Citral is a widely-used fragrance or flavour ingredient in foods and beverages, cosmetics, and household products thanks to its appealing lemon-like scent. It’s commonly found in essential oils like lemongrass and Litsea cubeba. Currently, Citral is regulated under the European Cosmetics Regulation No. 1223/2009.
Early safety assessments on Citral
In 2008, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) performed a safety evaluation on Citral, using the Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) method. The SCCS followed up with their own assessment in 2012, particularly regarding fragrance allergens. They stipulated that if Citral’s concentration exceeds 0.001% in leave-on products or 0.01% in rinse-off products, it must be disclosed in the ingredient list referred to in Article 19(1) of the Cosmetics Regulation.
IFRA uses QRA2 to understand Citral’s safe use levels
As of December 2021, the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) submitted a dossier on derived safe Citral use levels, applying an updated QRA2 methodology, based on the induction of skin sensitisation. The SCCS was then tasked with determining if these new levels were enough to protect consumers.
Is Citral considered safe as a cosmetic ingredient?
The SCCS concluded that, based on the QRA2 methodology, Citral is considered safe at the proposed concentrations in cosmetic products. However, they noted the QRA2 methodology still requires further clarification and refinement. This decision is specific to Citral’s potential for sensitization, and the SCCS will assess other fragrances and cosmetic ingredients on an individual basis in the future.
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