Ingredient guide ›

Limonene

A fresh citrus scent.

What it does

Gives a fresh, citrusy smell. It's found naturally in orange and lemon peel oils.

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: Shower gels, Deodorants, 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: Listed in the Poisons Standard as not needing any controls. Source

Sources

• SCCS opinion: Fragrance allergens in cosmetic products (2012) (Independent)
• RIFM safety assessment: dl-limonene (2022) (Industry-funded)