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Chapter 8: Fragrance · Part 1: The listed fragrance allergens

Limonene

  • Officially classed skin allergen
  • Contaminant risk
Found in
citrus-scented cleaners, dishwashing liquid, air fresheners, cosmetics

The worst fact: fresh limonene rarely causes allergy, but once it oxidises in air it becomes one of the most common fragrance allergies. In a six-country study that included Australia, 5.2% of dermatitis patients reacted to oxidised limonene.

Why brands use it: it smells of citrus.

Take care if: you have a fragrance allergy, or the product is old or has been left open.

Comes from: distilled from citrus peel. Sweet orange oil can be up to 95% limonene.

Myth check: "natural means non-allergenic": no. Europe's safety committee says natural products can contain these allergens at higher levels than other products.

Contaminants: hydroperoxides, the allergens it forms in air. The EU limits them in limonene used in cosmetics. Fresh, sealed products have least.

Fair to say: most people never react, and fresh limonene rarely causes allergy.

We use this ingredient. Limonene is the main component of the citrus oils that scent our Citrus Burst Bench Spray and Multi Purpose Cleaner and our Grapefruit, Orange & Lime Castile Hand Wash. If you react to fragrance, choose the Sensitive (Unscented) Castile Hand Wash or the Unscented Dishwash Liquid.

Correct as of November 2026. What the badges mean

Sources

  • Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS). Opinion on fragrance allergens in cosmetic products, SCCS/1459/11 (2012); opinion on butylphenyl methylpropional (Lilial), SCCS/1591/17; opinion on benzyl salicylate, SCCS/1656/23. health.ec.europa.eu
  • European Commission. Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 Annexes II and III; Regulations (EU) 2017/1410 (HICC, atranol, chloroatranol), 2020/1182 (CLP: Lilial Repr. 1B), 2021/1902 (Lilial ban), 2023/1545 (fragrance allergen labelling), 2026/909 (benzyl salicylate). eur-lex.europa.eu
  • Safe Work Australia. Hazardous Chemical Information System (HCIS). hcis.safeworkaustralia.gov.au
  • Bråred Christensson J et al. Oxidised limonene, patch testing in six countries. Contact Dermatitis 2013 (PMID 23510342).

The full source list is at the end of Chapter 8.