Is Farnesol safe in cosmetics?
Farnesol has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: permitted.
Farnesol
Also known as: Nikkosome, 3,7,11-Trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrien-1-ol, Farnesyl alcohol, 3,7,11-Trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecen-1-ol, FCI 119a (+7 more)
INCI: FARNESOL
Farnesol (CAS 4602-84-0) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Antibacterial; deodorant active; fragrance. NOAEL 266 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted, max Mandatory fragrance allergen labeling when >0.001% in leave-on products or >0.01% in rinse-off products. Concentration limits for use as deodorant active defined by product type under Annex III restrictions.. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 4602-84-0 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Antibacterial; deodorant active; fragrance
Safety Rating
GOOD
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
EU Max Conc.
Mandatory fragrance allergen labeling when >0.001% in leave-on products or >0.01% in rinse-off products. Concentration limits for use as deodorant active defined by product type under Annex III restrictions.
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Cosmetic ingredient; dual function as antibacterial deodorant active and fragrance component; IFRA-restricted; labeling considerations apply
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Farnesol.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Farnesol across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
Sensitization Profile
Contact sensitization data for Farnesol based on clinical patch test studies and IFRA standards.
Sensitization Rate
moderate
Allergen Class
fragrance
EU Allergen Listed
yes
Patch Test Positive Rate
1.3%
Cross-reactivity Group
fragrance-mix-II
Reaction Type
contact-dermatitis
IFRA Restricted
— max 1.0% in finished products
Source: ESSCA/IVDK
Dermal Penetration Profile
Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Farnesol, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.
Absorption %
10-20%
Penetration Level
stratum-corneum
Penetration Depth
stratum corneum/epidermis
Molecular Weight
222.4 Da
Log P
5.8
Systemic Absorption
minimal
Topical Bioavailability
6-16%
Safety Margin Factor
moderate
Vehicle Dependent
Yes — absorption varies by formulation
Source: SCCS/1459/11, IFRA
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
10 toxicity values from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LC50 | >2000 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | - | EFSA |
| LD50 | >2000 mg/kg-day | Northern Bobwhite Quail | oral | - | EFSA |
| LEL | =50 mg/kg-day | Human | oral | - | EFSA |
| NOEC | >=0.138 mg/L | Zebra Danio | inhalation | short-term | EFSA |
| NOEC | >=111.2 mg/kg-day | Northern Bobwhite Quail | oral | - | EFSA |
| LOEL | =250 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | subchronic | ECOTOX |
| NOEL | =2 % | Rat | injection | short-term | ECOTOX |
| NOEL | =250 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | subchronic | ECOTOX |
| LOEL | =1000 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | short-term | ECOTOX |
| LOEL | =500 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | short-term | ECOTOX |
Sensitization AOP Dashboard
Adverse Outcome Pathway data across 5 assays (DPRA, KeratinoSens, hCLAT, LLNA, NESIL) aggregated from public sources.
DPRA Cys %
2.2%
DPRA Lys %
0.38%
KeratinoSens IC50
38.5 µM
hCLAT CV75
18.5 µg/mL
LLNA EC3
4.8%
NESIL
1529 µg/cm²
LLNA: Moderate (1B)
GHS: 1B
Human: positive
Source: LLNA: Report to RIFM from Symrise (RIFM DB #47136) | Report to RIFM from Symrise (RIFM DB #47137); DPRA: Urbisch et al. 2015 [DOI:10.1016/j.yrtph.2014.12.008] | Unilever commissioned, Covance; KS: Natsch et al. 2013 [DOI:10.1002/jat.2868] | Unilever commissioned, Gentronix; hCLAT: Urbisch et al. 2015 [DOI:10.1016/j.yrtph.2014.12.008] | Unilever commissioned, IIVS; HPPT: [109] RIFM (1976): RIFM report number 1797, November 11, unpublished.
HRIPT Human Patch Test Studies
5 human repeat insult patch tests aggregated from dermatological literature.
| Test Type | N | Sensitized | Dose µg/cm² | NESIL µg/cm² | Potency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HRIPT | - | 0 | 2755 | 2755 | weak |
| HMT | - | 0 | 6750 | - | - |
| HMT | - | 0 | 6750 | - | - |
| HMT | - | 0 | 6750 | - | - |
| HMT | - | 0 | 8100 | - | - |
Endocrine Disruptor Evidence (Expanded)
Cross-referenced EDC classifications, mechanism data, and dose-response evidence from EDLists, SIN List, and cosmetic-specific detail sources.
Cosmetic-Specific Mechanism
Category: fragrance
Receptor targets: ERα (limited)
LOEC: 100 µM
EU status: allowed (allergen labeling)
weak modulator
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
10 - 100 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Expanded Jurisdictional Detail
Additional regulatory detail beyond the 7-jurisdiction summary: Saudi SFDA, Korea MFDS, ASEAN ACD, Japan/Korea, Brazil/India, and cross-jurisdictional restriction entries.
SA Saudi SFDA (III - Restricted)
BRIN Brazil/India Cosmetics
Brazil: Restricted (Fragrance Allergen) · max >0.001% leave-on / >0.01% rinse-off requires labeling
India: Restricted
IFRA Concentration Limits (12 Product Categories)
International Fragrance Association standards per product category. Restriction: Restriction/Specification. Effective: 2021-02-10.
| Category | Max % | Category | Max % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (Lip products) | 0.1% | 7a (Deodorant – not spray) | 0.2% |
| 2 (Body spray) | 0.03% | 7b (Deodorant spray) | 0.2% |
| 3 (Body cream) | 0.1% | 8 (Face cream) | 0.033% |
| 4 (Fine fragrance) | 0.4% | 9 (Soap) | 0.5% |
| 5a (Body lotion) | 0.1% | 10a (Household – non-spray) | 0.5% |
| 5b (Face cream leave-on) | 0.1% | 10b (Household – spray) | No Restriction% |
| 5c (Hand cream) | 0.1% | 11a (Intimate – leave-on) | 0.033% |
| 5d (Baby cream) | 0.033% | 11b (Intimate – rinse) | 0.033% |
| 6 (Mouthwash) | 0.1% | 12 (Not for consumer exposure) | No Restriction% |
Additional Ingredient Properties
10 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
acne
{"cas_number": "4602-84-0", "anti_acne_mechanism": "antibacterial", "comedogenicity_rating_0_to_5": "1", "acne_type_efficacy": "inflammatory", "sebum_reduction_pct_clinical": "5-15", "prescription_required_usa": "No", "otc_drug_monograph_category": "No", "max_otc_concentration_pct": "No limit", "japan_quasi_drug_anti_acne": "No", "korea_functional_cosmetic_acne": "No", "eu_cosmetic_restriction_acn…
allergen_detail
{"eu_allergen_listed": "yes", "allergen_class": "fragrance", "cross_reactivity_group": "fragrance-mix-II", "patch_test_frequency_pct": "1.3", "sensitization_rate": "moderate", "common_reaction_type": "contact-dermatitis", "ifra_restricted": "yes", "ifra_max_level_pct": "1.0", "source": "ESSCA/IVDK"}
concentration
{"min_concentration_pct": "0.01", "max_concentration_pct": "0.5", "typical_concentration_pct": "0.2", "product_type": "Deodorant", "function_at_concentration": "Fragrance, antimicrobial", "source": "EU Cosmetics Regulation (labeling required)"}
deodorant
{"cas_number": "4602-84-0", "ingredient_class": "antimicrobial_deodorant", "mechanism_of_action": "bacterial_growth_inhibition", "antiperspirant_efficacy_sweat_reduction_pct": "0", "deodorant_efficacy_hours": "8-12", "odor_reduction_pct": "50-70", "bacteriostatic": "yes", "bactericidal": "yes", "target_bacteria": "Corynebacterium/Staphylococcus", "microbiome_impact": "selective", "axillary_microbi…
dermal_absorption
{"molecular_weight_da": "222.4", "log_p_value": "5.8", "skin_penetration_level": "stratum-corneum", "penetration_depth": "stratum corneum/epidermis", "absorption_pct": "10-20", "systemic_absorption": "minimal", "penetration_enhancer": "yes", "occlusion_effect": "no", "vehicle_dependent": "yes", "skin_barrier_effect": "neutral", "bioavailability_topical_pct": "6-16", "safety_margin_factor": "modera…
ecotoxicity
{"biodegradable": "yes", "biodegradation_days": "28-60", "bioaccumulative": "no", "aquatic_toxicity_level": "moderate", "coral_reef_safe": "yes", "marine_toxicity": "moderate-high toxicity", "freshwater_toxicity": "toxic to aquatic life", "endocrine_disruptor": "no", "persistent_organic_pollutant": "no", "microplastic": "no", "nano_particle": "no", "hawaii_banned": "no", "eu_restricted_environment…
fragrance
{"cas_number": "4602-84-0", "ingredient_class": "natural_isolate", "chemical_class": "terpene", "odor_family": "floral", "odor_description": "Delicate floral, lily-of-the-valley, slightly waxy", "odor_strength": "medium", "odor_tenacity_hours": "8.0", "top_note": "no", "heart_note": "yes", "base_note": "yes", "blending_factor_1_10": "6.0", "threshold_of_detection_ppb": "30.0", "molecular_weight_Da…
fragrance_ifra
{"cas_number": "4602-84-0", "ifra_amendment_number": "49", "ifra_restriction_type": "Restricted", "ifra_max_use_level_category_1_pct": "0.12", "ifra_max_use_level_category_4_pct": "1.9", "ifra_max_use_level_category_7_pct": "0.28", "ifra_max_use_level_category_11_pct": "0.055", "eu_allergen_declaration_required": "No", "eu_26_allergens_list": "Proposed", "sccs_opinion_available": "Yes", "sensitiza…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Deodorizer
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
Humectant
No specific technical function
Solvent
Regulatory List Membership (6)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Consumer Product Chemical
EU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Farnesol.
Regulatory Flags
deodorant-active
antimicrobial
eu-annex-iii
restricted
fragrance-allergen
contact-allergen
sensitizer
corynebacterium-selective
leave-on-labeling-threshold-0.001%
dual-function-deodorant-fragrance
eu_children_restricted
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
eu_cosing_listed
jecfa_safe
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Farnesol by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
6
Lowest NOAEL
105 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
266 mg/kg bw/day
ECHA_REACH_reach_study_results_dossiers_23-05-2023.zip
Known Synonyms
Nikkosome
3,7,11-Trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrien-1-ol
Farnesyl alcohol
3,7,11-Trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecen-1-ol
FCI 119a
2,6,10-dodecatrien-1-ol, 3,7,11-trimetil-
3,7,11-Trimethyldodeca-2,6,10-trien-1-ol
EINECS 225-004-1
FEMA No. 2478
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 128911
UNII-EB41QIU6JL
3,7,11-trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrienol
Chemical Function
Fragrance
Deodorizer
No specific technical function
Solvent
Regulatory Lists
Europe; Personal care; restricted
Europe
Europe
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
Cleaning products and household care - air freshener; Cleaning products and household care - laundry and fabric treatment - fabric deodorizer; Europe; nondetect; Vehicle - car interior - auto air freshener
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides
active_ingredient; agricultural; Pesticides
active_ingredient; agricultural; Pesticides
active_ingredient; agricultural; Pesticides
active_ingredient; agricultural; Pesticides
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Farnesol allowed in the EU?
Farnesol EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: Mandatory fragrance allergen labeling when >0.001% in leave-on products or >0.01% in rinse-off products. Concentration limits for use as deodorant active defined by product type under Annex III restrictions.. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Farnesol do in cosmetics?
Farnesol functions as: Antibacterial; deodorant active; fragrance. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 4602-84-0.
Is Farnesol used outside cosmetics?
Farnesol also appears in industrial chemical safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Farnesol compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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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
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