
Cinnamyl alcohol is an ingredient used in cosmetics and personal care products, including hair products. It is a pale yellow liquid with a strong cinnamon, balsam, or hyacinth scent. Cinnamyl alcohol is used as a fragrance ingredient and as a flavouring agent. While it is a common ingredient, there are some concerns about its safety. Cinnamyl alcohol is recognised by the European Union as a skin allergen and is included on the EU Cosmetics Directive: Allergen list, often referred to as the EU 26 list. It has been shown to cause skin sensitisation, leading to allergic reactions in some individuals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Description | Cinnamyl alcohol is a pale yellow liquid with a strong cinnamon or balsam (resiny, herbal) odour. |
| Natural Sources | Cinnamyl alcohol is found in the bark of cinnamon trees, the leaves of the tea tree, and hyacinth and daffodil flowers. |
| Commercial Sources | Commercial cinnamyl alcohol is generally synthesized in a lab. |
| Uses | Cinnamyl alcohol is used as a fragrance or flavouring ingredient in cosmetics, personal care products, perfumes, and food. |
| Safety | Cinnamyl alcohol is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use as a flavouring agent. However, it is known to be a weak skin sensitizer and is included on the EU's list of "allergenic" substances. |
| Regulations | The presence of cinnamyl alcohol in cosmetic products must be indicated in the list of ingredients when its concentration exceeds 0.001% in leave-on skin products and 0.01% in products that are rinsed off the skin. |
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What You'll Learn

Cinnamyl alcohol is a fragrance ingredient
Cinnamyl alcohol is a pale yellow liquid with a strong cinnamon, balsam, or hyacinth scent. It is frequently used as a perfume additive and as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics and personal care products, including hair products, to mask other odours that may naturally occur in some beneficial ingredients. Cinnamyl alcohol is also used as a flavouring agent, imparting scents of cinnamon, daffodil, hyacinth, or jasmine to products.
Cinnamyl alcohol is an organic compound containing carbon and hydrogen and usually other elements such as nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen. It is often referred to as cinnamic alcohol. In cosmetics and personal care products, it is used in the formulation of bath products, body and hand products, perfumes, tonics, and other hair grooming aids.
The primary risk associated with cinnamyl alcohol is skin sensitization, which can lead to allergic reactions in some individuals. It is recognised by the European Union as a skin allergen and is included in the EU Cosmetics Directive: Allergen list, often referred to as the EU 26 list. This means that it is one of the 26 substances that the EU has identified as potentially allergenic, and manufacturers of cosmetics and personal care products sold in the EU are required to indicate its presence in the list of ingredients if it is present above certain levels in the product.
Due to the potential risks associated with cinnamyl alcohol, it is important for consumers to be aware of its presence in hair products and other cosmetics and personal care items. While it can effectively mask unpleasant odours and provide a pleasant fragrance, it is not a skin-loving ingredient and can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions in some individuals. Therefore, it is advisable to exercise caution when using products containing cinnamyl alcohol, particularly for individuals with sensitive skin or known allergies.
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It is also used as a flavouring agent
Cinnamyl alcohol is a naturally occurring fragrance compound found in the bark of cinnamon trees, the leaves of tea trees, and hyacinth and daffodil flowers. It can also be produced synthetically. Cinnamyl alcohol has a strong cinnamon or balsam (resiny, herbal) odour and is frequently used as a perfume additive. It is also used as a fragrance ingredient in skincare and hair care products, generally to mask other odours that occur naturally in some beneficial ingredients.
Cinnamyl alcohol is used as a flavouring agent in food products. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes cinnamyl alcohol on its list of flavouring agents permitted for direct addition to food. The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) concluded that cinnamyl alcohol does not present a safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. The Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association Expert Panel has reviewed the safety of cinnamyl alcohol and determined that it is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for use as a flavouring substance.
Cinnamyl alcohol is known to be a weak skin sensitizer. Some people may experience skin sensitization reactions to this ingredient, although such reactions are generally not common or severe. The primary risk associated with cinnamyl alcohol is skin sensitization, which can lead to allergic reactions in some individuals. On the EU 26 List, cinnamyl alcohol is recognized by the European Union as a skin allergen. The European Cosmetics Regulation requires manufacturers of cosmetics and personal care products to indicate the presence of certain "allergenic" substances in the list of ingredients.
The safety of cinnamyl alcohol has been evaluated by the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials Expert Panel (REXPAN). Based on this evaluation, an International Fragrance Association (IFRA) Standard has been established. The IFRA Standard restricts the use of cinnamyl alcohol in fragrances due to potential sensitization. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) defers review of individual fragrance ingredients to the IFRA program unless the ingredient has significant uses other than as a fragrance.
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It is a recognised skin allergen
Cinnamyl alcohol is a chemical compound commonly used in cosmetic and personal care products, including hair products. It is a naturally occurring fragrance compound found in the bark of cinnamon trees, the leaves of tea trees, and hyacinth and daffodil flowers. It can also be produced synthetically. Cinnamyl alcohol is added to products as a fragrance and flavouring agent.
Cinnamyl alcohol is recognised as an allergen and a potential sensitising agent. The European Union includes cinnamyl alcohol on its list of "allergenic" substances, and cosmetics and personal care products must indicate its presence in the list of ingredients if its concentration exceeds 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in products that are rinsed off. The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) has restricted the use of cinnamyl alcohol in fragrances due to its potential for sensitisation.
Several studies have investigated the potential for cinnamyl alcohol to cause contact allergy and hypersensitivity. One study by Steltenkamp et al. (1980b) found that cinnamyl alcohol did not induce hypersensitivity in a large number of patch tests. However, other studies have identified cinnamyl alcohol as a prohapten and prehapten, with sensitising epoxides as metabolites. Patch testing has shown irritative effects of these epoxides in dermatitis patients.
While the safety of cinnamyl alcohol has been evaluated by expert panels, and it is generally recognised as safe for use in flavouring agents, its potential as a skin allergen is recognised, and its use in cosmetics is regulated to ensure safe levels.
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It is included in hair products as a grooming aid
Cinnamyl alcohol is a pale yellow liquid with a strong fragrance reminiscent of hyacinth, cinnamon, daffodil, or jasmine. It is a naturally occurring compound found in the bark of cinnamon trees, the leaves of tea trees, and the flowers of hyacinths and daffodils. Cinnamyl alcohol can also be produced synthetically for commercial use.
In hair products, cinnamyl alcohol is included as a grooming aid and functions primarily as a fragrance ingredient. Its pleasant scent helps to mask other odours that may be present in some of the beneficial ingredients in hair care formulations. It is often used in perfumes and other scented products like bath products, body and hand washes, and tonics.
Cinnamyl alcohol is also used as a flavouring agent in various cosmetic and personal care products. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes cinnamyl alcohol on its list of approved flavouring agents for direct addition to food. The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has concluded that cinnamyl alcohol is safe for consumption when used as a flavouring agent.
However, it is important to note that cinnamyl alcohol is a known skin sensitizer, and some individuals may experience allergic reactions. The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) has restricted the use of cinnamyl alcohol in fragrances due to its potential for sensitization. The European Union also recognizes cinnamyl alcohol as a skin allergen and includes it on the EU Cosmetics Directive: Allergen list, commonly referred to as the EU 26 list. Manufacturers of cosmetics and personal care products in Europe are required to indicate the presence of cinnamyl alcohol in the list of ingredients if its concentration exceeds certain thresholds.
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It has a strong cinnamon or balsam scent
Cinnamyl alcohol is a naturally occurring fragrance compound found in the bark of cinnamon trees, as well as in the leaves of tea trees, and the flowers of hyacinths and daffodils. It has a strong cinnamon or balsam scent, which is why it is often used as a perfume additive and in hair products. It is also used as a flavouring agent.
Cinnamyl alcohol is an organic compound that contains carbon and hydrogen, and usually other elements such as nitrogen, sulphur, and oxygen. It is a pale yellow liquid with a hyacinth-like odour.
In cosmetics and personal care products, cinnamyl alcohol is used in the formulation of bath products, body and hand products, perfumes, tonics, and other hair grooming aids. It is used as a fragrance or flavouring ingredient, contributing scents of cinnamon, daffodil, hyacinth, or jasmine to the products.
The safety of cinnamyl alcohol has been evaluated by the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials Expert Panel (REXPAN). Based on this evaluation, an International Fragrance Association (IFRA) Standard has been established, which restricts the use of cinnamyl alcohol in fragrances due to its potential to cause skin sensitization and allergic reactions. The primary risk associated with cinnamyl alcohol is skin sensitization, which can lead to allergic reactions in some individuals.
The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) concluded that cinnamyl alcohol does not present a safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. The Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association Expert Panel has also reviewed its safety and determined that it is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for use as a flavouring substance.
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Frequently asked questions
Cinnamyl alcohol is a compound found naturally in cinnamon and balsam of Peru. It has a strong cinnamon or balsam (resiny, herbal) odour and is used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics and skincare products.
Cinnamyl alcohol is used in hair products as a fragrance ingredient. It is also used as a flavouring agent in some products.
The safety of cinnamyl alcohol has been evaluated by the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials Expert Panel (REXPAN). An International Fragrance Association (IFRA) Standard has been established to restrict the use of cinnamyl in fragrances due to potential sensitization. The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) concluded that cinnamyl alcohol does not present a safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. However, it is recognised as an allergen by the European Union and is included in the EU Cosmetics Directive: Allergen list.
Cinnamyl alcohol is known to be a weak skin sensitizer. Some people may experience skin sensitization reactions, which can lead to allergic reactions. It can also cause irritation, inflammation, and dryness.
Cinnamyl alcohol is found naturally in the bark of cinnamon trees, as well as in the leaves of the tea tree, and hyacinth and daffodil flowers. However, most natural sources only contain small amounts, so commercial cinnamyl alcohol is generally synthesised in a lab.










































