Uncover The Secrets: Understanding Fragrance Allergens And Their Impact

Fragrance allergens are ingredients found in perfumes, cosmetics, personal care products, household products like air fresheners, and other products that give them a specific, usually pleasant smell. At least 100 of these ingredients are known contact allergens, and they are mentioned on packaging to ensure the safety of people who are allergic to them.

Fragrance ingredients used in products are among 2500

Fragrance allergens are among more than 2,500 fragrance ingredients used in perfumes and perfumed consumer goods such as cosmetics, detergents, fabric softeners, and other household products. These ingredients are added to give products a specific, usually pleasant smell.

Fragrance allergens are often found in perfumes, cosmetics, personal care products, household products like cleaners, and air fresheners. Cosmetic product labels have been required to list all ingredients present in the formulation for the product, primarily using internationally recognized nomenclature for cosmetics called INCI.

The most commonly used fragrance terpenes limonene and linalool hydroperoxides resulting from autoxidation constitute the major allergens. These have become available as patch test material recently. Altogether 12 single substances have caused a (very) high number of published cases of sensitization. Thus their use concentration should be (further) reduced or, in case of hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (HICC, e.g., Lyral®), use should be abandoned altogether.

About 2500 different fragrance ingredients are currently used in the composition of perfumes and at least 100 of these are known contact allergens. Therefore, it is advisable to supplement standard patch testing with the patient's own stay-on cosmetic products, as well as the fragrance chemical hydroxyisohexyl-3-cyclohexane carboxaldehyde, which on its own gives responses in 1-3% of tested patients.

The focus in recent years on the ingredients of the fragrance mix will probably result in the fragrance industry changing the composition of perfumes, and thus make the current diagnostic test less useful. New diagnostic tests are under development to identify contact allergy to new allergens, reflecting the continuous developments and trends in exposure.

Cosmetic ingredients are to fragrance allergens what nuts are to food

Fragrance allergens are among the more than 2500 fragrance ingredients used in perfumes and perfumed consumer goods such as cosmetics, detergents, fabric softeners, and other household products. To give them a specific, usually pleasant smell.

Fragrance allergens are often found in perfumes, cosmetics, personal care products, household products like cleaners, and air fresheners. Cosmetic product labels have been required to list all ingredients present in the formulation for the product, primarily using internationally recognized nomenclature for cosmetics called INCI.

The major allergens are often terpenes limonene and linalool hydroperoxides resulting from autoxidation. These have become available as patch test material recently. Altogether 12 single substances have caused a (very) high number of published cases of sensitization.

About 2500 different fragrance ingredients are currently used in the composition of perfumes and at least 100 of these are known contact allergens. Therefore, it is advisable to supplement standard patch testing with the patient's own stay-on cosmetic products, as well as the fragrance chemical hydroxyisohexyl-3-cyclohexane carboxaldehyde, which on its own gives responses in 1-3% of tested patients.

Limonene and linalool hydroperoxides are major allergens

These hydroperoxides are among the 2,500 fragrance ingredients that are used in perfumes and other household products. About 100 of these ingredients are known contact allergens.

Limonene and linalool hydroperoxides have become available as patch test material. 12 single substances have caused a high number of published cases of sensitization.

The use concentration of these hydroperoxides should be reduced or, in the case of hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (HICC, e.g., Lyral®), abandoned altogether.

The Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Concerning the Disclosure of Cosmetic Ingredients was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on February 11, 2023. The goal for the proposed regulatory changes is to increase chemical transparency, improve regulatory oversight, and address administrative updates for cosmetics, while continuing alignment with the regulatory framework of the European Union (EU) concerning cosmetic product labeling.

Cosmetic product labels list ingredients to ensure safety

Fragrance allergens are among more than 2,500 fragrance ingredients used in cosmetics, detergents, fabric softeners, and other household products. Cosmetic product labels have been required to list all ingredients present in the formulation for the product, primarily using internationally recognized nomenclature for cosmetics called INCI.

Fragrance allergens are often found in perfumes, cosmetics, personal care products, household products like cleaners, and air fresheners. The Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Concerning the Disclosure of Cosmetic Ingredients (“the draft Regulations”) was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on February 11, 2023. The goal for the proposed regulatory changes is to increase the chemical transparency, improve the regulatory oversight, and address administrative updates for cosmetics, while continuing alignment with the regulatory framework of the European Union (EU) concerning cosmetic product labeling.

The most commonly used fragrance terpenes limonene and linalool hydroperoxides resulting from autoxidation constitute the major allergens. These have become available as patch test material recently. Altogether 12 single substances have caused a (very) high number of published cases of sensitization. Thus their use concentration should be (further) reduced or, in case of hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (HICC), use should be abandoned altogether. This is also recommended in case of oak moss and tree moss due to their content of the strong sensitizers atranol and chloroatranol.

As generic maximum dose for the remaining 11 single substances 0.8 µg/cm2 are suggested, which corresponds, under conservative assumptions, a maximum concentration of 100 ppm in the finished product. Therefore, it is advisable to supplement standard patch testing with the patient's own stay-on cosmetic products, as well as the fragrance chemical hydroxyisohexyl-3-cyclohexane carboxaldehyde, which on its own gives responses in 1-3% of tested patients.

In conclusion, we can say that fragrance allergens are to cosmetics what nuts are to food products. They are mentioned on packaging to ensure the safety of people who are allergic to them, but they are not dangerous for non-allergic individuals.

Regulations in Canada and EU regulate cosmetic ingredients

Fragrance allergens are among the 2500 fragrance ingredients used in perfumes and cosmetics. They are found in personal care products, household products, detergents, fabric softeners, and other household products. The most commonly used fragrance terpenes are limonene and linalool hydroperoxides resulting from autoxidation. These have become available as patch test material recently. Altogether 12 single substances have caused a (very) high number of published cases of sensitization. Thus their use concentration should be (further) reduced or, in case of hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (HICC), use should be abandoned altogether. This is also recommended in case of oak moss and tree moss due to their content of the strong sensitizers atranol and chloroatranol.

In Canada, the Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Concerning the Disclosure of Cosmetic Ingredients was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on Feb. 11, 2023. The draft Regulations was open for consultation until April 22, 2023. The articulately goal for the proposed regulatory changes is to increase the chemical transparency, improve the regulatory oversight, and address administrative updates for cosmetics, while continuing alignment with the regulatory framework of the European Union (EU) concerning cosmetic product labeling. Since 2006, cosmetic product labels have been required to list all ingredients present in the formulation for the product, primarily using internationally recognized nomenclature for cosmetics called INCI.

In the EU, cosmetic product labels have been required to list all ingredients present in the formulation for the product since 2006. The Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Concerning the Disclosure of Cosmetic Ingredients was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on Feb. 11, 2023. The draft Regulations was open for consultation until April 22, 2023. The articulately goal for the proposed regulatory changes is to increase the chemical transparency, improve the regulatory oversight, and address administrative updates for cosmetics, while continuing alignment with the regulatory framework of the European Union (EU) concerning cosmetic product labeling.

In Canada, the Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Concerning the Disclosure of Cosmetic Ingredients was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on Feb. 11, 2023. The draft Regulations was open for consultation until April 22, 2023. The articulately goal for the proposed regulatory changes is to increase the chemical transparency, improve the regulatory oversight, and address administrative updates for cosmetics, while continuing alignment with the regulatory framework of the European Union (EU) concerning cosmetic product labeling. Since 2006, cosmetic product labels have been required to list all ingredients present in the formulation for the product, primarily using internationally recognized nomenclature for cosmetics called INCI.

In the EU, cosmetic product labels have been required to list all ingredients present in the formulation for the product since 2006. The Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Concerning the Disclosure of Cosmetic Ingredients was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on Feb. 11, 2023. The draft Regulations was open for consultation until April 22, 2023. The articulately goal for the proposed regulatory changes is to increase the chemical transparency, improve the regulatory oversight, and address administrative updates for cosmetics, while continuing alignment with the regulatory framework of the European Union (EU) concerning cosmetic product labeling.

Frequently asked questions