Coumarin on your skin: a safety profile

What is coumarin?

The IUPAC name is chromen-2-one.

Also known as: chromen-2-one, 2H-Chromen-2-one, 2H-1-Benzopyran-2-one, cumarin.

IUPAC name

chromen-2-one

CAS number

91-64-5

Molecular formula

C9H6O2

Molecular weight

146.14 g/mol

SMILES

C1=CC=C2C(=C1)C=CC(=O)O2

PubChem CID

323

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Coumarin.

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where you encounter coumarin

• Personal Care — perfume, lotion, lip balm, sunscreen
• Food — cinnamon, cassia, vanilla flavoring, chocolate
• Consumer Products — candles, air freshener, tobacco products
• Fragrance — perfume, cologne, scented personal care products, household fragrance products, candles
  Identified in Fragrance Ingredient Safety Priority Research database (2,325 ingredients)

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Coumarin:

• Tonka bean absolute
  Trade-offs: Alternative fragrance ingredient; individual safety profile should be assessed per IFRA standards; sensitization potential varies by compound; patch testing recommended for sensitive individuals.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×
• Vanillin blends
  Trade-offs: Alternative fragrance ingredient; individual safety profile should be assessed per IFRA standards; sensitization potential varies by compound; patch testing recommended for sensitive individuals.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions