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Perfume Labeling Requirements: US vs. EU
Perfume Labeling: U.S. vs. EU
At a Glance
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United States
"Fragrance" is one word
Named allergens not required on cosmetic labels today.
MoCRA (2022) directs FDA to develop allergen-labeling rules — disclosure is coming.
No fixed effective date for the new disclosure framework.
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European Union
26 named allergens → 80+ by 2028
Mandatory disclosure when allergens exceed set thresholds.
≥ 0.001% leave-on · ≥ 0.01% rinse-off (10 / 100 ppm).
Naturals included — many essential oils are newly caught.
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What a Label Actually Looks Like
Same product, same fragrance — two different ingredient lists depending on the market. The examples below illustrate the practical effect of the rules.
Example 1 · Rose Eau de Parfum (Leave-on · 8% fragrance)
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U.S. Label
Ingredients
Alcohol Denat., Aqua/Water, Parfum/Fragrance. Three ingredients. The entire fragrance — including its allergenic components — sits inside "Parfum."
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EU Label · Same Product
Ingredients
Alcohol Denat., Aqua/Water, Parfum/Fragrance, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool, Citral, Eugenol, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydroxycitronellal. Eight named allergens added — each exceeds the 0.001% leave-on threshold at this 8% fragrance use level.
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Example 2 · Body Wash with the Same Fragrance (Rinse-off · 1.2%)
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U.S. Label
Ingredients
Aqua/Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Parfum/Fragrance, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate. No fragrance allergens broken out.
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EU Label · Same Product
Ingredients
Aqua/Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Parfum/Fragrance, Linalool, Limonene, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate. Only two allergens listed — the rinse-off threshold (0.01%) is ten times the leave-on threshold, so fewer components exceed it.
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The ingredient lists above are illustrative. The exact allergens that appear on any label depend on the specific fragrance composition and the use level in the finished product. Your supplier's EU allergen breakdown is what determines the named allergens for your label.
Did You Know
Mandatory EU fragrance allergen disclosure has applied to cosmetic labels since March 2005. The 2023/1545 expansion is the first major update in over twenty years — informed by clinical data accumulated across two decades of consumer-facing labeling.
For fragrance brands selling in both regions — or planning to expand internationally — labeling sits at the intersection of compliance, supply-chain documentation, and consumer trust. The rest of this guide walks through each requirement in detail, with the long allergen lists tucked into expandable drawers for reference.
Detailed Requirements
United States
In the U.S., perfumes are regulated as cosmetics under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). Cosmetic labels must include:
- Identity of the product (e.g., "Perfume," "Eau de Parfum")
- Net quantity of contents (e.g., fl. oz., mL)
- Business information (manufacturer, packer, or distributor)
- Ingredient declaration in descending order — the fragrance itself may appear simply as "Fragrance" or "Parfum"
- Warnings and directions, when applicable (flammability, safe use)
Currently, U.S. cosmetic regulations do not require brands to list individual fragrance allergens on the label. Allergenic components like limonene, linalool, or citral may be captured under the single word "Fragrance."
What's changing: The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA, 2022) directs FDA to develop rules for fragrance allergen labeling. The likely outcome is a U.S. allergen list that overlaps significantly with the EU framework. Brands that already maintain detailed allergen documentation today will be better positioned when those rules land.
European Union
In the European Union, perfumes and fragranced cosmetics are regulated under Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. The label requirements are similar to the U.S. — identity, net contents, responsible person, ingredient list — but the EU adds mandatory fragrance allergen disclosure above set thresholds.
Leave-on Products
≥ 0.001%
10 ppm
Perfume, lotion, leave-in haircare, cream
Rinse-off Products
≥ 0.01%
100 ppm
Soap, shampoo, body wash, face cleanser
These thresholds apply whether the allergens come from natural essential oils or synthetic ingredients. Many naturals contain several listed allergens at once — which is why supplier documentation matters.
"Natural doesn't mean exempt. Many essential oils contain multiple listed allergens — and they must be counted in total when calculating disclosure thresholds."
The Allergen Lists
The EU's fragrance allergen framework has two layers: the original list of 26 substances that has applied for years, and the expanded list — over 80 entries in total — added by Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 in July 2023. The expansion adds individual chemical substances and named plant species and extracts whose composition makes them inherent allergen carriers.
The 26 Classic EU Allergens
- Alpha-isomethyl ionone
- Amyl cinnamal
- Amylcinnamyl alcohol
- Anise alcohol
- Benzyl alcohol
- Benzyl benzoate
- Benzyl cinnamate
- Benzyl salicylate
- Cinnamal
- Cinnamyl alcohol
- Citral
- Citronellol
- Coumarin
- Eugenol
- Evernia prunastri (oak moss)
- Evernia furfuracea (tree moss)
- Farnesol
- Geraniol
- Hexyl cinnamal
- Hydroxycitronellal
- Isoeugenol
- Limonene
- Linalool
- Methyl 2-octynoate
The original list of 26 included two substances now banned in EU cosmetics — Butylphenyl methylpropional (Lilial) and Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (HICC / Lyral) — and they are excluded from the active list above.
New Chemical Substances Added by 2023/1545
Individual chemical entries added to Annex III by Regulation (EU) 2023/1545. Some are isomers of substances already in the original 26 (Damascenone is a rose ketone, for example), and several appear in widely used essential oils.
- 6-Methylcoumarin
- Acetylcedrene
- Amyl salicylate
- trans-Anethole (Anethole)
- Benzaldehyde
- Camphor
- (R)-(-)-β-Caryophyllene
- Carvone (L- & D-)
- Citronellal
- α-Damascone
- cis-β-Damascone
- trans-β-Damascone
- δ-Damascone
- trans-Damascenone (Rose ketone-4)
- Dimethylbenzyl carbinyl acetate (DMBCA)
- Hexadecanolactone
- (E)-2-Hexenal
- cis-3-Hexen-1-ol
- cis-3-Hexenyl salicylate
- Linalyl acetate
- l-Menthol (DL-Menthol)
- Methyl heptin carbonate (Methyl 2-nonynoate)
- Methyleugenol
- Methyl salicylate
- 6-Methyl-α-ionone
- Nerol
- Nerolidol (cis- & trans-)
- α-Pinene
- β-Pinene
- Piperonal (Heliotropine)
- Pinocarvone
- Salicylaldehyde
- α-Santalol
- β-Santalol
- Sclareol
- Styrallyl acetate
- α-Terpinene
- γ-Terpinene
- Terpinolene
- α-Terpineol
- β-Terpineol
- γ-Terpineol
- Tetramethyl acetyloctahydronaphthalenes (OTNE)
- Trimethylbenzenepropanol
- Vanillin
This list covers the major individual chemical entries. The regulation also captures certain specific isomers and constituent forms separately; consult Annex III for the authoritative text.
Essential Oils & Naturals Now Covered
The expansion's biggest practical impact is on natural fragrance work: many widely used essential oils and extracts now appear in Annex III by name. A single oil can trigger several allergens at once because of its inherent chemical composition.
Did You Know
A natural rose absolute typically carries citronellol, geraniol, eugenol, farnesol, and linalool — all individually named EU allergens — plus the newly listed rose ketones (damascones, damascenone). One drop of rose, five or more disclosure entries.
Headline categories — visible to anyone formulating with naturals:
- Rose ketones (damascones, damascenone)
- Pinene / terpene group
- Rose oils & absolutes (Rosa centifolia, damascena, gallica)
- Jasmine (Jasminum spp.)
- Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata)
- Citrus oils (bergamot, lemon, sweet/bitter orange)
- Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia, hybrida)
- Mint (Mentha piperita, spicata)
- Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)
- Sandalwood (Santalum album)
- Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica, Juniperus virginiana)
- Eucalyptus (E. globulus, E. radiata)
- Verbena (Lippia citriodora)
Full List of Plant-Derived Entries
Named botanical sources added to Annex III by Regulation (EU) 2023/1545. Entries cover oils, absolutes, and extracts from the specified plant species.
- Cananga odorata (Ylang-ylang)
- Cedrus atlantica (Atlas cedar)
- Cinnamomum cassia (Cassia cinnamon)
- Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Ceylon cinnamon)
- Citrus aurantium amara (Bitter orange / Neroli / Petitgrain)
- Citrus aurantium dulcis (Sweet orange)
- Citrus bergamia (Bergamot)
- Citrus limon (Lemon)
- Cymbopogon citratus / schoenanthus (Lemongrass)
- Cymbopogon nardus / winterianus (Citronella)
- Eucalyptus globulus / radiata
- Eugenia caryophyllus (Clove)
- Illicium verum (Star anise)
- Jasminum grandiflorum / officinale (Jasmine)
- Juniperus virginiana (Virginian cedarwood)
- Laurus nobilis (Bay laurel)
- Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender)
- Lavandula hybrida (Lavandin)
- Lippia citriodora (Verbena)
- Mentha piperita (Peppermint)
- Mentha spicata / viridis (Spearmint)
- Myroxylon pereirae (Peru balsam)
- Narcissus poeticus / spp.
- Pelargonium graveolens (Geranium)
- Pinus mugo / pumilio / sylvestris (Pine)
- Pogostemon cablin (Patchouli)
- Rosa centifolia (May rose)
- Rosa damascena (Damask rose)
- Rosa gallica
- Salvia officinalis / sclarea (Sage / Clary sage)
- Santalum album (East Indian sandalwood)
- Tagetes minuta / patula (Marigold)
- Thymus serpyllum / vulgaris / zygis (Thyme)
- Trementinae oleum (Turpentine)
- Vetiveria zizanoides (Vetiver)
For the authoritative complete enumeration — including exact substance forms, CAS numbers, and specific isomer designations — refer to Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 on EUR-Lex and Annex III of Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009 (consolidated).
Implementation Timeline
Deadline · New Products
July 2026
New products placed on the EU market must follow the expanded allergen labeling rules.
Deadline · Existing Products
July 2028
Existing products must be brought into compliance or removed from the EU market.
Full Comparison: Side by Side
| Requirement | United States | European Union |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory framework | FD&C Act (cosmetics); MoCRA (2022) phasing in. | Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009; expanded by (EU) 2023/1545. |
| Ingredient list | Required; "Fragrance" allowed as a catch-all. | Required; "Parfum" allowed, but named allergens must appear separately. |
| Allergen disclosure | Not required yet — pending FDA rules under MoCRA. | Mandatory: 26 allergens today, expanding to 80+ by 2026–2028. |
| Thresholds | Not applicable today. | 0.001% leave-on (10 ppm); 0.01% rinse-off (100 ppm). |
| Naturals treated differently? | N/A. | No — naturals and synthetics are evaluated the same way. |
| Documentation expected | IFRA Certificate, SDS, basic ingredient declaration. | IFRA Certificate, SDS, EU allergen breakdown by use level. |
Browse by Compliance Need
Every Stock Fragrance oil ships with IFRA Certificate, SDS, and EU allergen breakdown. The collections below filter by the regulatory framework or product application that fits your project.
By Regulatory Framework
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By Product Type
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need different labels for the U.S. and EU?
Often yes. The EU requires named allergen disclosure above specific thresholds, while the U.S. is still evolving toward allergen transparency under MoCRA. Many brands use region-specific labels or region-specific outer cartons to manage the differences without redesigning the primary bottle.
Are natural essential oils exempt from EU allergen rules?
No. Allergen rules apply regardless of whether components are natural or synthetic. Many essential oils contain multiple listed allergens — and must be considered in total when calculating thresholds. A lavender oil rich in linalool, for example, can trigger linalool disclosure on its own.
How do I know which allergens are in a fragrance?
Your fragrance supplier should provide an EU allergen breakdown alongside the IFRA Certificate and SDS. These documents help you determine which allergens appear above threshold at the use level in your finished product — which is what drives the label.
Can you help design fragrances with EU labeling in mind?
Yes. Our Fragrance Design Services team can create or adapt fragrances with EU allergen disclosure, IFRA categories, and retailer standards in mind from the first sketch.
Where can I request documentation for a specific fragrance?
Documentation — IFRA Certificates, SDS, and EU allergen lists — is available on each fragrance product page under "Technical Info." For additional formats or consolidated files, use our Documentation Request form.
Have questions about allergen disclosure, regional requirements, or how to plan for the MoCRA changes ahead? Contact us — we answer every inquiry personally.
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