Is Coumarin safe in cosmetics?
Coumarin has a safety rating of "MODERATE" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: permitted.
Coumarin
Also known as: 2H-1-Benzopyran-2-one, Chromen-2-one, 5-17-10-00143, 2H-1-Benzopyran, 2-oxo-, 2H-Benzo(b)pyran-2-one (+15 more)
INCI: COUMARIN
Coumarin (CAS 91-64-5) is a cosmetic fragrance functioning as Fragrance; aroma chemical; sweet/hay/warm note; UV absorber. NOAEL 8.33333 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. 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.
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Coumarin is classified GHS Danger (H301, H302, H317) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics at max 10 ppm in leave-on products, 100 ppm in rinse-off products.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu status/eu max; Chemicals: ghs classifications.signal word/hazard statement code
Function
Fragrance; aroma chemical; sweet/hay/warm note; UV absorber
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; subject to SCCS cosmetic use limits for brands seeking EU compliance
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Coumarin.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is irritating to the skin.
Long-term Exposure Effects
This substance is possibly carcinogenic to humans.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol, through the skin and by ingestion.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Coumarin across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
Sensitization Profile
Contact sensitization data for Coumarin based on clinical patch test studies and IFRA standards.
Sensitization Rate
low
Allergen Class
fragrance
EU Allergen Listed
yes
Patch Test Positive Rate
0.7%
Cross-reactivity Group
fragrance-mix-II
Reaction Type
contact-dermatitis
IFRA Restricted
— max 0.8% in finished products
Source: ESSCA/IVDK
Dermal Penetration Profile
Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Coumarin, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.
Absorption %
20-35%
Penetration Level
dermis
Penetration Depth
epidermis/dermis
Molecular Weight
146.1 Da
Log P
1.39
Systemic Absorption
yes
Topical Bioavailability
15-30%
Safety Margin Factor
very-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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | =10 mg/kg-day | Dog | oral | chronic | EFSA |
| NOAEL | =10 mg/kg-day | Dog | oral | chronic | EFSA |
| LEL | =400 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | short-term | EPA ToxRefDB |
| LEL | =400 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | short-term | EPA ToxRefDB |
| LEL | =300 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | short-term | EPA ToxRefDB |
| LEL | =300 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | short-term | EPA ToxRefDB |
| LEL | =75 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | subchronic | EPA ToxRefDB |
| LEL | =75 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | subchronic | EPA ToxRefDB |
| LEL | =75 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | subchronic | EPA ToxRefDB |
| LEL | =38 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | subchronic | EPA ToxRefDB |
IARC Carcinogenicity
International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) monograph evaluation.
IARC Group
3
Volume
Sup 7, 77
Evaluation Year
2000
Sensitization AOP Dashboard
Adverse Outcome Pathway data across 5 assays (DPRA, KeratinoSens, hCLAT, LLNA, NESIL) aggregated from public sources.
DPRA Cys %
1.15%
DPRA Lys %
-7.45%
KeratinoSens IC50
1922.11 µM
hCLAT CV75
534 µg/mL
LLNA EC3
37.5%
NESIL
4966 µg/cm²
LLNA: Weak (1B)
GHS: 1B
Human: positive
Source: LLNA: Gerberick et al. (2005) | Vocanson et al. (2006); DPRA: Gerberick et al. 2007 [DOI:10.1093/toxsci/kfm064] | Unilever commissioned, Charles River; KS: Natsch et al. 2013 [DOI:10.1002/jat.2868] | Unilever commissioned, Charles River; hCLAT: Takenouchi et al. 2013 [DOI:10.2131/jts.38.599] | Unilever commissioned, IIVS; HPPT: [103] Greif N (1967): Cutaneous safety of fragrance material as measured by the maximization test.
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 | 104 | 0 | 3543 | 3543 | non-sensitizer |
| HRIPT | - | 0 | 3543 | 3543 | weak |
| HMT | - | 0 | 4965.52 | - | - |
| HRIPT | - | 0 | 5039.37 | - | - |
| OECD_DA_Human | - | 0 | - | - | 1B (Weak sensitizer) |
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, AhR
LOEC: 100 µM
EU status: restricted (max 0.1% leave-on; 1% rinse-off)
agonist (weak); AhR modulator
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
1,000 - 10,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
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
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (2)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN | banned | - | - |
| GCC | restricted | 0.001 | Leave-on products |
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) | 0.05% | 7a (Deodorant – not spray) | 0.1% |
| 2 (Body spray) | 0.015% | 7b (Deodorant spray) | 0.1% |
| 3 (Body cream) | 0.05% | 8 (Face cream) | 0.017% |
| 4 (Fine fragrance) | 0.2% | 9 (Soap) | 0.2% |
| 5a (Body lotion) | 0.05% | 10a (Household – non-spray) | 0.2% |
| 5b (Face cream leave-on) | 0.05% | 10b (Household – spray) | 1.0% |
| 5c (Hand cream) | 0.05% | 11a (Intimate – leave-on) | 0.017% |
| 5d (Baby cream) | 0.017% | 11b (Intimate – rinse) | 0.017% |
| 6 (Mouthwash) | 0.05% | 12 (Not for consumer exposure) | No Restriction% |
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Brightener
Deodorizer
Dye
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
Pigment
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 Coumarin — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Regulatory Flags
eu-26-allergen
label-declaration-required
contact-allergen
hepatotoxicity-concern
sccs-limits
iarc-3
eu_children_restricted
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
eu_cosing_listed
Known Synonyms
2H-1-Benzopyran-2-one
Chromen-2-one
5-17-10-00143
2H-1-Benzopyran, 2-oxo-
2H-Benzo(b)pyran-2-one
Benzo-alpha-pyrone
5,6-Benzo-alpha-pyrone
BRN 0383644
Caswell No. 259C
Cinnamic acid, o-hydroxy-, delta-lactone
cis-o-Coumaric acid anhydride
o-Coumaric acid lactone
Coumarinic lactone
EINECS 202-086-7
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 127301
3-(2-Hydroxyphenyl)-2-propenoic delta-lactone
NCI C07103
2-Propenoic acid, 3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-delta-lactone
UNII-A4VZ22K1WT
1, 2-Benzopyrone
Chemical Function
Fragrance
Regulatory Lists
Europe; Personal care; restricted
Europe
Canada; consumer_product; Substances in Products - Canada (4/2014)
Cleaning products and household care - air freshener; Europe
air; Cleaning products and household care - air freshener; detected; emissions; Europe
Cleaning products and household care - air freshener; Europe
Cleaning products and household care - air freshener; detected; Europe; Vehicle - car interior - auto air freshener
Europe; Personal care - body hygiene - hand soap
pharmaceutical
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; detected; Europe; Personal care - body hygiene - hand soap
detected; Europe; Personal care - make-up and related
detected; Europe; Personal care - make-up and related
Cleaning products and household care - general household cleaning; Cleaning products and household care - laundry and fabric treatment; detected; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods; Vehicle - car surface treatment - body cleaner
consumer_product; detected; Europe
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 CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
COUMARIN
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL6466
Max Phase
4
Adverse Event Associations
6
SOURCE
EFSA / FDA GRAS
food_additives
Food Safety Data
Same-CAS food additive or FDA GRAS records from the core public database.
Food Name
COUMARIN--PROHIBITED
Food Category
flavoring
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coumarin allowed in the EU?
Coumarin 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 Coumarin do in cosmetics?
Coumarin functions as: Fragrance; aroma chemical; sweet/hay/warm note; UV absorber. It is classified as a Fragrance in our database. CAS number: 91-64-5.
Is Coumarin used outside cosmetics?
Coumarin 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.
Does Coumarin have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Coumarin is classified GHS Danger (H301, H302, H317) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics at max 10 ppm in leave-on products, 100 ppm in rinse-off products.
Compliance Tools
Check Coumarin 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
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