What is it?
A fragrance compound, the acetate ester of linalool. It is the main component of lavender oil, at about 30 percent, and also occurs in bergamot, neroli, peppermint, lemon and jasmine oils; it is also made synthetically. It is one of the most widely used fragrance ingredients in perfumes and cosmetics and is also used as a food flavoring.
Key information
- Pure linalyl acetate rarely causes allergy; in one study of consecutive dermatitis patients, 0.2 percent reacted to it.
- Like linalool, it oxidizes on contact with air, forming hydroperoxides that are skin sensitizers.
- In a 2015 study, 2.2 percent of 1,717 dermatitis patients patch-tested with oxidized linalyl acetate reacted to it.
- New products placed on the EU market since August 2026 must name linalyl acetate on the label above 0.001 percent in leave-on or 0.01 percent in rinse-off products.
More information
Linalyl acetate makes up about 30 percent of lavender oil, and the FDA lists it as a synthetic flavoring substance generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for food. On its own it rarely causes allergy. In the studies the EU’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) reviewed in 2012, none of 100 patients tested in Denmark reacted, another study found 0.2 percent positive reactions among consecutive patients, and human sensitization tests reviewed by the fragrance industry’s research institute found few or no cases. The SCCS still listed it as an established contact allergen, in its lowest-frequency category.
The concern is oxidation. Linalyl acetate autoxidizes on air exposure, and its main allergens are the hydroperoxides formed first. The pattern mirrors linalool, and because linalyl acetate can be broken down to linalool, the SCCS notes that cross-reactions with oxidized linalool are possible. In a 2015 study, linalyl acetate hydroperoxides built up to 37 percent of the material after 42 weeks of air exposure and were classed as moderate sensitizers. Of 1,717 dermatitis patients patch-tested with oxidized linalyl acetate, 2.2 percent reacted, a rate the authors called comparable to other oxidized fragrance terpenes, and 43 percent of those who reacted also reacted to other fragrance markers.
When that study was done, linalyl acetate did not have to be named on EU labels, which made exposure hard to track. A 2023 EU regulation changed that for new products placed on the market since August 2026. If you are allergic to oxidized linalool or lavender oil, look for Linalyl Acetate on labels, and keep scented products tightly closed. See also our Lavender Oil profile.
Sources: SCCS: Opinion on fragrance allergens in cosmetic products (2012); Contact Dermatitis (2015): Air-oxidized linalyl acetate, an emerging fragrance allergen?; EUR-Lex: Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 on labelling of fragrance allergens; Cornell LII: 21 CFR 182.60, Synthetic flavoring substances and adjuvants
