Ingredient guide ›

Coumarin

A warm, sweet scent.

What it does

Adds a warm, sweet smell like fresh hay or vanilla. It's found naturally in tonka beans.

Good to know

It's one of the EU's listed fragrance allergens, so it must be named on the label above 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products. Sensitive skin may react.

Often found in: Deodorants, Shower gels, Shampoos

Around the world

• United States: No label rule yet. A 2022 law told the FDA to require fragrance allergen labels, but that rule isn't out. Source
• EU and UK: Must be named on the label above 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products. Source
• Canada: Must be named on the label above 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products (since April 2026). Source
• Australia: No cosmetic limit. The Poisons Standard only controls it when used as a medicine. Source

Sources

• SCCS opinion: Fragrance allergens in cosmetic products (2012) (Independent)
• RIFM safety assessment: coumarin (2019) (Industry-funded)