Linalool: Comedogenic Rating & Ingredient Analysis
Linalool is one of the 26 fragrance molecules that European law requires to be named separately on cosmetic labels, which is why you often see it listed at the end of an ingredient list even in products marketed as natural. It is a naturally occurring scent compound found in lavender, coriander, rosewood and hundreds of other plants, and it gives many products their soft, floral-fresh smell. On its own linalool is well tolerated by most people; its place on the mandatory-declaration list reflects that a minority develop allergic contact dermatitis to it, particularly to the oxidised form that builds up when a product is exposed to air over time.
Quick facts
- Comedogenic rating
- our estimate — not measured
- Irritation risk
- Moderate
- Effective pH
- —
- Typical strength
- trace–0.5%
- Pregnancy
- Considered safe
- Suits skin types
- oilycombinationnormaldry
Where this number comes from
No one has published a comedogenic rating for this ingredient. Fulton's 1989 table tested about 250 raw materials and this was not among them, and we found no later study measuring it. The figure shown is our own reasoning from the ingredient's chemistry and how it is used — treat it as an estimate, not a measurement.
Fulton read his own scale as 0-1 not significant, 2-3 borderline, 4-5 positive. The assay is the rabbit ear at 10% dilution, which the paper itself calls extremely sensitive and not fully predictive of human skin. Ratings describe the raw ingredient; concentration and formulation change real-world behaviour.
Caution profile
The four published fields on this page, on one 0–5 scale. Further from the centre means more care is needed — never that the ingredient is worse.
Derived, not measured: pore-clogging is the published comedogenic rating; irritation maps low/moderate/high to 1/3/5; pregnancy maps safe/caution/avoid to 0/3/5; skin-type limits is how many of the seven skin types this entry does NOT list. Every input is printed in words in the quick-facts card above.
Show the numbers
| Metric | 0–5 | Published field |
|---|---|---|
| Pore-clogging | 0 | 0/5 |
| Irritation | 3 | Moderate |
| Skin-type limits | 2.1 | 4/7 |
| Pregnancy | 0 | Considered safe |
Working pH and typical strength
Where this ingredient is formulated to sit, and at what concentration.
Both bars come from the fields above: the pH window and the typical strength range published for this ingredient. The tinted column is healthy skin's surface pH (about 4.7–5.75).
Show the numbers
| Metric | 0–5 |
|---|---|
| Typical strength | trace–0.5% |
What is it?
Chemically, linalool is a terpene alcohol used both as a deliberately added fragrance ingredient and as a component of essential oils such as lavender and bergamot. Fresh linalool has a low allergy risk, but on contact with oxygen it slowly forms hydroperoxides, and these oxidation products are the actual sensitisers. This is why an old, long-opened bottle of a linalool-containing product can provoke a reaction that the same product did not cause when new. Linalool has no skincare benefit for acne, hydration or ageing — it is present purely for scent — so for reactive skin it represents added risk without added reward.
Benefits
Provides a fresh, floral scent
Linalool is prized in perfumery for its clean, lavender-like note, and it is one of the most widely used scent molecules in cosmetics.
Occurs naturally in botanicals
It is a major component of lavender, bergamot and coriander oils, so products built on these botanicals contain linalool whether or not it is added separately.
Helps mask base odours
Like other fragrance components, it can round out and cover the raw smell of oils and surfactants in a formula.
No comedogenic load
Used in trace amounts, linalool does not clog pores; its only relevant risk for skin is sensitisation, not comedones.
How to use
You do not use linalool on purpose — you decide whether to accept it. If your skin tolerates fragranced products, there is no need to avoid it. If you are prone to fragrance allergy, eczema or you use sensitising actives such as retinol, salicylic-acid or glycolic-acid, look for fragrance-free formulas where linalool is absent. Because oxidised linalool is the main sensitiser, store fragranced products away from heat and light and replace them once they change smell or colour. When testing a product that lists linalool, patch test on the forearm for several days first.
Side effects
For most users linalool causes no reaction. In sensitised individuals it can produce allergic contact dermatitis — an itchy, red, sometimes delayed rash where the product was applied. The risk rises with oxidised, older product and with leave-on formats that stay on the skin. Patch-test clinics include oxidised linalool in their standard fragrance screening because it is a recognised, though not common, cause of cosmetic allergy.
Who should avoid it
Anyone with a known allergy to linalool or lavender-type fragrances, and people with eczema, rosacea or a damaged barrier, should choose fragrance-free products. Those layering multiple actives should also minimise fragrance exposure to keep the overall irritation load low.
Avoid combining with
Frequently asked questions
Is linalool bad for your skin?
For most people it is harmless. It is flagged on labels because a minority react to it, especially to its oxidised form. If you are not fragrance-sensitive, linalool in a product is generally not a concern.
Why is linalool listed separately on labels?
EU law requires 26 known fragrance allergens, including linalool, to be named on the label above set concentrations so that people who react to them can identify and avoid them.
Is natural linalool safer than synthetic?
No. The molecule is the same whether extracted from lavender or made synthetically, and both oxidise into the same sensitising compounds. What governs your risk is how long the bottle has been open, not whether the label says lavender.
Does linalool clog pores?
No. It is used in trace amounts for scent and has a comedogenic rating of zero. Its only skin-relevant risk is allergic sensitisation, not clogged pores or acne.
Sources & further reading
Medical disclaimer
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