Citral
Citral (INCI: Citral; CAS 5392-40-5) is a common fragrance ingredient with a characteristic lemon-like scent and bittersweet taste. It is a naturally occurring compound found in many plant oils including lemon, orange, lime, and lemongrass. Its chemical name is 3,7-Dimethyl-2,6-Octadienal. It is classified under EU Cosmetic Restrictions III/70.
Citral is used primarily to impart a lemon-like fragrance to cosmetic formulations. It occurs naturally in several citrus and aromatic plant oils. No direct skin-benefit claims are supported by the source.
Citral is a known fragrance allergen and irritant (Contact Dermatitis, Vol. 49(1), 2003). It is one of the "EU 26 fragrances" that must be labelled separately on cosmetic products due to its allergen potential. Best avoided by those with sensitive skin.
