Perfume Allergens in the UK: Labels, Rules and What to Check

29. říjen 2026

UK cosmetic labels must name 24 fragrance allergens individually when they are present above set limits. A named allergen means the product contains a substance that can trigger a reaction in people already sensitised to it. It does not mean the perfume is unsafe for everyone. This guide covers the list, the thresholds, where to find them on a label, the rules that apply in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and what to do after a suspected reaction.

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TL;DR

UK labels list 24 fragrance allergens by name when present above 0.001% in leave-on products or 0.01% in rinse-off products.
A listed allergen is information for sensitised people. It is not a safety warning for the general public.
The EU is extending its list to 80+ substances. That change does not yet apply in the UK.
Suspected reaction: stop using the product, keep the packaging, see a GP or dermatology service. Patch testing identifies the cause.
Sample before buying a full bottle. Discovery sets allow skin testing at small scale.

What “contains fragrance allergens” means
The UK list: 24 allergens and their thresholds
How to find allergens on a perfume label
Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Are the rules changing?
Allergy or irritation?
If you think you have reacted
A practical checklist before buying
Our perspective
Try before committing to a full bottle
FAQ
Sources

What “contains fragrance allergens” means

A fragrance allergen is a substance, often a natural component of an essential oil or a lab-made aroma chemical, that has been identified as more likely to cause skin reactions in susceptible people. The label statement exists so that people with a known sensitivity can avoid it.

The European Commission’s guidance on fragrance allergen labelling describes the same purpose: labelling helps consumers who are sensitised to specific allergens identify products that contain them. It does not imply danger for the general population.

Key points:

Allergen listing describes content, not hazard level.
Most people never react to the listed substances.
A person who has become sensitised to one allergen can react to it in any product that contains it.
Natural origin does not remove an allergen. Many listed substances occur in essential oils and natural extracts.
“Hypoallergenic” is not a guarantee of an allergen-free formula. Read the ingredient list instead of relying on the claim.

Food allergen law (the 14 named food allergens, Natasha’s Law) is a separate regime. It does not govern perfume labels.

The UK list: 24 allergens and their thresholds

The Cosmetic Products Trade Association (CTPA) states that 24 fragrance allergens currently require individual labelling in the UK. Each must be declared when its concentration exceeds:

Product type	Declaration threshold
Leave-on (perfume, body lotion, deodorant)	0.001%
Rinse-off (shower gel, shampoo)	0.01%

Perfume is a leave-on product, so the lower threshold applies. That is one part in 100,000.

The list includes substances such as amyl cinnamal, benzyl alcohol, cinnamyl alcohol, citral and eugenol. The full list is held in the labelling guidance linked above.

Two substances once common in fragrance are no longer in use. Butylphenyl methylpropional (lilial) and hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (lyral) have been banned in cosmetics. Reformulation followed. Older bottles may differ from current batches.

For background on why ingredients are restricted or removed, see our explainer on IFRA regulations and banned perfume ingredients.

How to find allergens on a perfume label

GB rules require cosmetics to carry an ingredient list on the container or packaging. GOV.UK cosmetics guidance sets this out for products sold in Great Britain.

Steps:

Find the ingredient list. On small bottles it is often on the outer box, a fold-out label or the base.
Look for “Parfum”, “Fragrance” or “Aroma”. The fragrance blend is declared under this term.
Check the INCI names that follow or sit within the list. Named allergens appear as individual entries, for example Citral, Eugenol, Linalool.
Note the order. Ingredients are listed in descending order of weight. Items below 1% may appear in any order after those above 1%.
Keep a record. Photograph the list for any product that causes a reaction.

Online purchases: check the product page for an ingredient list before ordering. If none is shown, contact the seller and ask for it.

Why a missing ingredient matters

Omitted ingredients are a recall matter. GOV.UK recorded a product recall of a cosmetics tin because benzyl benzoate, a perfuming and solvent ingredient, was not on the ingredients list. Accurate lists are a legal requirement, not an option.

Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The two regimes can diverge.

Area	Position
Great Britain	Retained Cosmetic Products Regulation. Changes made by Statutory Instrument.
Northern Ireland	EU updates to technical annexes apply to products placed on the NI market.

GOV.UK’s explanatory memorandum on Regulation 1223/2009 states that EU updates to the annexes apply in Northern Ireland, and that equivalent changes may be made for Great Britain by Statutory Instrument.

In practice, a brand selling across the UK may follow the stricter route on one label. Readers in Northern Ireland may see the longer EU allergen list sooner.

Are the rules changing?

Yes, partly. Status by area:

EU: Regulation 2023/1545 extends individual allergen labelling. The Commission page shows a transition period running 2026 to 2028.
Great Britain: the EU requirement covering 80+ fragrance ingredients does not yet apply in the UK.
GB amendments: The 2026 Regulations amend the Cosmetic Regulation, including annexes on prohibited substances, preservatives and UV filters. They are not described as extending the fragrance allergen list.
Process: the government has said it considers advice from the Scientific Advisory Group on Chemical Safety of Consumer Products on risks to human health when deciding restrictions.

Brands exporting to the EU may already list more allergens than UK law requires. A longer list on a label is not a sign of a worse product. It is more detail.

For the current position, check the GOV.UK cosmetics guidance and the CTPA labelling note, as dates and instruments change.

Allergy or irritation?

The two are different.

	Allergy	Irritation
Cause	Immune response after sensitisation	Direct skin damage from a substance or concentration
Onset	Often around a day after exposure	Usually soon after contact
Repeat exposure	Reaction returns on re-exposure	Depends on amount and skin condition

The NHS explains that after re-exposure to an allergen, the immune system can react and make the skin red and itchy.

The California Department of Public Health notes that fragrance skin allergies can cause itchy, red rashes that appear about a day after exposure, and may affect the hands, face or underarm area.

Symptoms to note:

Itching
Redness
Rash at the spray site
Reaction on the neck, wrists or underarms
Delayed onset, often the next day

For a deeper comparison, see our guide to perfume allergy versus sensitivity.

If you think you have reacted

Steps:

Stop using the product.
Keep the bottle and outer packaging, including the ingredient list.
Photograph the affected area and the label.
Book a GP appointment if the rash persists, spreads or affects the face. Severe swelling, breathing difficulty or a spreading rash needs urgent care: call 111, or 999 in an emergency.
Ask about referral to dermatology for patch testing if reactions repeat.

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust advises patients attending its contact dermatitis service to bring the products they have used and their containers. The doctor takes a history and decides what to test.

Patch testing

Patch testing is a dermatology procedure that detects contact allergies. The Royal Free London states that the British standard series includes 50 common contact allergens. Hull University Teaching Hospitals notes that a positive result means you will know which substances to avoid in future.

Patch test identifying a contact allergen

Clinical patch testing is different from a home skin trial. A home trial cannot diagnose an allergy. It can show whether one specific product irritates your skin. Our 48 hour patch test guide sets out the method, and our note on when to seek patch testing covers when a clinic is the better route.

A practical checklist before buying

Know your trigger. If a clinic has named an allergen, search every label for it by INCI name.
Read the full ingredient list, not only the product page summary.
Check the product type. Concentration differs between Eau de Parfum, Parfum and Extrait, and so does the amount of fragrance oil applied.
Test on a small area first. Apply to the inner forearm and wait.
Avoid testing many scents at once. One at a time identifies the cause.
Record batch and bottle details.
Do not assume vegan, cruelty-free or natural means allergen-free. These describe sourcing and testing, not sensitisation risk. See cruelty free versus vegan perfume for what each term covers.

Our perspective

We make niche, unisex, cruelty-free perfumes, and we handle allergen questions in a plain way. A listed allergen is a fact about a formula. It is not a flaw.

Three positions we hold:

Labels first. Customers with a known sensitivity should check ingredient information before ordering and ask us if anything is unclear.
Sample before a bottle. Skin chemistry differs between people. A small sample worn for a day or two tells you more than any description. That is why we offer discovery sets.
No health claims. We do not call any fragrance hypoallergenic. If you have a diagnosed allergy, your dermatologist’s results come before our scent notes.

Our scents are built around memory and story. Skin comfort is part of wearing them well. Trying a scent in a small format first protects your skin and your money.

— Rook

Try before committing to a full bottle

The Discovery Set Sampler lets you test several fragrances on skin at small scale. If you want a wider selection, the Fragility Discovery Sample Sets with a £20 voucher are also available. Full bottles are in the Eau de Parfum, Parfum and Extrait range.

Use one sample at a time. Apply to the inner forearm. Wait 48 hours. Check the ingredient list for any allergen you avoid before you start.

FAQ

What do “contains fragrance allergens” mean on a perfume?

The product holds one or more substances that can cause reactions in sensitised people. The statement is information for those people. It does not mean the product is unsafe for the general population.

How many fragrance allergens must UK labels list?

The CTPA gives 24 allergens for individual labelling. They must be named when above 0.001% in leave-on products such as perfume. Rinse-off products use 0.01%.

Will the UK adopt the EU’s longer list?

The EU requirement covering 80+ fragrance ingredients does not yet apply in the UK. Northern Ireland follows EU annex updates. For Great Britain, changes would come by Statutory Instrument, so check GOV.UK for the current position.

Is a natural perfume free of allergens?

No. Many labelled allergens occur naturally in essential oils and plant extracts. Natural origin describes the source, not the sensitisation risk. Read the ingredient list for the specific substance you react to.

Should I see a doctor after one reaction?

See a GP if the rash persists, spreads or affects your face, and urgently if there is swelling or breathing difficulty. Bring the product and its packaging. Repeated reactions justify a referral for patch testing.