Perillyl Alcohol

INCI: Perillyl Alcohol | Function: Fragrance, Antioxidant | Type: Terpenoid Alcohol

What Is Perillyl Alcohol?

Perillyl Alcohol is a monoterpene alcohol naturally found in perilla, lavender, mint, and citrus essential oils. It is derived from limonene and has a fresh, herbaceous-citrus scent. Beyond its use as a fragrance ingredient, perillyl alcohol has been extensively studied for its anticancer and chemopreventive properties through the Ras signaling pathway. In cosmetics, it provides natural fragrance while contributing antioxidant benefits from its monoterpene structure.

Key Skin Benefits

+ Natural fragrance — fresh herbaceous-citrus scent profile
+ Monoterpene antioxidant — free radical scavenging activity
+ Synergistic — complements other botanical extracts
+ Naturally occurring — found in multiple essential oils

Pros

+ Multi-functional — fragrance plus biological activity
+ Natural origin — renewable plant source
+ Well-studied compound — extensive pharmacology research
+ Biodegradable — low environmental persistence

Cons

− Fragrance allergen — may cause contact dermatitis
− Limited cosmetic-specific clinical data
− Oxidation-prone — requires stabilization in formulations
− Potent — must be used at low concentrations

Specifications

Property	Value
Usage Areas	Face, Body, Hair
Product Type	Leave-On, Rinse-Off
Source	Plant
Natural Level	Natural-derived

Safety Ratings

Metric	Rating
Skin Sensitivity	2/5
Comedogenic Rating	0/5
EWG Score	3/10

Regional Regulatory Limits

Region	Leave-on %	Rinse-off %	Status
EU (CosIng)	IFRA limit	IFRA limit	Allowed — fragrance
US (CIR/FDA)	No limit	No limit	Allowed
Japan (MHLW)	No limit	No limit	Allowed
ASEAN	No limit	No limit	Allowed
China (NMPA)	No limit	No limit	Allowed

Typical Usage % by Product Type

Product Type	Typical %
Fragrance Compositions	0.05–1%
Natural Perfumes	0.1–2%
Scented Lotions	0.01–0.1%

References

CosIng Database — Perillyl Alcohol. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/
Gould MN (1997) — Cancer chemoprevention and therapy by monoterpenes. PMID: 9305693
IFRA Standards — Perillyl Alcohol safety assessment.
EWG Skin Deep — Perillyl Alcohol. https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

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