Lavender essential oil

Q: What are the benefits of lavender oil in cosmetics?

CosIng classifies it as a fragrance and a tonic. It is first of all a fragrance ingredient: we found no robust cosmetic clinical trial on skin, and the cited study on follicles was run in mice.

Lavender essential oil is obtained from the flowers of Lavandula angustifolia8. Its main constituents are linalool, linalyl acetate and beta-caryophyllene1. It is named in Annex III of Regulation (EU) 2023/1545: its presence must be declared above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products9. In air, it oxidizes and becomes more allergenic1.

Mohamed El HjoujiFounder and CEO · Updated November 3, 2026 · Reading time 8 min

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Lavender oil at a glance

Entry from our cosmetic ingredient glossary. Regulatory data from the European Commission's CosIng database8 and from Regulation (EU) 2023/15459. Copy the identifiers in one click for your files.

INCI name: LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA OILUS INCI name: LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA (LAVENDER) OIL8
Other names: Lavender essential oilLavender oil; true lavender (common name)
CAS number: 8000-28-0 / 90063-37-9
EC number: 289-995-2Linked to CAS 90063-37-9; no EC number for CAS 8000-28-08
Botanical origin: Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia, Lamiaceae)CosIng: volatile oil obtained from the flowers, defined by standard ISO 8902:20098
Composition: Linalool, linalyl acetate, beta-caryophylleneMain constituents1. Between 450 and 500 compounds identified in some lavender oils5
CosIng functions: Fragrance, tonic"Fragrance" and "Tonic"8
EU status: Named in Annex III, line 360Oil and extract of Lavandula angustifolia, grouped with Lavandula intermedia and Lavandula hybrida, line added by Regulation (EU) 2023/15459. CosIng refers to this line (III/360)8
Allergen to declare: Yes, as "Lavandula Oil/ Extract"Above 0.001% in a leave-on product and 0.01% in a rinse-off product. Linalyl Acetate, the main constituent, is also named (line 337); Beta-Caryophyllene is too (line 332). Non-compliant products may be placed on the market until 31 July 2026 and made available until 31 July 20289
Safety: No CIR assessment foundNo CIR panel report found on this oil. A documented point of caution: oxidation in air, which increases the allergenic potential1 2

What the research says

Each result shows the protocol and the level of evidence. The higher the level, the better the result carries over to a finished formula.

Clinical trialReview or consensusLaboratory

Oil compositionChemistry

Linalool and linalyl acetate lead

Review

2025 review

The volatile compounds of lavender are mostly linalool and linalyl acetate6.

An oil with several hundred compounds

Review

2016 reviewOils that caused contact allergies

The number of identified constituents generally ranges from 100 to 250, but reaches 450 to 500 in some oils, including lavender, geranium and rosemary. Limonene, linalool and α-pinene are important constituents of more than 20 oils5.

Oxidation and contact allergiesToxicology

The oil oxidizes in air and becomes more sensitizing

Laboratory

Chemical analysisMouse local lymph node assay (LLNA)Patch tests in people allergic to oxidized linalool

The oil's constituents oxidize at the same rate as the pure compounds and give the same products. The sensitizing potential increases with air exposure, and the exposed oil causes reactions in people allergic to oxidized linalool1.

Linalyl acetate: weakly allergenic when pure, more so when oxidized

Laboratory

LLNA test, miceSample oxidized for 10 weeks

At high purity, linalyl acetate is weakly sensitizing (EC3 of 25%). After 10 weeks of oxidation, its EC3 falls to 3.6%, a sign of stronger sensitizing potential. Hydroperoxides are the most active oxidation products2.

Frequent reactions to oxidized linalool in patch tests

Clinical study

5,511 consecutively tested peopleIVDK network, 2018 to 2020Clinic population

Tests with oxidized linalool (1%) were positive in 483 people (8.8%), and those with oxidized limonene (0.3%) in 170 (3.1%). Many reactions were weak, doubtful or irritant: the authors point to a risk of false positives3.

A test judged justified, with thresholds still to be refined

Review

2022 review

Linalool and limonene hydroperoxides cause frequent positive patch test reactions. The authors consider that adding them to the European baseline series can be justified, with exposure thresholds still to be better defined4.

Scalp and hairHaircare

More follicles in mice

Laboratory

C57BL/6 miceLavender oil at 3 and 5%4 weeksVehicle: jojoba oil

Compared with the saline group, the number of follicles, their depth and the thickness of the dermis increased, and the number of mast cells fell. This is an animal study: it does not allow a conclusion about an effect in humans7. A 2025 review of plant-based hair products stresses the lack of solid trials10.

This page summarizes published literature on a cosmetic ingredient. It does not describe the effect of a finished product, which depends on its formula, and it is not medical advice. Evidence is flagged by level: clinical trial, review or laboratory.

Which products use lavender oil?

Our white label catalog includes 8 formulas with lavender oil: the key active in 2 of them, a supporting ingredient in the others. Every category can be customized (formula, fragrance, packaging).

8Body

Fragrance of the lavender intimate foam, also present in soaps, scrubs, shower gels and a beard strengthening serum.

Lavender Intimate FoamKey active Lavender Massage OilKey active

In our formulas, it is most often paired with

Vitamin E 5 Argan oil 3 Aloe vera 2 Chamomile 2 Apricot kernel oil 2

Lavender, rosemary, peppermint or eucalyptus?

Four essential oils often compared when choosing a fragrance or a sensation. Their chemistry differs, so does their labeling.

	Lavender	Rosemary	Peppermint	Eucalyptus
Dominant constituents	Linalool, linalyl acetate, beta-caryophyllene1	α-pinene, 1,8-cineole, camphor 11	Menthol and menthone 12	1,8-cineole, more than 50% of Eucalyptus globulus oil5
Regulation (EU) 2023/1545	Oil named (line 360)9	Oil not named; Camphor, Pinene and Limonene named9	Oil named (line 361)9	Eucalyptus globulus oil named (line 355)9
Carmel catalog formulas	8 formulas	17 formulas	8 formulas	3 formulas

Frequently asked questions about lavender oil

What is lavender essential oil?

It is the volatile oil obtained from the flowers of Lavandula angustifolia8. Its INCI name is LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA OIL. It is made mostly of linalool, linalyl acetate and beta-caryophyllene1.

What are the benefits of lavender oil in cosmetics?

CosIng classifies it as a fragrance and a tonic8. It is first of all a fragrance ingredient: we found no robust cosmetic clinical trial on skin, and the cited study on follicles was run in mice7.

Do I have to declare lavender oil in the ingredient list?

Yes. Since Regulation (EU) 2023/1545, Lavandula angustifolia oil is named in Annex III (line 360) and must be declared above 0.001% in a leave-on product and 0.01% in a rinse-off product9. Non-compliant products may be placed on the market until 31 July 2026 and made available until 31 July 2028.

Is lavender oil allergenic?

It can be: exposed to air, it oxidizes and the sensitizing potential of its constituents increases1 2. Hence the value of air-protected packaging, a stabilized formula and tolerance tests on the finished product.

What is the difference between lavender essential oil and lavender hydrosol?

The essential oil is the volatile fraction obtained by distillation8; the hydrosol is the aromatic water collected during that distillation, far less concentrated. Our catalog offers the pure essential oil and the hydrosol, the latter with a validated preservative system.

Is lavender oil safe?

No concentration limit applies to the oil, but its labeling is mandatory9. Its main point of caution is oxidation in air1 2. During pregnancy, as with any skincare product, a healthcare professional's advice remains the rule.

Can you manufacture a lavender product for my brand?

Yes. Our ISO 22716 certified lab offers 8 lavender formulas (essential oil, hydrosol, massage oil, intimate foam, soaps, scrubs) that you can customize, or a custom formula. Samples are free.

Sources

Peer-reviewed studies and official regulatory sources, checked on November 3, 2026.

Hagvall L, Sköld M, Bråred-Christensson J, et al. Lavender oil lacks natural protection against autoxidation, forming strong contact allergens on air exposure. Contact Dermatitis. 2008;59(3):143-150. . doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.2008.01402.x
Sköld M, Hagvall L, Karlberg AT. Autoxidation of linalyl acetate, the main component of lavender oil, creates potent contact allergens. Contact Dermatitis. 2008;58(1):9-14. . doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.2007.01262.x
Schubert S, Geier J, Brans R, et al. Patch testing hydroperoxides of limonene and linalool in consecutive patients: results of the IVDK 2018-2020. Contact Dermatitis. 2023;89(2):85-94. . doi:10.1111/cod.14332
Ogueta IA, Brared Christensson J, Giménez-Arnau E, et al. Limonene and linalool hydroperoxides review: pros and cons for routine patch testing. Contact Dermatitis. 2022;87(1):1-12. . doi:10.1111/cod.14064
de Groot AC, Schmidt E. Essential oils, part III: chemical composition. Dermatitis. 2016;27(4):161-169. doi:10.1097/DER.0000000000000193
Jiang B, Hou Y, Jiang S, et al. Lavender: phytochemistry, pharmacology, cross-disciplinary applications, and clinical efficacy. Phytomedicine. 2025;148:157274. . doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2025.157274
Lee BH, Lee JS, Kim YC. Hair growth-promoting effects of lavender oil in C57BL/6 mice. Toxicol Res. 2016;32(2):103-108. . doi:10.5487/TR.2016.32.2.103
European Commission. CosIng, entry LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA OIL (CAS 8000-28-0 / 90063-37-9, EC 289-995-2). ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 of 26 July 2023 amending Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards labelling of fragrance allergens in cosmetic products (Annex III). eur-lex.europa.eu
Ahmed A, Alali AM, Abdullah E, et al. Herbal remedies for hair loss: a review of efficacy and safety. Skin Appendage Disord. 2025;11(4):360-371. . doi:10.1159/000542876
Satyal P, Jones TH, Lopez EM, et al. Chemotypic characterization and biological activity of Rosmarinus officinalis. Foods. 2017;6(3):20. . doi:10.3390/foods6030020
Nair B. Final report on the safety assessment of Mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, Mentha piperita (peppermint) leaf extract, Mentha piperita (peppermint) leaf, and Mentha piperita (peppermint) leaf water. Int J Toxicol. 2001;20 Suppl 3:61-73. . PMID 11766133

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Lavender oil at a glance

What the research says

Oil compositionChemistry

Linalool and linalyl acetate lead

An oil with several hundred compounds

Oxidation and contact allergiesToxicology

The oil oxidizes in air and becomes more sensitizing

Linalyl acetate: weakly allergenic when pure, more so when oxidized

Frequent reactions to oxidized linalool in patch tests

A test judged justified, with thresholds still to be refined

Scalp and hairHaircare

More follicles in mice

Which products use lavender oil?

8Body

Lavender, rosemary, peppermint or eucalyptus?

Frequently asked questions about lavender oil

Further reading

Sources

Tell us about your project