Cinnamal — Allergy Risk & Safety Profile

Name: Is Cinnamal Safe? Allergy Risk & Alternatives
Creator: SkinDetekt

INCI: CINNAMAL

Also known as: Cinnamic Aldehyde, Cinnamaldehyde

🔴 High Risk

Key Facts

CAS Number: 104-55-2
Category: fragrance
Risk Level: high
Common Allergen: Yes
Found In: perfume, toothpaste, lip products

Is Cinnamal safe in cosmetics?

Cinnamal is rated high risk in cosmetic products. It is a known allergen that can cause contact dermatitis in sensitized individuals. Top 5 fragrance allergen. EU-regulated. Also found in spices and flavored products. Safer alternatives include Fragrance-free products, Essential oil-free formulations. Commonly found in perfume, toothpaste, lip products.

What is Cinnamal?

Cinnamon-scented fragrance. One of the most potent fragrance allergens.

Allergy & Safety Information

Cinnamal is classified as a high-risk ingredient. It is a known cause of allergic contact dermatitis. Individuals with sensitive skin or a history of contact allergies should avoid products containing this ingredient. A patch test is recommended before first use of any product containing Cinnamal.

This ingredient is classified as high risk from an allergenicity perspective. It is a recognised cause of allergic contact dermatitis with a relatively high sensitisation rate in patch-tested populations. People with a history of skin reactions to cosmetics, or with conditions such as eczema or sensitive skin, should exercise particular caution.

Allergen Note: Top 5 fragrance allergen. EU-regulated. Also found in spices and flavored products.

About Fragrance Component Ingredients

Fragrance ingredients are added to cosmetics for scent or to mask the odour of raw materials. The EU requires 26 specific fragrance allergens to be listed individually on labels when present above threshold concentrations. Fragrance (listed as "parfum") is the single most common cause of cosmetic contact dermatitis worldwide.

Relevance for Cinnamal: Even products labelled "unscented" may contain masking fragrances. True fragrance-free products list no perfuming ingredients at all. If you are fragrance-sensitive, check for "parfum," "fragrance," and all 26 EU-listed fragrance allergens on any product label.

How to Identify Cinnamal in Products

Cosmetic ingredients are listed by their INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) name in descending order of concentration. To check whether a product contains Cinnamal, scan the ingredient list for its INCI name exactly as it appears above. Ingredients present at 1% or less may appear in any order after the 1% threshold.

Product types to prioritise checking: Perfume, Toothpaste, Lip products. These product categories are the most common sources of Cinnamal exposure based on formulation data.

Not sure if your products contain Cinnamal? Paste the ingredient list into the free ingredient checker to scan for Cinnamal and other allergens automatically.