Moderate Cosmetic Ingredient

Camphor Oil

INCI: CINNAMOMUM CAMPHORA BARK OIL

CAS Number
8008-51-3
Function
Denaturant, fragrance, counterirritant
Safety Rating
MODERATE

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status restricted
EU Max Conc. 3%
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes FDA OTC Monograph M017 (External Analgesic) and M015 (Anorectal): camphor approved as Category I active at 0.1-3%. CIR has deferred safety evaluation because FDA has assessed this ingredient. Not for use on broken skin; oral ingestion toxic.

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
not established
Dermal Absorption
low
Sensitization
low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Camphor oil (CAS 8008-51-3) is restricted in the EU under Annex III with a maximum of 3% in finished cosmetics. In the US, it is FDA-approved as a Category I active ingredient in OTC monographs for external analgesics and anorectal products at 0.1-3% concentration. CIR deferred evaluation to FDA assessment. Systemic exposure is negligible at typical cosmetic use levels due to low dermal absorption.

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Concern Level: Moderate

Regulatory Flags

annex-iii-restricted cir-deferred-to-fda fda-otc-category-i max-3-percent-eu neurotoxic-risk-high-dose toxic-if-ingested ifra_fragrance fda_food_additive

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Camphor Oil safe in cosmetics?

Camphor oil (CAS 8008-51-3) is restricted in the EU under Annex III with a maximum of 3% in finished cosmetics. In the US, it is FDA-approved as a Category I active ingredient in OTC monographs for external analgesics and anorectal products at 0.1-3% concentration. CIR deferred evaluation to FDA assessment. Systemic exposure is negligible at typical cosmetic use levels due to low dermal absorption. The EU classifies Camphor Oil as "restricted". Safety rating: MODERATE.

Is Camphor Oil allowed in the EU?

Camphor Oil EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: 3%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Camphor Oil do in cosmetics?

Camphor Oil functions as: Denaturant, fragrance, counterirritant. It is classified as a Cosmetic Ingredient in our database. CAS number: 8008-51-3.

What is the Margin of Safety for Camphor Oil?

not established The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

Compliance Tools

Check Camphor Oil compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
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Substance Compliance
Check compliance across 55 jurisdictions
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
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Heavy Metal Limits
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