC allergy documented over the last decade is exceptionally high. Continued exposure to HICC is not considered safe, even at low concentrations. Therefore, HICC should not be used in consumer products in order to prevent further cases of contact allergies and to limit the consequences to those who already have become sensitized.

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