What's inside
What's inside
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberVanillin
MaskingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingHexamethylindanopyran
MaskingJuniperus Virginiana Oil
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingDimethyl Phenylethyl Carbinyl Acetate
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingCoumarin
PerfumingBeta-Caryophyllene
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingAlcohol
AntimicrobialLinalool
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingRose Ketone-4
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
Pinene
MaskingTris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGeraniol
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingMethyl 2-Octynoate
PerfumingRose Flower Oil/Extract
Farnesol
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Geranyl Acetate
PerfumingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantAlcohol Denat., Parfum, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Water, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Vanillin, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexamethylindanopyran, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Dimethyl Phenylethyl Carbinyl Acetate, Hydroxycitronellal, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Coumarin, Beta-Caryophyllene, Limonene, Alcohol, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Rose Ketone-4, Citronellol, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Pinene, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate, Benzyl Benzoate, Geraniol, Benzyl Salicylate, Methyl 2-Octynoate, Rose Flower Oil/Extract, Farnesol, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Geranyl Acetate, CI 19140, CI 17200
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialWater
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingHexamethylindanopyran
MaskingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingJuniperus Virginiana Oil
MaskingRosa Odorata Extract
AstringentSantalum Album Oil
MaskingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingVanillin
MaskingGeraniol
PerfumingHexadecanolactone
MaskingGeranyl Acetate
PerfumingSantalol
PerfumingBeta-Caryophyllene
MaskingPinene
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingRose Ketone-4
PerfumingAlcohol Denat., Water, Parfum, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Hexamethylindanopyran, Benzyl Salicylate, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Rosa Odorata Extract, Santalum Album Oil, Linalyl Acetate, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Coumarin, Vanillin, Geraniol, Hexadecanolactone, Geranyl Acetate, Santalol, Beta-Caryophyllene, Pinene, Limonene, Rose Ketone-4
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Benzyl Salicylate is a solvent and fragrance additive. It is an ester of benzyl alcohol and salicylic acid. This ingredient can be naturally found in some plants and plant extracts.
In fragrances, Benzyl Salicylate may be a solvent or a fragrance component. In synthetic musk scents, it is used as a solvent. For floral fragrances such as lilac and jasmine, it is used as a fragrance component. The natural scent of Benzyl Salicylate is described as "lightly-sweet, slightly balsamic".
While Benzyl Salicylate has been associated with contact dermatitis and allergies, emerging studies show it may not be caused by this ingredient alone.
However, this ingredient is often used with fragrances and other components that may cause allergies. It is still listed as a known allergen in the EU. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Another study from 2021 shows Benzyl Salicylate may have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Benzyl SalicylateBeta-Caryophyllene is a fragrance. It can cause irritation.
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 CoumarinGeraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolGeranyl Acetate is a fragrance. It can cause irritation.
This ingredient is also known as Galaxolide. It is a synthetic fragrance used to add a "sweet musky floral" odor.
The EU Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety deems this ingredient to be an allergen and irritant.
Hydroxycitronellal is a fragrance created from citronellal. The smell of hydroxycitronellal is often described as "citrus-like" or "melon-like".
Hydroxycitronellal is a known EU allergen and may cause irritation when applied to the skin.
Juniperus Virginiana Oil is the volatile oil obtained from the fruits and leaves of the Red Cedar tree. This tree is native to North America.
Limonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolLinalyl Acetate is the acetate ester of linalool and can be naturally found in many flowers and spice plants.
This ingredient is often used to add a scent or mask an unpleasant one in products.
Linalyl acetate is mildly toxic to humans and toxic to fish.
Learn more about Linalyl AcetateParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPinene is created by distilling the resin of Pinus trees.
It is a known EU allergen. Long term contact with this ingredient can cause dermatitis.
Rose Ketone-4 is a fragrance.
This 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 AcetyloctahydronaphthalenesVanillin is the main compound of the vanilla bean. It is naturally occuring but can also be artificially created.
This ingredient exhibits antioxidant properties but is also a known skin-irritant.
Vanillism is the term of contact-dermatitis associated with the vanilla plant. The sap of the vanilla plant triggers skin irritation, swelling, and redness.
Learn more about VanillinWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water