Is Citral safe in cosmetics?
Citral has a safety rating of "MODERATE" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: permitted. 8 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database. This ingredient has been reviewed by SCCS Opinion.
MODERATE
Fragrance
NOAEL Data
GHS Classified
SCCS/CIR Reviewed
Sensitization Data
Dermal Penetration
Citral
Also known as: Lemarome N, 2,6-Octadienal, 3,7-dimethyl-, 3-01-00-03053, BRN 1721871, Caswell No. 221B (+8 more)
INCI: CITRAL
Citral (CAS 5392-40-5) is a cosmetic fragrance functioning as Fragrance. NOAEL 120 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted, max 10 ppm in leave-on products, 100 ppm in rinse-off products; GHS signal word WARNING. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data.
Function
Fragrance
Editorial assessment
MODERATE
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
EU Max Conc.
10 ppm in leave-on products, 100 ppm in rinse-off products
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
No US federal individual fragrance ingredient disclosure requirement; listed as fragrance only under FDA rules
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Citral.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
8 study endpoints found for Citral. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.
| Endpoint | Value | Route | Species | Study Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | 120 mg/kg bw/day | oral | mouse | Carcinogenicity | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 125 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Developmental | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 210 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Carcinogenicity | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 534 mg/kg bw/day | oral | mouse | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 745 mg/kg bw/day | oral | mouse | Subchronic | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 820 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Subchronic | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | =6 mg/kg bw | - | Unspecified | other | EFSA |
| NOAEL | =6 mg/kg bw | - | Unspecified | other | EFSA |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Signal Word
WARNING
Pictograms
Excl markWarn
Hazard Statements
Combustible liquid May be harmful if swallowed or in contact with skin Causes skin irritation May cause allergic skin reaction Toxic to aquatic life
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is irritating to the skin.
Long-term Exposure Effects
Repeated or prolonged contact may cause skin sensitization.
Safety Opinions
Official safety assessments from the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR).
SCCS Opinion
SCCS/1666/24
29 July 2024
Verdict: unknown
Max Concentration: 0.001% in leave-on
SCCS Opinion
SCCS/1666/24
29 July 2024
Verdict: unknown
Max Concentration: 0.01% in leave-on
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Citral across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
Sensitization Profile
Contact sensitization data for Citral based on clinical patch test studies and IFRA standards.
Sensitization Rate
moderate
Allergen Class
fragrance
EU Allergen Listed
yes
Patch Test Positive Rate
1.8%
Cross-reactivity Group
fragrance-mix-II
Reaction Type
contact-dermatitis
IFRA Restricted
— max 0.6% in finished products
Source: ESSCA/IVDK
Dermal Penetration Profile
Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Citral, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.
Absorption %
18-30%
Penetration Level
epidermis
Penetration Depth
epidermis/dermis
Molecular Weight
152.2 Da
Log P
3.45
Systemic Absorption
yes
Topical Bioavailability
12-25%
Safety Margin Factor
high
Vehicle Dependent
Yes — absorption varies by formulation
Source: SCCS Opinion
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
10 toxicity values from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEL | =200 mg/kg-day | Rabbit | oral | short-term (developmental) | EPA TSCA 8e |
| NOAEL | =345 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | chronic | EFSA |
| ADI | <=0.5 mg/kg | Human | oral | - | WHO/JECFA |
| LEL | =335 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | chronic | EPA ToxRefDB |
| LEL | =345 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | chronic | EPA ToxRefDB |
| LEL | =790 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | chronic | EPA ToxRefDB |
| LEL | =745 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | chronic | EPA ToxRefDB |
| LEL | =210 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | chronic | EPA ToxRefDB |
| LEL | =100 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | chronic | EPA ToxRefDB |
| LEL | =60 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | chronic | EPA ToxRefDB |
EU CLP Annex VI Harmonized Classification
Legally binding harmonized classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI.
Signal Word
Warning
Pictograms
Harmful / Irritant
Hazard Class and Category
Skin Irrit. 2; Skin Sens. 1
Hazard Statements
- H315 Causes skin irritation
- H317 May cause an allergic skin reaction
Inserted via ATP: CLP00
Sensitization AOP Dashboard
Adverse Outcome Pathway data across 5 assays (DPRA, KeratinoSens, hCLAT, LLNA, NESIL) aggregated from public sources.
DPRA Cys %
22.8%
DPRA Lys %
19.6%
KeratinoSens IC50
171.8 µM
hCLAT CV75
20.3 µg/mL
LLNA EC3
5.8%
NESIL
65 µg/cm²
LLNA: Moderate (1B)
GHS: 1B
Human: positive
Source: LLNA: personal communication by RIFM (RIFM DB #52907) | Submitted by RIFM (RIFM DB #42023); DPRA: Bauch et al. 2011 [DOI:10.1016/j.tiv.2011.05.030] | Gerberick et al. 2004 [DOI:10.1093/toxsci/kfh213]; KS: Natsch et al. 2013 [DOI:10.1002/jat.2868] | Bauch et al. 2011 [DOI:10.1016/j.tiv.2011.05.030]; hCLAT: Bauch et al. 2011 [DOI:10.1016/j.tiv.2011.05.030] | Ashikaga et al. 2010 [DOI:10.1177/026119291003800403]; HPPT: [616] Kligman AM (1972): Reports to RIFM, 14 March, 18 May, 13 October and 19 October, unpublished.
HRIPT Human Patch Test Studies
5 human repeat insult patch tests aggregated from dermatological literature.
| Test Type | N | Sensitized | Dose µg/cm² | NESIL µg/cm² | Potency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HRIPT | 101 | 0 | 1417 | 1417 | non-sensitizer |
| HRIPT | - | 0 | 1417 | 1417 | moderate |
| HMT | - | 0 | 64.8 | - | - |
| HMT | - | 0 | 324 | - | - |
| HMT | - | 0 | 1296 | - | - |
Endocrine Disruptor Evidence (Expanded)
Cross-referenced EDC classifications, mechanism data, and dose-response evidence from EDLists, SIN List, and cosmetic-specific detail sources.
Cosmetic-Specific Mechanism
Category: fragrance
Receptor targets: ERα (limited)
LOEC: 100 µM
EU status: allowed (allergen labeling)
weak modulator
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
10,000 - 100,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Hazard classification: Restricted (Annex XVII)
Expanded Jurisdictional Detail
Additional regulatory detail beyond the 7-jurisdiction summary: Saudi SFDA, Korea MFDS, ASEAN ACD, Japan/Korea, Brazil/India, and cross-jurisdictional restriction entries.
SA Saudi SFDA (III - Restricted)
BRIN Brazil/India Cosmetics
Brazil: Restricted (Fragrance Allergen) · max >0.001% leave-on / >0.01% rinse-off requires labeling
India: Restricted
IFRA Concentration Limits (12 Product Categories)
International Fragrance Association standards per product category. Restriction: Restriction. Effective: 2021-02-10.
| Category | Max % | Category | Max % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (Lip products) | 0.3% | 7a (Deodorant – not spray) | 0.59% |
| 2 (Body spray) | 0.089% | 7b (Deodorant spray) | 0.59% |
| 3 (Body cream) | 0.3% | 8 (Face cream) | 0.099% |
| 4 (Fine fragrance) | 1.2% | 9 (Soap) | 1.4% |
| 5a (Body lotion) | 0.3% | 10a (Household – non-spray) | 1.4% |
| 5b (Face cream leave-on) | 0.29% | 10b (Household – spray) | No Restriction% |
| 5c (Hand cream) | 0.3% | 11a (Intimate – leave-on) | 0.099% |
| 5d (Baby cream) | 0.099% | 11b (Intimate – rinse) | 0.099% |
| 6 (Mouthwash) | 0.29% | 12 (Not for consumer exposure) | No Restriction% |
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Biocide
Deodorizer
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
No specific technical function
Processing aids not otherwise specified
Regulatory List Membership (6)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Consumer Product Chemical
EU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for Citral — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Regulatory Flags
eu-26-allergen
label-declaration-required
contact-allergen
natural-origin
eu_children_restricted
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
eu_cosing_listed
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Citral by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
8
Lowest NOAEL
6
Highest NOAEL
820
Units vary across source rows: mg/kg bw, mg/kg bw/day
EFSA
COSMOS DB
Known Synonyms
Lemarome N
2,6-Octadienal, 3,7-dimethyl-
3-01-00-03053
BRN 1721871
Caswell No. 221B
2,6-Dimethyloctadien-2,6-al-8
3,7-Dimethyl-1,2,6-octadienal
EINECS 226-394-6
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 040510
FEMA Number 2303
NCI-C56348
UNII-T7EU0O9VPP
cis,trans-Citral
Chemical Function
Fragrance
Regulatory Lists
Europe; Personal care; restricted
Europe
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
Cleaning products and household care - air freshener; detected; Europe; Vehicle - car interior - auto air freshener
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Vehicle - car interior
detected; Europe; Vehicle - car interior
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Vehicle - car interior
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care - specialized bath products - bath salts
children; Europe; Personal care - general moisturizing - hand/body lotion
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care
children; detected; Europe; Personal care - body hygiene - hand soap; Personal care - fragrance; Personal care - hair styling and care - shampoo
detected; Europe; Personal care - make-up and related
detected; Europe; Personal care - make-up and related
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical and food safety data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA count match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Adverse Event Associations
3
SOURCE
EFSA / FDA GRAS
food_additives
Food Safety Data
Same-CAS food additive or FDA GRAS records from the core public database.
Food Name
CITRAL
ADI
0-0.5 mg/kg bw (1979) mg/kg bw
Food Category
flavoring
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Citral allowed in the EU?
Citral EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: 10 ppm in leave-on products, 100 ppm in rinse-off products. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Citral do in cosmetics?
Citral functions as: Fragrance. It is classified as a Fragrance in our database. CAS number: 5392-40-5.
What is the NOAEL for Citral?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Citral is 120 mg/kg bw/day based on a Carcinogenicity study via oral route in mouse. A total of 8 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS DB.
Is Citral classified as hazardous under GHS?
Citral carries a GHS signal word of "WARNING". Hazard statements: Combustible liquid May be harmful if swallowed or in contact with skin Causes skin irritation May cause allergic skin reaction Toxic to aquatic life. This classification is based on the ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Card and ECHA C&L inventory data. Note: GHS classification applies to the pure substance — at cosmetic use concentrations, hazard thresholds may not be met.
Is Citral used outside cosmetics?
Citral also appears in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Citral compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
Related Ingredients
Dihydromyrcenol
EXCELLENT
Same category
Fragrance; aroma chemical; fresh/clea...
Hedione
EXCELLENT
Same category
Perfuming, Fragrance Diffuser, Volume...
Iso E Super
EXCELLENT
Same category
Fragrance; aroma chemical; woody/ambe...
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
GOOD
Same category
Fragrance ingredient
Anise Alcohol
GOOD
Same category
Fragrance ingredient
Anisic Acid
GOOD
Same category
Fragrance, Antimicrobial Preservation...
(20S)-Protopanaxadiol
MODERATE
Similar safety
(Cnidium Officinale/Coptis Chinensis/Glycyrrhiza Uralensis) Root Extract
MODERATE
Similar safety
Skin conditioning
(Cryptomeria Japonica/Chamaecyparis Obtusa) Stem Ferment Extract
MODERATE
Similar safety
Antimicrobial, antioxidant, humectant
(Eclipta Prostrata/Houttuynia Cordata) Leaf Extract
MODERATE
Similar safety
Skin conditioning
(Lepidium Meyenii/Sarcodon Aspratus) Root Water
MODERATE
Similar safety
Skin conditioning
(Licorice/Reynoutria Japonica) Root/Stem Extract
MODERATE
Similar safety
Skin conditioning, antioxidant
Tetraaminopyrimidine Sulfate
MODERATE
Chemical family
Hair dyeing – oxidative dye precursor...
CITRULLINE
GOOD
Browse nearby
Skin Conditioning
CITRUS AURANTIFOLIA FLOWER EXTRACT
MODERATE
Browse nearby
Astringent, Skin Conditioning
Is Citral in Your Products?
Scan any product label with Piro — our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.
Try Piro Free →Analyze Your Full Ingredient List
Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Citral in your formulation.