What are the EU fragrance allergens?

In the EU, a fragrance blend can be listed as “parfum”, but some fragrance substances have to be named as well. These are the EU fragrance allergens. Poliage has a flag category for them, called Fragrance allergens (EU 26).

The rule

Article 19 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 says perfume and aromatic compositions are referred to as “parfum” or “aroma”. It also says substances marked in the “Other” column of Annex III must be shown in the list in addition to those terms.

For the listed allergens, the name must appear when the concentration exceeds:

• 0.001% in leave-on products
• 0.01% in rinse-off products

A leave-on product stays on the skin, such as a lotion. A rinse-off product is washed off, such as a face wash or shampoo.

The original 26

The European Commission’s independent scientific committee on cosmetic ingredients (SCCS) describes how a 1999 opinion identified 26 fragrance allergens that consumers should be told about. They went into Annex III as entries 67 to 92. Poliage’s EU 26 category follows this original list.

Some of the 26, named here by INCI name as CosIng prints them:

• LINALOOL
• LIMONENE
• CITRAL
• GERANIOL
• EUGENOL
• COUMARIN

Others include CITRONELLOL, BENZYL SALICYLATE and CINNAMAL. The same list also contains BENZYL ALCOHOL and the oakmoss extracts, EVERNIA PRUNASTRI EXTRACT and EVERNIA FURFURACEA EXTRACT.

Counts can differ depending on how Annex III groups entries. This guide uses “26” for the original list, as the SCCS does.

The 2023 additions

The SCCS opinion SCCS/1459/11 classed 82 substances as established contact allergens in humans, 54 single chemicals and 28 natural extracts. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 acted on that opinion. It also amends some existing Annex III entries. The European Commission says it introduces individual labeling requirements for 56 additional allergens, with the same 0.001% and 0.01% limits.

The regulation sets transition dates. Products that do not comply could be placed on the EU market until 31 July 2026. They can stay available on the EU market until 31 July 2028. As of 2026-10-22, the first date has passed, so newly placed products should follow the new labeling. Products placed before it may still be on shelves until the later date. That means a label from an EU product can show either version for now.

How this differs in the U.S.

The FDA says fragrance and flavor ingredients can be listed simply as “Fragrance” or “Flavor”. It also says it does not have the same legal authority to require allergen labeling for cosmetics as for food. So a U.S. label may show only “Fragrance”, and the absence of an allergen name on a U.S. list does not tell you the blend lacks it.

What this does and does not tell you

• A named allergen means the maker declares it is present above the threshold.
• Below the threshold, it need not be named.
• Being on the list is not a finding about any product, and Poliage does not give products a number or grade of its own.
• The list does not tell you whether a substance will affect you.

Poliage matches ingredient names on the list to the category and shows “Contains LINALOOL”, for example, with its CosIng function. Labels can be misread and formulas change, so the pack comes first. If you know you are allergic to a fragrance substance, the FDA suggests checking the list and choosing fragrance free products. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about any reaction. Poliage gives product information, not medical advice.

Where this comes from

The thresholds and the transition dates come from the European Commission page on fragrance allergens labeling, which summarizes Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545. The 26 original allergens, the 82 established contact allergens and the Annex III entry numbers come from the SCCS opinion SCCS/1459/11; the 56 additional labeled allergens come from the European Commission page on Regulation (EU) 2023/1545. The parfum rule comes from Article 19 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. The U.S. comparison comes from the FDA page on fragrances in cosmetics.