Geranyl acetate on your skin: a safety profile

What is geranyl acetate?

The IUPAC name is [(2E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienyl] acetate.

Also known as: [(2E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienyl] acetate, Geranyl ethanoate, Acetic acid, geraniol ester, Geranyl acetate A.

IUPAC name

[(2E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienyl] acetate

CAS number

105-87-3

Molecular formula

C12H20O2

Molecular weight

196.29 g/mol

SMILES

CC(=CCCC(=CCOC(=O)C)C)C

PubChem CID

1549026

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Geranyl acetate. The classifications differ — that's the data.

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 geranyl acetate

• Personal Care — perfume, soap, lotion, shampoo
• Consumer Products — cleaning products, air fresheners
• 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 Geranyl acetate:

• Citronellyl acetate
  Trade-offs: Removes 95-99% of dissolved contaminants including metals, PFAS, nitrates; wastes 2-4 gallons per gallon produced (improving with newer systems); removes beneficial minerals; $0.05-0.25/gallon; requires pre-treatment for longevity.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×
• Natural geranium oil
  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: 2-5× conventional

Frequently asked questions