Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts | Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary

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Rating	Ingredient
Poor	Acacia farnesiana extract A fragrant extract from a type of acacia tree. There is no research showing it to have any benefit... Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	bitter orange flower Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	bois de rose oil Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	bois oil Fragrant oil that has no research showing it has benefit for skin (Source: www.naturaldatabase.com). Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Boswellia carterii Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Average	Boswellia serrata extract An extract from the gum resin of a tree and also a source of Indian frankincense, this plant extract has both positive and negative qualities for skin. Categories: Skin-Soothing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Plant Extracts
Poor	butylphenyl methylpropional Synthetic fragrance ingredient with a strong floral scent. Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Aerocarpus santalinus Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	alpha isomethyl ionone Alpha isomethyl ionone is a fragrance ingredient that must be listed on products that contain it due to its risk of causing a sensitized reaction. Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	amyl cinnamate Fragrant component. Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	amyl salicylate Fragrant component. Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	amyris oil Fragrant oil. It has no other known benefit for skin. Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Average	Anethum graveolens Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Angelica archangelica root oil Volatile oil obtained from the angelica plant. The oil contains chemical constituents that can be... Categories: Antioxidants, Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	anisaldehyde Synthetic fragrance used in cosmetics. Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	anise Also known as aniseed, it can have antioxidant properties... Categories: Antioxidants, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Average	aroma/flavor Seeing "aroma/flavor" on an ingredient list can be either good or bad. For example, if the aroma or flavor comes from mint.... Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	balm mint extract Extract derived from a fragrant plant; it poses some risk of causing skin sensitivity… Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	balsam peru Fatty resin that when applied topically can cause skin sensitivity… Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	bay leaf oil Has the potential to provide antioxidant benefits for skin… Categories: Antioxidants, Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	benzoin extract Balsam resin that has some fragrant properties; it may also be sensitizing to skin… Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	benzyl salicylate A volatile fragrance chemical with a sweet, floral odor used to impart scent to cosmetic products and perfumes. Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	bergamot oil A volatile citrus oil that, when used topically, is a photosensitizer... Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	cananga extract Fragrance used in cosmetics; it can be sensitizing to skin, much like ylang ylang. Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Cananga odorata Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	cardamom Plant of the ginger family, used as fragrance in cosmetics. Terpene, one of its major constituents,... Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	carvone Essential oil used as a flavoring agent and fragrance component in cosmetics. It can be a... Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	cedarwood Fragrant plant extract. There is evidence that cedarwood oil is sensitizing... Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Cedrus atlantica bark extract Fragrant oil that can aggravate skin... Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	essential oil Categories: Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	eucalyptus extract Extract that may have beneficial properties on the skin... Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	eucalyptus oil Fragrant plant oil whose active constituents are found in the leaves and the oil obtained from... Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	eugenol Fragrance chemical that occurs naturally in some plant ingredients... Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Average	farnesol Extract of plants that is used in cosmetics primarily for fragrance. A few animal studies and some... Categories: Antioxidants, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Plant Extracts
Average	farnesyl acetate Categories: Antioxidants, Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Cinnamomum Categories: Antioxidants, Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	cinnamon Can have antioxidant properties when applied to skin... Categories: Antioxidants, Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	cinnamyl alcohol A volatile fragrance ingredient that contains extracts from cinnamon and balsam of Peru... Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	citronellol A volatile fragrance chemical extracted from geranium, rose, and other plants, citronellol has a characteristic grassy, citrus-like scent. Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Citrus amara Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Citrus aurantifolia Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Citrus aurantium Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Citrus aurantium extract Bitter orange extract. It can have antioxidant properties when eaten (Source: Journal of... Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Citrus medica limonium Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	clary oil Used as fragrance; can be a skin sensitizer. Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Commiphora myrrha extract Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Good	coriander Herb and spice plant, the source of a fragrant component; it can be a potential skin sensitizer… Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Best	Cucurbitea peponis Categories: Antioxidants, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Plant Extracts, Vitamins, Skin-Restoring
Poor	cyclamen aldehyde Synthetic fragrant component in products; it can aggravate skin. Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Ferula galbaniflua Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	fir needle oil Volatile, fragrant oil that can cause skin sensitivity. Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	floralozone One of a number of synthetic fragrant components. Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Foeniculum vulgare extract Categories: Antioxidants, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	fragrance One or a blend of volatile and/or fragrant plant oils (or synthetically derived oils) that impart... Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	frankincense extract Fragrant component used in skincare products; it can be a skin sensitizer... Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	galbanum Fragrant substance that, because of its resin and volatile oil content, can be extremely sensitizing… Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	Gardenia florida extract Flower extract used in cosmetics to impart fragrance; also functions as an antioxidant (Source:... Categories: Antioxidants, Sensitizing, Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Average	geraniol A volatile fragrance ingredient extracted from geranium, geraniol is capable of causing sensitivity when applied to skin. Categories: Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	geranium oil Fragrant oil that can have beneficial properties but also can be a skin sensitizer... Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	jasmine oil Fragrant oil, often used as a source of perfume, that can be a skin sensitizer... Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Jasminium grandiflorum Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	jonquil extract Fragrant plant extract that poses a strong risk of skin sensitization. Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Laurus nobilis Categories: Antioxidants, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Plant Extracts
Good	lauryl lactate Mixture of lauryl alcohol and lactic acid that functions as a skin-conditioning agent and... Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Emollients
Poor	lavandin oil Essential oil of the hybrid lavender plant Lavandula hybrida and used in cosmetics as a fragrance... Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Lavandula angustifolia Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Lavandula officinalis Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	lavender extract and oil In-vitro research indicates that components of lavender oil, specifically linalool and linalyl acetate, can have... Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	lemon Potent skin sensitizer. Though it can have beneficial properties... Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	lemon balm Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	lemon oil Commonly used citrus oil that can be a skin sensitizer, especially on abraded skin. Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	lemongrass extract Extract that can have beneficial properties... Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	lemongrass oil Also known as Oil of Verbena; can be effective as a mosquito repellent... Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	grapefruit oil Citrus oil whose volatile components (chiefly substances known as furocoumarins) are sensitizing... Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	hedione Synthetic fragrant component in products, which also can be a skin sensitizer. Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	hexyl cinnamal A fragrance ingredient used in many perfumes and often seen in fragranced skincare products... Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	Illicium vernum Categories: Antioxidants, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Iris florentina extract Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	Levisticum officinale root extract Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	lime oil and extract Citrus fruit whose volatile compounds are sensitizing... Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	limonene Chemical constituent of many natural fragrant ingredients, notably citrus oils such as lemon (d-limonene) and... Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	linalool Fragrant component of lavender and coriander that can be a skin sensitizer, or... Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	Litsea cubeba Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	pentadecalactone Synthetic fragrance used in cosmetics. Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	peppermint Both the oil and the extract can have disinfectant properties... Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	petitgrain mandarin Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	pine oil It can aggravate skin and should never be used on abraded or chafed skin… Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Pogostemon cablin Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	mandarin orange oil or extract Primarily used as a fragrance; it can be a skin sensitizer. There is no research showing it has any... Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	marjoram Herb with a fragrant component used in cosmetics; can be a skin sensitizer… Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	Melissa officinalis Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Mentha piperita Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	Mentha spicata Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Mentha viridis Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	menthol Derived from peppermint; menthol can have the same sensitizing effect as peppermint on skin… Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	menthone Major constituent of peppermint. Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	menthoxypropanediol Synthetic derivative of menthol. It is known to produce effects that are twice as strong as... Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	menthyl lactate Used as a cooling agent and fragrance in cosmetics. It is a derivative of menthol and is supposed... Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	methyldihydrojasmonate Synthetic fragrant component. Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	mimosa oil or extract Extract used as a fragrance in cosmetics. Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	mint Can be a skin sensitizer… Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	myrrh Fragrant gum resin that can be a skin sensitizer. There is little research showing it has any benefit... Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	myrtle extract Contains volatile oil and tannins... Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Myrtus communis extract Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	Narcissus poeticus wax Fragrant flower extract that can cause sensitizing reactions… Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	neroli Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	neroli oil Fragrant plant oil that can be a skin sensitizer... Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	olibanum extract Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	orange blossom Fragrant extract that can also be a skin sensitizer. Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	orchid Fragrant flower that can be a skin sensitizer. Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	oregano Has beneficial properties, but can also be a skin sensitizer. Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Origanum majorana Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	orris root Used primarily as a fragrant component due to its violet-like scent (Source:... Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	patchouli Fragrant oil derived from mint. It contains eugenol and can aggravate skin. Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	spearmint oil Fragrant, volatile oil that can cause skin sensitivity. Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	star anise Categories: Antioxidants, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Rosa damascena oil Oil of a very fragrant pink rose used as fragrance in cosmetics. Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	Rosa gallica flower extract Fragrant extract. Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	rose flower Highly fragrant substance that can be a skin sensitizer. Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	rose flower oil Fragrant, volatile oil that can aggravate skin. There is no research showing... Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	rose oil Fragrant, volatile oil that can aggravate skin. Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Good	rosemary extract Extract that can have antioxidant benefit for skin (Source: Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry,... Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Antioxidants
Poor	rosemary oil Fragrant plant oil derived from rosemary, Latin name Rosmarinus officinalis. This ingredient is primarily used as a fragrance in cosmetics... Categories: Antioxidants, Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	rosewood oil Fragrant plant oil with a spicy-sweet scent, also known as bois de rose. It is extracted from wood... Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Good	Rosmarinus officinalis extract Categories: Antioxidants, Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	sandalwood oil Fragrant oil that can cause skin-sensitizing reactions... Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Average	Santalum album seed extract Latin name for sandalwood extract, which is used in cosmetics as a fragrance. It can have... Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	sausurrea oil Also called costus oil. Volatile oil and fragrant component used in cosmetics; it can be a skin... Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	sclareolide Fermented from clary sage and used as a fragrant component in cosmetics. Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	tangerine oil Fragrant, volatile citrus oil that can be a skin sensitizer… Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	Thymus vulgaris oil Thymus vulgaris oil is more commonly known as thyme oil. Categories: Antioxidants, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Good	Vanilla planifolia fruit extract Extract used primarily as a fragrance and flavoring agent. The vanilla plant is a source of... Categories: Skin-Soothing, Plant Extracts, Antioxidants, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	verbena extract Fragrant extract that can be a skin sensitizer... Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	vetiver oil or extract Fragrant component in skincare products that also has some beneficial properties... Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	volatile oil Group of volatile fluids derived primarily from plants and used in cosmetics primarily as fragrant... Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	ylang ylang Fragrant, volatile oil that can also be a skin sensitizer… Categories: Plant Extracts, Antioxidants, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing

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Paula Begoun is the best-selling author of 20 books about skincare and makeup. She is known worldwide as The Cosmetics Cop and creator of Paula’s Choice Skincare. Paula’s expertise has led to hundreds of appearances on national and international radio, print, and television including:

The Paula's Choice Research Team is dedicated to busting beauty myths and providing expert advice that solves your skincare frustrations so you can have the best skin of your life!

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