CITRAL
Official label name (INCI name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 6609
- Allowed with restrictions (Annex III)
CITRAL: Allowed with restrictions, with limits depending on the product type (Annex III, entry 70), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
In plain words
What it is used for
Functions declared by manufacturers:
Fragrance.
Perfuming.
Flavouring.
What the rules say
Allowed, with restrictions: Annex III sets a maximum concentration and the product types allowed. Ingredient lists do not give quantities, so the concentration cannot be checked on the label.
The text of the annexes
Allowed with restrictions
- Entry
- Annex III, No 70
- Substance
- 3,7-Dimethyl-2,6-octadienal; (E)-3,7- dimethylocta-2,6- dienal; (Z)-3,7- dimethylocta-2,6- dienal
- Glossary names
- Citral; Geranial; Neral
- CAS
- 5392-40-5; 141-27-5; 106-26-3
- EC
- 226-394-6; 205-476-5; 203-379-2
- Product type
- (a) Lip make-up products, lipstick, lip salves (b) Deodorants and antiperspirants (c) Eye products, face make-up and make-up remover (d) Fragrance products (hydroalcoholic and non-hydroalcoholic, spray and non-spray) (e) Leave-on skin products (except lip products, deodorants and antiperspirants, fragrance products, eye products, face make-up and make-up remover) and nail products (f) Oral products (g) Hair leave-on products (h) Skin and hair rinse-off products (i) Leave-on products for the anogenital area (baby wipes and intimate wipes)
- Maximum concentration
- (a) 0,11 % (b) 0,032 % (c) 0,65 % (d) 0,6 % (e) 0,15 % (f) 0,35 % (g) 1,2 % (h) 1,2 % (i) 0,063 %
- Other conditions
- The presence of the substance or substances shall be indicated as ‘Citral’ in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1), point (g), when the concentration of the substance or substances exceeds: — 0,001 % in leave-on products — 0,01 % in rinse-off products.
Dates in the act (4)
- Entry into force on 18 May 2026
- Placing on the market from 1 January 2027
From 1 January 2027 cosmetic products containing these substances and not complying with the restrictions shall not be placed on the Union market
- Making available from 1 July 2028
From 1 July 2028 cosmetic products containing these substances and not complying with the restrictions shall not be made available on the Union market
- Making available from 1 August 2028
From 1 August 2028 cosmetic products containing these substances and not complying with the restrictions shall not be made available on the Union market
Excerpts from the English text published in the Official Journal. A date may concern only some substances of the act: the excerpt says so.
Identity
- CosIng identifier
- 32857
- CAS (according to CosIng)
- 5392-40-5
- EC (according to CosIng)
- 226-394-6
- Declared functions
- Fragrance, Perfuming, Flavouring
- Wikidata
- Q60176530
- PubChem
- 8843
- ECHA InfoCard
- 100.023.994
- InChIKey
- WTEVQBCEXWBHNA-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Classified hazard (CLP Regulation)
A classification describes an intrinsic hazard, not a risk: the risk depends on the dose, the form and the exposure.
citral
No harmonised CMR classification
- Hazard classes
- Skin Irrit. 2
Skin Sens. 1 - Hazard statements
- H315 H317
EU product alerts (Safety Gate)
14 alerts on cosmetic products cite this name in their hazard description. An alert targets a specific product, not the ingredient itself; each alert states the reason (prohibited substance, limit exceeded, missing labelling, and so on).
- 18 September 2026: Aftershave lotion, Neptune, Greece (“Serious risk”) alert
- 29 May 2026: Perfume, BLUE FOR MEN, Czechia (“Serious risk”) alert
- 20 February 2026: Eau de toilette, Shirley May DELUXE, Czechia (“Serious risk”) alert
- 12 December 2025: Hand lotion, bioherba, Germany (“Serious risk”) alert
- 7 March 2025: Perfume, Slovakia (“Serious risk”) alert
- 7 March 2025: Hand cream, R&R Skincare, United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland (“Serious risk”) alert
- 28 February 2025: Moisturiser, R&R Skincare, United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland (“Serious risk”) alert
- 20 September 2024: Perfume, MYSTICAL, Czechia (“Serious risk”) alert
- 27 January 2023: Eau de parfum, Lazell Parfums, Czechia (“Serious risk”) alert
- 13 May 2022: Beard oil, Mr. Burton's, Germany (“Serious risk”) alert
Elsewhere in the world
Information on other jurisdictions. What is covered, and what is not yet.
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Allowed with restrictions (Annex III)
Same entries as in the European Union. Conditions (concentrations, warnings) may differ: they are not compared here.
Switzerland
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 applies in Switzerland (Article 54 of the Ordinance on Foodstuffs and Utility Articles).
United States, federal rules
None of the integrated sections of the federal code (21 CFR 700.11 to 700.27 and 250.250) targets this name. The FDA does not publish a list of allowed ingredients.
Recorded cosmetics that contain it
1,392 recorded products list it, according to Open Beauty Facts contributors. Records are dated: the formula may have changed. See the list (page in French).
Glossary: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175. Page updated on 21 October 2026.