What's inside
What's inside
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Polydipentene
Citral
Perfuming
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Masking
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Eucalyptol
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
1,2,3,4,4a,7,8,8a-Octahydro-2,4a,5,8a-Tetramethyl-Naphthyl Formate
Perfuming
Hexyl Salicylate
Masking
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Acetyl Cedrene
Methoxycyclododecane
Perfuming
Methylenedioxyphenyl Methylpropanal
Perfuming
3,6-Dimethyl-3-Octyl Acetate
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Polydipentene, Citral, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene, Citronellol, Eucalyptol, Coumarin, Benzyl Salicylate, 1,2,3,4,4a,7,8,8a-Octahydro-2,4a,5,8a-Tetramethyl-Naphthyl Formate, Hexyl Salicylate, Hydroxycitronellal, Acetyl Cedrene, Methoxycyclododecane, Methylenedioxyphenyl Methylpropanal, 3,6-Dimethyl-3-Octyl Acetate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Coumarins are a group of substances found naturally in plants. There are over 1300 types of coumarins identified. It has a natural vanilla scent.
Coumarin is an identified EU known allergy, meaning it may cause an allergic reaction when applied to the skin.
In many countries, coumarin is banned as a food additive. However, it can be found in soaps, tobacco products, and some alcohol drinks.
Plants use coumarins as a chemical defense. Some plants that have coumarins include lavender, tonka beans, and yellow clovers.
Learn more about CoumarinEucalyptol is a fragrance. It can be bad for dry skin.
Limonene is the compound that gives citrus peel its smell.
In skincare, it shows up as a standalone fragrance ingredient or as a natural compound of citrus and other essential oils.
You'll typically see this ingredient used in very small amounts; anything above 0.001% in a leave-on product or 0.01% in a rinse-off has to be named on the label in the EU. The citrus oils that carry it sit around 0.5-1% in a finished formula.
Fresh limonene is a weak allergen; the real issue is that it slowly reacts with air and then breaks down from oxidation to create hydroperoxides (which are strong sensitizers). This is why suppliers are required to keep the peroxide value below 20 mmol.
Positive reactions in people being investigated for eczema vary:
It's worth skipping if you have a known fragrance allergy or a compromised barrier, but the risk is low for most people.
Older or long-opened products are also more likely to bother you than fresh ones due to oxidation.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a small, naturally occurring scent molecule found in plants like lavender, coriander, bergamot, and more.
It is one of the two most-used fragrance ingredients in cosmetics and added purely for smell. Since it's not used for a skin benefit, there's no "effective dose". Concentration depends on the fragrance load of the product.
The EU requires it to be named on the label above 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
Fresh linalool is a weak sensitizer but air exposure turns some of it into hydroperoxides, which are strong sensitizers. Those oxidation products are the actual allergy concern.
Patch-test clinics see positive reactions to linalool hydroperoxides in about 4% to 12% of dermatitis patients depending on country and test concentration.
Resassuringly, one analytical study found hydroperoxide levels in real fragranced products to be orders of magnitude below what induced sensitization in animal studies with no evidence of oxidation building up during normal storage.
The practical takeaway is that linalool is fine for most people but worth avoiding if you have a confirmed fragrance contact allergy or a badly compromised barrier.
Products stored a long time after opening are also the high-risk scenario since that is when oxidation happens.
The scent of linalool is described as floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolThis ingredient is also known as ISO E Super. It is a synthetic perfuming and masking ingredient.
The manufacturer describes this scnet as amber and woody.
According to the EU, this ingredient is a known allergen and some people may develop skin sensitivity from repeated exposure.
Learn more about Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
