Common Name(s): Essential oil,concentrated volatile aromatic,bioactive fragrance active

CAS Number: N/a

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides aromatic sensory benefit alongside bioactive skin activity from concentrated plant volatile compounds — including antimicrobial activity (tea tree, thyme, clove), anti-inflammatory activity (lavender, chamomile), or circulatory stimulation (peppermint, rosemary).

Why It's Used: Essential oils provide authentic 'aromatherapy' narrative with genuine bioactive chemistry — the concentrated terpenoid constituents have documented biological activity in addition to olfactory benefit, justifying ingredient claims beyond pure fragrance.

How It Works: Essential oil complexity: steam distillation concentrates volatile terpenes (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes), phenylpropanoids, and other volatiles. antimicrobial activity from terpenoid membrane disruption (terpinen-4-ol, eugenol, thymol disrupt bacterial membranes); anti-inflammatory from sesquiterpene nf-kb inhibition; sensitisation risk from electrophilic monoterpene oxides and aldehydes.

Typically Found In: Aromatherapy,bioactive skin care,fragrance

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient – cosmetic active

Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning

Application Areas:

Typical Concentration Range: 0.01%–2%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Conditional - supplier confirmation required

Halal Status: Unverified - supplier confirmation required

Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier. [audit 2026-07-29 rev2: the record's own source_notes does not assert a non-animal origin, or instructs the reader to verify with the supplier; "yes" asserts knowledge the record does not hold. determination requires shariah-panel sign-off.]

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1–2.

Works Well With: Standard skincare actives

Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Essential oil concentration in cosmetics must respect ifra (international fragrance association) guidelines — each oil has category-specific maximum use levels based on skin sensitisation quantitative risk assessment (qra). tea tree oil maximum 0.5% (rinse-off), lavender oil 2% (leave-on skin) as examples.

Last Verified: 2026-03-12

Primary Sources: Cosing database,ifra standards,essential oil bioactive fragrance review