Isoeugenol — Allergy Risk & Safety Profile

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

INCI: ISOEUGENOL

🔴 High Risk

Key Facts

CAS Number: 97-54-1
Category: fragrance
Risk Level: high
Common Allergen: Yes
Found In: perfume, soap

Is Isoeugenol safe in cosmetics?

Isoeugenol is rated high risk in cosmetic products. It is a known allergen that can cause contact dermatitis in sensitized individuals. One of the strongest fragrance sensitizers. EU-regulated. Safer alternatives include Fragrance-free products, Essential oil-free formulations. Commonly found in perfume, soap.

What is Isoeugenol?

Potent fragrance allergen. Much more sensitizing than eugenol.

Allergy & Safety Information

Isoeugenol 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 Isoeugenol.

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: One of the strongest fragrance sensitizers. EU-regulated.

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 Isoeugenol: 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 Isoeugenol 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 Isoeugenol, 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, Soap. These product categories are the most common sources of Isoeugenol exposure based on formulation data.

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