Eugenol — Allergy Risk & Safety Profile

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

INCI: EUGENOL

Also known as: Clove Oil Component

🟡 Medium Risk

Key Facts

CAS Number: 97-53-0
Category: fragrance
Risk Level: medium
Common Allergen: Yes
Found In: perfume, dental products, clove-scented products

Is Eugenol safe in cosmetics?

Eugenol is rated medium risk in cosmetic products. It is a known allergen that can cause contact dermatitis in sensitized individuals. EU-regulated fragrance allergen. Found in clove oil, cinnamon, and rose oils. Safer alternatives include Fragrance-free products, Essential oil-free formulations. Commonly found in perfume, dental products, clove-scented products.

What is Eugenol?

Eugenol is a fragrance commonly used in cosmetic and personal care products. It has a moderate risk of causing skin irritation or sensitization in some people.

Allergy & Safety Information

Eugenol is generally safe for most people but may cause irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. If you experience redness, itching, or swelling after using a product with this ingredient, discontinue use and consult a dermatologist.

This ingredient carries moderate allergenicity risk. It can cause reactions in sensitised individuals but has a lower sensitisation rate than high-risk ingredients. Patch testing before full use is advisable for anyone with a history of cosmetic reactions.

Allergen Note: EU-regulated fragrance allergen. Found in clove oil, cinnamon, and rose oils.

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 Eugenol: 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 Eugenol 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 Eugenol, 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, Dental products, Clove-scented products. These product categories are the most common sources of Eugenol exposure based on formulation data.

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