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U.S. vs. EU Perfume Labeling Requirements: Allergen Disclosure Explained
For fragrance brands, whether creating luxury perfumes, natural fragrance oils, or plant-based fragrance formulations, labeling is essential for compliance and consumer trust. Both the United States and the European Union require ingredient declarations, but the EU goes much further by mandating detailed allergen disclosure.
🌿 U.S. Perfume Labeling Requirements
Perfumes are regulated as cosmetics under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). Labels must include:
- Identity of the product (e.g., “Perfume,” “Eau de Parfum”).
- Net quantity of contents (fl. oz., mL).
- Business information (manufacturer, packer, or distributor with address).
- Ingredient declaration: All components listed in descending order. Fragrances can be listed simply as “Fragrance” or “Parfum.”
- Warnings/directions (flammability, safe use, etc.).
Allergen disclosure in the U.S.
Currently, there is no requirement to list individual fragrance allergens. All allergenic compounds (like limonene or linalool) can remain hidden under the word “Fragrance.”
What’s changing: The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA, 2022) directs FDA to develop allergen labeling rules. A list of fragrance allergens (likely similar to the EU’s) will need to appear on U.S. cosmetic labels in the coming years.
🌸 EU Perfume Labeling Requirements
In the EU, perfumes and fragranced cosmetics are regulated under Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Like the U.S., labels must show identity, net contents, responsible person, and ingredient list — but critically, fragrance allergens must be disclosed.
Thresholds for allergen disclosure
- Leave-on products (perfume, lotion): list allergens present at ≥ 0.001% (10 ppm).
- Rinse-off products (soap, shampoo): list allergens at ≥ 0.01% (100 ppm).
📋 The 26 “Classic” EU Fragrance Allergens
These must be declared when above thresholds:
- Alpha-isomethyl ionone
- Amyl cinnamal
- Amylcinnamyl alcohol
- Anise alcohol
- Benzyl alcohol
- Benzyl benzoate
- Benzyl cinnamate
- Benzyl salicylate
- Butylphenyl methylpropional (Lilial)*
- Cinnamal
- Cinnamyl alcohol
- Citral
- Citronellol
- Coumarin
- Eugenol
- Evernia prunastri (oak moss)
- Evernia furfuracea (tree moss)
- Farnesol
- Geraniol
- Hexyl cinnamal
- Hydroxycitronellal
- Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (HICC / Lyral)*
- Isoeugenol
- Limonene
- Linalool
- Methyl 2-octynoate
* Lilial and HICC/Lyral are now banned but remain part of the historical allergen list.
🌱 The New 80+ Allergen List (2023 Update)
In July 2023, the EU published Regulation (EU) 2023/1545, which expands the allergen list to more than 80 substances. This includes both new stand-alone allergens and grouped entries for essential oils and natural extracts.
Examples of new stand-alone allergens
- 6-Methylcoumarin
- Acetylcedrene
- Amyl salicylate
- Anethole
- Benzaldehyde
- Camphor
- β-Caryophyllene
- Carvone
- Linalyl acetate
- Menthol
- Salicylaldehyde
- Sclareol
- Terpineol (α, β, γ)
- Tetramethyl acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
- Vanillin
Examples of grouped entries (plant extracts & essential oils)
- Rose ketones (damascones, damascenone, etc.)
- Pinene / terpene group (α-pinene, β-pinene, terpinene, terpinolene)
- Essential oils and absolutes such as:
- Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata)
- Jasmine (Jasminum spp.)
- Bergamot, lemon, and other citrus oils
- Lavender oils and extracts
- Peppermint and spearmint oils
- Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)
- Rose oils and absolutes
- Sandalwood (Santalum album)
- Cedarwood oils
- Eucalyptus oil
- Verbena (Lippia citriodora)
Implementation timeline
- By July 2026: new products must use the expanded allergen list.
- By July 2028: all existing products on the market must be updated.
🌍 Key Differences at a Glance
| Requirement | U.S. | EU |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredient list | Yes; “Fragrance” allowed as a catch-all. | Yes; “Parfum” allowed, but allergens must be declared individually. |
| Allergen disclosure | Not required (pending MoCRA rules). | Mandatory: 26 allergens today, expanding to 80+ by 2026–2028. |
| Thresholds | N/A | 0.001% leave-on; 0.01% rinse-off. |
