Ingredient glossary
Linalool
On your shelf ✓What Linalool does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Linalool
In short: Linalool delivers scent, plays a broad, supporting role, and the evidence behind it is moderate. One thing to know: clear it with your doctor if pregnant; can irritate, ease in slowly.
- What it does
- Scent
- Best for
- A broad, supporting role
- Watch out
- Clear it with your doctor if pregnant; can irritate, ease in slowly
- Evidence
- Moderate
The molecule
The Glow take
The first thing I would drop if skin turns reactive.
Your skin gains nothing from Linalool beyond the scent, and fragrance is one of the most common triggers for irritation. If your skin is calm, it is usually fine.
— Maya
What it does
- scent
moderate evidenceSupported by cosmetic chemistry literature for its assigned function, with fewer direct clinical outcome studies than hero actives.
Why we say this
- SCCS/1459/11 (EU Scientific Committee opinion)
- Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex III entry 84
- PMID 17577350 · abstract
- PMID 22906042 · abstract
- PMID 35099073 · abstract
The terpene family, at a glance
2 terpene entries in the base, Linalool among them. 2 of the 2 are a fragrance material.
- Limonene136 Da
- Linalool154 Da
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
No specific skin type. It is a broadly used ingredient.
Approach with care
- sensitive
- rosacea
- eczema
- fragrance allergy
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskHigh
How it fits each skin type
- DryNeutral
- CombinationNeutral
- OilyNeutral
- SensitiveTake care
Take extra care if any of these apply to you: rosacea, eczema, fragrance allergy.
Where it fits in your routine
What regulators say
In the EU a label must name linalool above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products; the rule is the name on the label, not a cap on the…
What the regulator says, in full
- In the EU a label must name linalool above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products; the rule is the name on the label, not a cap on the amount.
One of the 26 fragrance allergens the EU makes labels name.
Linalool, answered
Is Linalool safe during pregnancy?
Clear it with your doctor first. Linalool is flagged as use-with-caution during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so check with your doctor or midwife before adding it.
Who should avoid Linalool?
Approach Linalool with care if any of these apply to you: sensitive, rosacea, eczema, and fragrance allergy. Its irritation risk is high, so introduce it slowly and patch test first.
What concentration of Linalool actually works?
Its concentration is rarely printed on the label, so use the ingredient list as your clue: near the top third it is likely doing real work, near the bottom it is more of a sprinkle.
During pregnancy
Treat Linalool as a maybe rather than a yes for now. It is flagged as one to use with caution while pregnant or breastfeeding, so it is worth clearing before you carry on.
When in doubt, check with your doctor or midwife. They outrank any website, including this one.When it is worth booking →
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Sources & how we reviewed this
- SCCS/1459/11 (EU Scientific Committee opinion)summary page only, the document itself was not read
- Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex III entry 84summary page only, the document itself was not read
- PMID 17577350abstract read, not the full text
- PMID 22906042abstract read, not the full text
- PMID 35099073abstract read, not the full text
What changed on this page
- : what the EU regulates
- : irritation risk, evidence level, who should avoid it, sources
- : the PubChem record, light stability