Chapter 8: Fragrance · Part 1: The listed fragrance allergens
Eugenol
- Poison schedule (Australia)
- Officially classed skin allergen
The worst fact: your skin can turn it into a stronger allergen. In Australia it's a Schedule 6 Poison above 25%.
Why brands use it: it smells of cloves.
Take care if: you have a fragrance allergy.
Comes from: clove oil is 80 to 95% eugenol, and most commercial eugenol is taken from clove leaf and cinnamon leaf oil.
Myth check: "clove oil is gentle": clove oil is almost all eugenol.
Contaminants: nil.
Fair to say: most products contain far less than 25%.
We use this ingredient. Eugenol is the main component of the clove oil in our Clove & Eucalyptus Mould Spray, Mould Remover Wall Cleaner and Curtain Mould Shield. They're spray-on products for surfaces and fabric, not something to leave on skin. If you have a fragrance allergy, wear gloves.
Correct as of November 2026. What the badges mean
Sources
- Australian Government. Poisons Standard October 2026 (F2026L01327): citral, lemongrass oil, eugenol, isoeugenol, coumarin.
- Safe Work Australia. Hazardous Chemical Information System (HCIS). hcis.safeworkaustralia.gov.au
The full source list is at the end of Chapter 8.