Compoatlas

LIMONENE

Official label name (INCI name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 15374

LIMONENE: Allowed with restrictions (Annex III, entry 88), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.

In plain words

What it is used for

Functions declared by manufacturers:

Deodorant: reduces or masks unpleasant body odours.

Solvent: dissolves other substances.

Perfuming.

What the rules say

Allowed, with restrictions: Annex III sets conditions of use. 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 88
Substance
1-methyl-4-prop- 1-en-2-yl- cyclohexene; dl-limonene (racemic); Dipentene (R)-p- mentha-1,8-diene; (d-limonene); (S)-p- mentha-1,8-diene; (l-limonene);
Glossary names
Limonene
CAS
138-86-3/ 7705-14-8; 5989-27-5; 5989-54-8
EC
205-341-0/ 231-732-0; 227-813-5; 227-815-6
Other conditions
The presence of the substance shall be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1), point (g), when its concentration exceeds: — 0,001 % in leave-on products — 0,01 % in rinse-off products. The peroxide value for each substance shall be less than 20 mmoles/L (This limit applies to the substance and not to the finished cosmetic product).
Dates in the act (3)
  • Entry into force on 16 August 2023
  • Placing on the market until 31 July 2026
    Cosmetic products containing that substance that do not comply with the restrictions may be placed on the Union market until 31 July 2026 and made available on the Union market until 31 July 2028.
  • Making available until 31 July 2028
    Cosmetic products containing that substance that do not comply with the restrictions may be placed on the Union market until 31 July 2026 and made available on the Union market until 31 July 2028.

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
57187
CAS (according to CosIng)
138-86-3
EC (according to CosIng)
205-341-0, 931-893-3
Declared functions
Deodorant, Solvent, Perfuming

Classified hazard (CLP Regulation)

A classification describes an intrinsic hazard, not a risk: the risk depends on the dose, the form and the exposure.

dipentene; limonene [1] (S)-p-mentha-1,8-diene; l-limonene [2] trans-1-methyl-4-(1-methylvinyl)cyclohexene; [3] (±)-1-methyl-4-(1-methylvinyl)cyclohexene [4]

No harmonised CMR classification

Hazard classes
Flam. Liq. 3
Skin Irrit. 2
Skin Sens. 1
Aquatic Acute 1
Aquatic Chronic 1
Hazard statements
H226 H315 H317 H400 H410
CLP notes
C

EU product alerts (Safety Gate)

39 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).

  • 2 October 2026: Shampoo, Bare Anatomy, United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland (“Serious risk”) alert
  • 18 September 2026: Aftershave lotion, Neptune, Greece (“Serious risk”) alert
  • 3 July 2026: Deodorant, Plangger Naturwaren, Germany (“Serious risk”) alert
  • 5 June 2026: Cream, Greece (“Serious risk”) alert
  • 5 June 2026: Perfume, Suavinex, Spain (“Serious risk”) alert
  • 29 May 2026: Perfume, BLUE FOR MEN, Czechia (“Serious risk”) alert
  • 27 March 2026: Cosmetics set, Pilgrim, United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland (“Serious risk”) alert
  • 19 December 2025: Eau de toilette, GORDANO PARFUMS, Czechia (“Serious risk”) alert
  • 24 October 2025: Teeth whitening kit, CALIFORNIAN SMILES, Czechia (“Serious risk”) alert
  • 5 September 2025: Perfume, STRADIVARIUS, Spain (“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.

South Korea

  • Prohibited: 과산화물가가 20mmol/L을 초과하는 ㎗-리모넨

    별표 1 (prohibited substances), entry 226, page 12. Conditions (source text, in Korean): 화학물질명: ㎗-리모넨 (CAS No. 138-86-3)

Recorded cosmetics that contain it

5,214 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.