Wintergreen oil (Gaultheria fragrantissima)

Q: What is wintergreen oil used for in cosmetics?

CosIng classifies it as a fragrance. We found no controlled cosmetic trial on skin: it is first of all an aromatic material with the scent of methyl salicylate, and its dose is regulated.

Wintergreen essential oil is obtained from the leaves of Gaultheria fragrantissima7. It is almost entirely methyl salicylate: 98.04% and 95% in two analyses1 2. The oil is not named in Annex III, but methyl salicylate is: limits depend on the product, banned for children under 6 except in toothpaste, declaration above 0.001% in leave-on products8 9.

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

Create a wintergreen product Read the studies

Create my product

Wintergreen oil at a glance

Entry from our cosmetic ingredient glossary. Regulatory data from the European Commission's CosIng database7, Regulation (EU) 2023/15458 and the consolidated Regulation (EC) No 1223/20099. The CosIng entry for this oil gives neither a CAS nor an EC number.

INCI name: GAULTHERIA FRAGRANTISSIMA LEAF OILCosIng wording. Our glossary uses the short form "Gaultheria Fragrantissima Oil". CosIng gives no US INCI name7
Other names: Wintergreen essential oilWintergreen oil, the common name in the literature3. Not to be confused with eastern teaberry (Gaultheria procumbens), whose INCI name was not checked here
CAS number: Not given in CosIngNo CAS number in the CosIng entry for this oil7
EC number: Not given in CosIngNo EC number in the CosIng entry for this oil7
Botanical origin: Wintergreen (Gaultheria fragrantissima, Ericaceae)CosIng: volatile oil obtained from the leaves7
Composition: Methyl salicylate (95 to 98%)98.04% in the oil analyzed by Kumar1; 95% in Pandey, with 4.64% asarone2. Commercial oils from Nepal and China also contain linalool, phenol, vetispirane and ethyl salicylate3
CosIng functions: Fragrance"Fragrance"7
EU status: Oil not named; methyl salicylate at line 324 of Annex IIINo line for Gaultheria in Annexes II and III8 9. CosIng shows no restriction for the oil7. Whether the methyl salicylate limits apply to the amount the oil supplies should be confirmed with your regulatory manager
Methyl salicylate (CAS 119-36-8, EC 204-317-7): Limits from 0.002% to 2.52% depending on the productLine 324: 0.06% for leave-on skin products and rinse-off skin and hair products; 0.05% face makeup; 0.002% eye makeup and makeup remover; 0.009% leave-on hair sprays; 0.003% spray deodorants; 0.04% spray body lotions; 0.6% hand wash and alcohol-based fragrances; 0.03% lip products; 2.52% toothpaste; mouthwash 0.1% (ages 6 to 10) or 0.6% (above); oral spray 0.65%9
Condition of use: Not to be used in preparations for children under 6 yearsExcept for toothpaste (line 324)9. Non-compliant products could be placed on the market until 31 July 2026 (deadline passed) and may remain available until 31 July 2028, if they complied with the restrictions applicable on 15 August 20238 9.
Allergen to declare: Methyl salicylate: yesAbove 0.001% in a leave-on product and 0.01% in a rinse-off product9. The oil itself is not named: if it supplies methyl salicylate above these thresholds, the declaration should be confirmed with your regulatory manager
Safety: Documented overdose, especially in childrenIn children under 6, 5 mL or less of wintergreen oil is involved in several well-documented deaths4. No CIR assessment reviewed for this oil

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

An oil made almost entirely of methyl salicylate

Laboratory

GC-MS analysisTwo Gaultheria fragrantissima oils

Methyl salicylate makes up 98.04% of the oil in one analysis1 and 95% in another, with 4.64% asarone2.

Natural methyl salicylate can be told apart from the synthetic product

Laboratory

7 commercial oils from Nepal and ChinaGC-MS, chiral GC-MS and GC-FID

The oil has at most 22 identified compounds. Linalool, phenol, vetispirane and ethyl salicylate are present in commercial oils from both countries. When the oil is adulterated with synthetic salicylate, methyl salicylate does not change, but the minor compounds drop and a synthesis marker, dimethyl 2-hydroxyterephthalate, rises3. A chromatographic analysis of each batch is therefore useful.

Toxicity and absorptionToxicology

A few milliliters are enough to poison a young child

Review

2007 reviewUS poison control center data

In children under 6, a teaspoon (5 mL) or less of wintergreen oil, which contains 98% methyl salicylate, is involved in several well-documented deaths. The authors consider the risk underestimated by the general public4.

Skin or accidental overdoses remain frequent

Review

2017 review

Excessive application or accidental ingestion of methyl salicylate preparations causes salicylate poisoning, sometimes fatal. The product appears every year in the US poison control database, for adults and children alike5.

Low systemic exposure at usage doses

Clinical trial

24 volunteers, 3 groups of 82, 4 or 8 commercial patches (camphor, menthol, methyl salicylate)8 hours

With 8 patches, the peak plasma concentration of methyl salicylate is 29.5 ng/mL, versus 16.8 ng/mL with 4 patches; its terminal half-life is 3.0 hours. The authors conclude a relatively low systemic exposure, even with an unrealistic number of patches6.

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 can use wintergreen oil?

No formula in our white label catalog features wintergreen oil yet. Our formulation lab can add it to a custom formula or to a catalog formula. Its common uses:

Face

Very limited use: the methyl salicylate limit is 0.05% in face makeup and 0.002% in eye makeup.

Body

Fragrance of balms and massage oils, within the methyl salicylate limit of each product type and with no product intended for children under 6.

Hair

Shampoos and rinse-off care (0.06% limit); leave-on sprays limited to 0.009%.

Wintergreen, clove, camphor or boswellia?

Four aromatic materials sometimes combined in the same care fragrance. Their regulatory status differs: check it before choosing.

	Wintergreen	Clove	Camphor	Boswellia
Substance named in Annex III	Methyl salicylate, line 3249	Eugenol, line 719	Camphor, line 3318	α-pinene and β-pinene, line 3718
Oil or resin named in Regulation (EU) 2023/1545	No: no line for Gaultheria8 9	Yes: Eugenia caryophyllus oil, line 3568	Not applicable: a chemical substance is named8	No: no line for Boswellia or frankincense8 9
Concentration limit	Yes, by product: 0.002% to 2.52% methyl salicylate9	None: declaration only8 9	None: declaration only8	None for the material; peroxide value below 10 mmol/L for pinene8

Frequently asked questions about wintergreen oil

What is wintergreen essential oil?

It is the volatile oil obtained from the leaves of Gaultheria fragrantissima7. It is almost entirely made of methyl salicylate (95 to 98% in two analyses)1 2. Its CosIng INCI name is GAULTHERIA FRAGRANTISSIMA LEAF OIL.

What is wintergreen oil used for in cosmetics?

CosIng classifies it as a fragrance7. We found no controlled cosmetic trial on skin: it is first of all an aromatic material with the scent of methyl salicylate, and its dose is regulated.

How much methyl salicylate is allowed?

It depends on the product. Line 324 of Annex III sets, for example, 0.06% for leave-on skin products and rinse-off products, 0.05% for face makeup, 0.03% for lip products and 0.002% for eye makeup9. Calculate the share of methyl salicylate supplied by the oil, which contains 95% or more1 2.

Is wintergreen allowed for children?

Not under 6: Annex III bans methyl salicylate in preparations for children under 6, except in toothpaste9. The poisoning cases described in young children involve a few milliliters of oil4. Products must therefore be clearly intended for adults.

Do I have to declare methyl salicylate on the label?

Yes: methyl salicylate is named in Annex III and is declared above 0.001% in a leave-on product and 0.01% in a rinse-off product9. Gaultheria fragrantissima oil is not named in Regulation (EU) 2023/15458; how to declare the substance supplied by the oil should be confirmed with your regulatory manager.

Fragrant wintergreen or eastern teaberry: which one to choose?

Our page covers Gaultheria fragrantissima, the species listed by CosIng as GAULTHERIA FRAGRANTISSIMA LEAF OIL7. The literature also calls it "wintergreen oil"3. For eastern teaberry (Gaultheria procumbens), the INCI name must be checked in CosIng before any file.

Can you manufacture a wintergreen product for my brand?

This oil is not in our catalog. Our ISO 22716 certified lab can study a custom formula, with a methyl salicylate calculation for each product type. Samples of our catalog formulas are free.

Sources

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

Kumar M, Sarma P, Dkhar MS, et al. Assessment of chemically characterised Gaultheria fragrantissima Wall. essential oil and its major component as safe plant based preservative for millets against fungal, aflatoxin contamination and lipid peroxidation during storage. J Food Sci Technol. 2018;55(1):111-119. doi:10.1007/s13197-017-2842-y
Pandey BP, Thapa R, Upreti A. Chemical composition, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of essential oil and methanol extract of Artemisia vulgaris and Gaultheria fragrantissima collected from Nepal. Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2017;10(10):952-959. doi:10.1016/j.apjtm.2017.09.005
Ojha PK, Poudel DK, Dangol S, et al. Volatile constituent analysis of wintergreen essential oil and comparison with synthetic methyl salicylate for authentication. Plants (Basel). 2022;11(8):1090. doi:10.3390/plants11081090
Davis JE. Are one or two dangerous? Methyl salicylate exposure in toddlers. J Emerg Med. 2007;32(1):63-69. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2006.08.009
Anderson A, McConville A, Fanthorpe L, Davis J. Salicylate poisoning potential of topical pain relief agents: from age old remedies to engineered smart patches. Medicines (Basel). 2017;4(3):48. doi:10.3390/medicines4030048
Martin D, Valdez J, Boren J, Mayersohn M. Dermal absorption of camphor, menthol, and methyl salicylate in humans. J Clin Pharmacol. 2004;44(10):1151-1157. doi:10.1177/0091270004268409
European Commission. CosIng, entry GAULTHERIA FRAGRANTISSIMA LEAF OIL (no CAS). 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
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products, consolidated version of 1 May 2025 (Annexes II, III and VI). eur-lex.europa.eu

Create a wintergreen product

Tell us about your project

A product specialist reviews your request and gets back to you on the channel you prefer.

Lead EN – Demande de devis

Tell us about your project. A product specialist will get back to you shortly.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Name

Prénom

Nom

Preferred Contact Method

Phone

Company or brand name / website

PROJECT INFORMATION

What would be the quantity of your order per product?

Please describe your project?

By submitting this form, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

No obligation. Your information stays confidential and is used only to prepare your quote.