Is Citrol safe in cosmetics?
Citrol has a safety rating of "MODERATE" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: permitted.
Citrol
INCI: CITRAL
Citrol (CAS Citrol is a trade name; typically refers to Citral (CAS 5392-40-5, mixture of geranial + neral)) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Fragrance ingredient. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database.
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
CAS Number
Citrol is a trade name; typically refers to Citral (CAS 5392-40-5, mixture of geranial + neral)
View industrial chemical safety profile →
Function
Fragrance ingredient
Safety Rating
MODERATE
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
CIR reviewed; GRAS as flavor; permitted in cosmetics with allergen awareness
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Citrol.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Sensitization Profile
Contact sensitization data for Citrol based on clinical patch test studies and IFRA standards.
Sensitization Rate
moderate
Allergen Class
fragrance
EU Allergen Listed
yes
Patch Test Positive Rate
1.8%
Cross-reactivity Group
fragrance-mix-II
Reaction Type
contact-dermatitis
IFRA Restricted
— max 0.6% in finished products
Source: ESSCA/IVDK
Dermal Penetration Profile
Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Citrol, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.
Absorption %
18-30%
Penetration Level
epidermis
Penetration Depth
epidermis/dermis
Molecular Weight
152.2 Da
Log P
3.45
Systemic Absorption
yes
Topical Bioavailability
12-25%
Safety Margin Factor
high
Vehicle Dependent
Yes — absorption varies by formulation
Source: SCCS/1459/11, IFRA
IFRA Concentration Limits (12 Product Categories)
International Fragrance Association standards per product category. Restriction: Restriction. Effective: 2021-02-10.
| Category | Max % | Category | Max % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (Lip products) | 0.3% | 7a (Deodorant – not spray) | 0.59% |
| 2 (Body spray) | 0.089% | 7b (Deodorant spray) | 0.59% |
| 3 (Body cream) | 0.3% | 8 (Face cream) | 0.099% |
| 4 (Fine fragrance) | 1.2% | 9 (Soap) | 1.4% |
| 5a (Body lotion) | 0.3% | 10a (Household – non-spray) | 1.4% |
| 5b (Face cream leave-on) | 0.29% | 10b (Household – spray) | No Restriction% |
| 5c (Hand cream) | 0.3% | 11a (Intimate – leave-on) | 0.099% |
| 5d (Baby cream) | 0.099% | 11b (Intimate – rinse) | 0.099% |
| 6 (Mouthwash) | 0.29% | 12 (Not for consumer exposure) | No Restriction% |
Additional Ingredient Properties
8 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
acne
{"cas_number": "5392-40-5", "anti_acne_mechanism": "antibacterial", "comedogenicity_rating_0_to_5": "2", "acne_type_efficacy": "inflammatory", "p_acnes_mic_ug_per_ml": "100-500", "sebum_reduction_pct_clinical": "5-10", "prescription_required_usa": "No", "otc_drug_monograph_category": "No", "max_otc_concentration_pct": "Max 1%", "japan_quasi_drug_anti_acne": "No", "korea_functional_cosmetic_acne": …
allergen_detail
{"eu_allergen_listed": "yes", "allergen_class": "fragrance", "cross_reactivity_group": "fragrance-mix-II", "patch_test_frequency_pct": "1.8", "sensitization_rate": "moderate", "common_reaction_type": "contact-dermatitis", "ifra_restricted": "yes", "ifra_max_level_pct": "0.6", "source": "ESSCA/IVDK"}
concentration
{"min_concentration_pct": "0.01", "max_concentration_pct": "0.5", "typical_concentration_pct": "0.2", "product_type": "Toner", "function_at_concentration": "Fragrance component", "source": "EU Cosmetics Regulation (labeling required)"}
dermal_absorption
{"molecular_weight_da": "152.2", "log_p_value": "3.45", "skin_penetration_level": "epidermis", "penetration_depth": "epidermis/dermis", "absorption_pct": "18-30", "systemic_absorption": "yes", "penetration_enhancer": "yes", "occlusion_effect": "no", "vehicle_dependent": "yes", "skin_barrier_effect": "neutral", "bioavailability_topical_pct": "12-25", "safety_margin_factor": "high", "source": "SCCS/…
ecotoxicity
{"biodegradable": "yes", "biodegradation_days": "14-28", "bioaccumulative": "no", "aquatic_toxicity_level": "moderate", "coral_reef_safe": "yes", "marine_toxicity": "moderate aquatic toxicity", "freshwater_toxicity": "moderate fish toxicity", "endocrine_disruptor": "no", "persistent_organic_pollutant": "no", "microplastic": "no", "nano_particle": "no", "hawaii_banned": "no", "eu_restricted_environ…
fragrance
{"cas_number": "5392-40-5", "ingredient_class": "natural_isolate", "chemical_class": "aldehyde", "odor_family": "citrus", "odor_description": "Strong lemon, citrus fresh", "odor_strength": "very_strong", "odor_tenacity_hours": "3.0", "top_note": "yes", "heart_note": "yes", "base_note": "no", "blending_factor_1_10": "9.0", "threshold_of_detection_ppb": "0.5", "molecular_weight_Da": "152.23", "boili…
pediatric_safety
{"safe_for_newborn_0_6m": "caution", "safe_for_infant_6_12m": "caution", "safe_for_toddler_1_3y": "caution", "safe_for_child_3_12y": "yes", "safe_for_teen_12_18y": "yes", "pediatric_max_concentration_pct": "1.0", "adult_max_concentration_pct": "unlimited", "pediatric_dermal_absorption_factor": "higher", "immature_skin_barrier_risk": "moderate", "oral_ingestion_risk": "low", "eye_irritation_risk": …
regulatory
{"eu_status": "restricted", "us_status": "allowed", "eu_max_concentration": "0.001", "restricted_in": "rinse-off: >0.01%, leave-on: >0.001%", "regulation_reference": "Annex III/205"}
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Citrol.
Regulatory Flags
potential-allergen
fragrance-component
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Citrol by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
38
Lowest NOAEL
6
Highest NOAEL
4275
Units vary across source rows: mg/kg bw/day, mg/kg bw
COSMOS_DB
EFSA_OpenFoodTox_EFSA_ReferencePoints.xlsx
ECHA_REACH_reach_study_results_dossiers_23-05-2023.zip
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Citrol allowed in the EU?
Citrol EU regulatory status: restricted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Citrol do in cosmetics?
Citrol functions as: Fragrance ingredient. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: Citrol is a trade name; typically refers to Citral (CAS 5392-40-5, mixture of geranial + neral).
Compliance Tools
Check Citrol compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
Is Citrol in Your Products?
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