Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Oil
Steam-distilled essential oil from the bark of Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum / C. verum), containing approximately 60–80% trans-cinnamaldehyde and 5–10% eugenol. Used solely as a fragrance ingredient. HIGH sensitization risk: cinnamaldehyde is a direct-acting electrophilic sensitizer (Michael acceptor), a Category 1 contact allergen on the EU fragrance allergen list, and one of the most frequently positive reactions in patch-test populations. Both cinnamaldehyde and eugenol must be individually declared on EU cosmetics above threshold concentrations, and the whole oil is now itself listed in EU Regulation 2023/1545 Annex III (effective July 2026 for new products).
Also known as: ceylon cinnamon bark oil, cinnamon bark oil, cinnamomum verum bark oil
Benefits
- ✓Adds warm, spicy cinnamon fragrance to cosmetic formulas
Watch for
- ⚠HIGH sensitization risk — cinnamaldehyde (~75% of oil) is a well-established Category 1 contact sensitizer; one of the most clinically significant fragrance allergens in dermatological patch-test databases
- ⚠Eugenol (~5–10% of oil) is also an EU-listed fragrance allergen and contact sensitizer
- ⚠Both CINNAMAL and EUGENOL must be individually declared on EU cosmetics labels when above threshold (≥0.001% leave-on / ≥0.01% rinse-off)
- ⚠The whole oil is listed in EU Regulation 2023/1545 Annex III as a mandatory-declare allergen (effective new products July 2026, sell-off by July 2028)
- ⚠IFRA limits cinnamaldehyde strictly: leave-on face/body products capped at 0.064% cinnamal — equivalent to ~0.085% of the oil; safe-use concentrations in leave-on cosmetics are very low
- ⚠Rated ++(r.t.) (established allergen, recognized threshold) in SCCS Opinion SCCS/1459/11 on Natural Complex Substances
- ⚠Contraindicated in products for sensitive, reactive, or atopic skin and in baby/child products
