Skip to content
be sonatural, Face masks, read from the back

Linalyl Acetate

Depends on youFragrancefragrancemaskingEU-declared fragrance allergen

Genuinely relevant for some people, or depends on dose and pH.

Also written as: Bergamol · 3,7-Dimethylocta-1,6-dien-3-yl acetate

What it is

Linalyl acetate is the ester of linalool and is the other dominant component of lavender, bergamot and clary sage oils, giving them their sweet fruity-floral edge. Like linalool it is stable in the bottle but not in contact with air. Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 brought it onto the mandatory allergen labelling list for the first time.

What it does well

  • Carries much of the characteristic lavender and bergamot scent

    It is used both as an isolated aroma chemical and as a natural constituent of essential oils. This is a scent function, not a skin benefit.

    Strong evidence

Worth knowing

  • Forms potent contact allergens when it oxidises

    Swedish research showed that air-exposed linalyl acetate develops hydroperoxides that are potent sensitisers, following the same pattern as linalool and limonene. This is a large part of why lavender oil becomes more allergenic as it ages.

    Matters most toPeople with eczema or a known fragrance allergy, and anyone using long-opened lavender-scented products.

Where the EU stands

Labelling required

Added to the declared fragrance-allergen list by Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 as Annex III entry 337. Must be named on the pack above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products. Non-compliant products could be placed on the EU market until 31 July 2026 and sold from existing stock until 31 July 2028.

Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex III entry 337, as inserted by Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 · source ↗

Sources (1)

Every link goes to the original: a journal, a PubMed record or an EU document.

  1. [1]
    Autoxidation of linalyl acetate, the main component of lavender oil, creates potent contact allergens

    Contact Dermatitis · 2008 · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.2007.01262.x

    Air exposure converts linalyl acetate into hydroperoxides that act as potent contact allergens, mirroring the behaviour of linalool and limonene.

Masks that contain Linalyl Acetate