Hydroxycitronellol ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is used primarily as a fragrance component, giving formulas a soft floral, citrus-rose, muguet-like scent. It is not a preservative, emulsifier, or active skin-care ingredient.
What does Hydroxycitronellol do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is used primarily as a fragrance component, giving formulas a soft floral, citrus-rose, muguet-like scent. It is not a preservative, emulsifier, or active skin-care ingredient.
Is Hydroxycitronellol clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient sits in the fragrance category, so the main issue is sensitization potential rather than general skin compatibility. It may be subject to fragrance disclosure expectations and IFRA use limits depending on formula type and concentration.
Is Hydroxycitronellol sustainable?
This material may be made from petrochemical or terpene-derived feedstocks, so its sourcing profile depends on the supplier. It is a small organic fragrance molecule and is expected to biodegrade more readily than persistent silicone or fluorinated materials.
Is Hydroxycitronellol COSMOS-approved?
It fits COSMOS only when supplied as a natural fragrance material that complies with ISO 9235 and the standard’s fragrance rules. Conventional synthetic grades have weak COSMOS alignment, though the molecule itself is compatible with Green Chemistry goals when made from renewable feedstocks and designed for biodegradability.
How does Hydroxycitronellol work chemically?
The molecule is a branched aliphatic fragrance alcohol with both hydrophobic terpene character and hydroxyl functionality, which helps it blend into oil phases, fragrance concentrates, and surfactant systems. It is typically used at low fragrance levels, and formulators manage it through IFRA category limits, oxidation control, and compatibility testing in the finished base.
Last updated 2026-05-13