Fragrance allergen

Citral

Citral is the lemon-scented aldehyde that is the main component of lemongrass oil. It comprises two closely related forms, geranial and neral. Perfumers use it for its citrus effect, and chemists use it as a starting material for other fragrance ingredients.

Formula
C10H16O
Molar mass
152.24 g/mol
CAS
5392-40-5

Where it comes from

Natural citral is a roughly 2:1 mixture of geranial and neral. It is isolated by distillation from lemongrass oil and Litsea cubeba oil, of which it is the main component. Lemon, verbena and orange oils also contain it. It can also be made synthetically, for example from isoprene.

Smell and use

A strong, fresh lemon smell. Geranial carries the stronger lemon, while neral is described as a little less intense but sweeter.

Perfumers add citral for its citrus effect, typically at 0.1 to 1% of a fragrance composition. Its main commercial role is as a starting material for making other fragrance ingredients. Outside perfume it is a flavouring in drinks, baked goods and sweets, and it is used to make vitamin A and ionone.

On the label

Named on 77% of the 6,851 perfume ingredient lists we hold (5,259 perfumes).

Also filed as
Geranial, Neral
EU
Annex III, entry 70. Must be named above 0.001% in leave-on products (0.01% rinse-off).
Great Britain
Required, same thresholds. GB Annex III
Patch tests
In Fragrance Mix II, a standard skin-clinic panel.

Citral is on the historic list of fragrance allergens that the EU required to be individually labelled before its 2023 amendment. It must be named when above 0.001% in leave-on or 0.01% in rinse-off products. SCCS/1459/11 lists it as an established contact allergen in humans and notes geranial can become a stronger sensitiser by air oxidation. IFRA Standard 021 limits fine fragrance to 0.6%.

A list that does not name it does not prove it is absent: brands only have to name it above the threshold.

Frequency by concentration

  • Eau de parfum 76% of 4,889
  • Eau de toilette 84% of 1,227
  • Extrait 62% of 341
  • Parfum 87% of 194
  • Cologne 80% of 114
  • Body spray 43% of 42
  • Other 67% of 27

Share of the perfumes we hold a list for, in each concentration.

Named alongside

Share of the lists naming Citral that also name each of these.

Notes whose materials include it

Perfumes whose box names it

Common questions

What does citral smell like?

Citral smells strongly of lemon. It is the main component of lemongrass oil. The two forms differ slightly, with neral described as less intense but sweeter than geranial. Perfumers use it to give a fresh citrus note.

Is citral natural or synthetic?

Both exist. It occurs naturally in lemongrass and Litsea cubeba oils and can be isolated from them by distillation. It can also be made synthetically, for example from isoprene.

Why is citral on my perfume label?

EU cosmetics rules list citral as a fragrance allergen to be named above 0.001% in leave-on or 0.01% in rinse-off products. Perfume is otherwise declared collectively as parfum, and listed allergens are the exception.