Fragrance ingredient
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
INCI: CITRUS LIMON (LEMON) PEEL OIL
Cold-pressed or steam-distilled essential oil from lemon (Citrus limon) peel, composed primarily of limonene (up to ~96%) with citral and furocoumarins; used for fragrance but carries phototoxicity and fragrance sensitization risks requiring careful formulation controls.
Also known as: lemon peel oil, lemon essential oil, lemon oil
fragranceskin-conditioningantimicrobial
Benefits
- ✓Provides bright citrus fragrance to formulations
- ✓Contains limonene and citral with antioxidant properties
- ✓Minor brightening effect attributed to citral content at low use levels
Watch for
- ⚠Contains furocoumarins (bergapten, oxypeucedanin) — significant phototoxicity risk; can cause burns, blistering, and permanent hyperpigmentation on sun-exposed skin
- ⚠Limonene (38–96% of oil) is a declared EU fragrance allergen; forms sensitizing hydroperoxides on oxidation — mandatory label disclosure above 0.001% in leave-on products (EU Reg. 2023/1545)
- ⚠Citral is also a declared EU fragrance allergen requiring label disclosure
- ⚠EU restricts furocoumarin content to <1 mg/kg in sun-protection and bronzing products
- ⚠IFRA recommends concentration limits for leave-on skin products due to phototoxicity
- ⚠Potential skin irritant at undiluted or high concentrations
- ⚠Avoid in daytime leave-on products unless formulated with furocoumarin removal (bergapten-free)
