Body & Beauty / Compounds / Linalool

Linalool on your skin: a safety profile

Low risk

(People-specific data is limited; this page draws from human adult context.) Fresh linalool is low concern; OXIDIZED linalool (formed on shelf) is a significant contact allergen; EU mandatory allergen disclosure; respiratory sensitizer potential

What is linalool?

The IUPAC name is 3,7-dimethylocta-1,6-dien-3-ol.

Also known as: 3,7-dimethylocta-1,6-dien-3-ol, Linalol, LINALYL ALCOHOL, beta-Linalool.

IUPAC name
3,7-dimethylocta-1,6-dien-3-ol
CAS number
78-70-6
Molecular formula
C10H18O
Molecular weight
154.25 g/mol
SMILES
CC(=CCCC(C)(C=C)O)C
PubChem CID
6549

Risk for people

Low risk

Fresh linalool is low concern; OXIDIZED linalool (formed on shelf) is a significant contact allergen; EU mandatory allergen disclosure; respiratory sensitizer potential

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Linalool.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
Unknown——

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 linalool

  • Personal Care — shampoo, soap, lotion, deodorant, perfume
  • Consumer Products — laundry detergent, cleaning products, candles, air fresheners
  • Food — flavoring (GRAS), essential oils
  • 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 Linalool:

  • Dihydromyrcenol
    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×
  • Tetrahydrolinalool
    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×

Frequently asked questions

What products contain linalool?

Linalool appears in: shampoo (Personal care); soap (Personal care); laundry detergent (Consumer products); cleaning products (Consumer products); flavoring (GRAS) (Food).

See Linalool in the body app

Look up products containing linalool, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in body View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. PubChem Compound Database (2026) — database

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →