{"id":325973,"date":"2026-10-07T02:55:34","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T00:55:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/degroenelinde.nl\/allergenen-op-etiket-van-etherische-olie-uitleg"},"modified":"2026-10-07T02:55:35","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T00:55:35","slug":"explanation-of-allergens-on-essential-oil-labels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/degroenelinde.nl\/en\/allergenen-op-etiket-van-etherische-olie-uitleg","title":{"rendered":"Allergens on the label of an essential oil"},"content":{"rendered":"

Allergens on the label of an essential oil<\/h1>\n

Do you see names such as limonene, linalool, geraniol or citral on the label of an essential oil or a skincare product? If so, these are fragrance allergens: fragrances that may occur naturally in essential oils and therefore sometimes need to be listed separately on the label. This doesn\u2019t automatically mean that a product is unsafe, but it does mean you should be extra careful when choosing one if your skin is prone to reactions. Understanding the difference between essential oils and fragrance oils can also help here.<\/p>\n

Especially if you\u2019re sensitive to perfume, tend to get redness or itching easily, or have had reactions in the past, it\u2019s a good idea to take the time to learn how to read labels properly. Below, we explain in practical terms where to find allergens, what those ingredient names mean, and what to look out for in pure essential oils and cosmetics containing essential oils.<\/p>\n

What those ingredient names on the label really mean<\/h2>\n

Allergens listed on the label are usually not \u201cadditives\u201d, but individual fragrance compounds that are naturally present in an essential oil. For example, citrus oils often contain limonene, lavender oil often contains linalool, and rose-like scents may contain geraniol. Precisely because essential oils are 100% naturally pure and highly concentrated, these components may be clearly detectable.<\/p>\n

These names are listed on the label so that you can more easily identify which ingredients you may be sensitive to. This is particularly useful if you have sensitive skin, a perfume allergy, or if you use several products that contain the same fragrances.<\/p>\n

Where can you find allergens on the label?<\/h2>\n

Where you look depends on the type of product. For skincare products, allergens are usually listed in the ingredients list. For pure essential oils, you\u2019ll sometimes find the relevant information partly on the label and partly in the product specification or in our article on safe use of essential oils<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Product type<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

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Where are you looking?<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

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What do you usually see?<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

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Cosmetics containing essential oils<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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INCI ingredients list, often at the end<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Individual names such as limonene, linalool, citral and eugenol<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Pure essential oil<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Label, product page and product specification<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Botanical name, batch, warnings, and sometimes relevant ingredients<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Professional use<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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SDS, COA or product data sheet<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Current composition, batch-by-batch analysis and safety information<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

In the case of cosmetics, fragrance allergens that exceed the legal limit must be listed on the label. Online, you will still often come across the old list of 26 fragrance allergens, but that European list has been expanded. As a result, you will see more individual fragrance allergens listed on newer labels than before.<\/p>\n

For up-to-date analyses, SDSs and batch information, you can find the relevant documentation on our certificates<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Common allergens in essential oils<\/h2>\n

There are a few names you\u2019ll come across particularly often. These aren\u2019t \u201cbad\u201d substances, but they are substances to which some people are sensitive:<\/p>\n