Ingredient
Terpineol
Benefits
Synthetic
Synthetic terpineol is an aroma chemical, one of the most used in perfumery. Floral but also woody, it is very versatile.
Isolated from plants at the end of the 19th century by the German chemist Otto Wallach, terpineol quickly found its way into the perfume industry. Its numerous additional properties, including its action as a solvent and emulsifier, also make it an important ingredient in a few other industries.
What does synthetic terpineol smell like?
Although there are four natural terpineol types, the synthetic version is generally alpha-terpineol. This means that synthetic terpineol smells like lilac and pine. An interesting combination!
It is often the major constituent of lilac, pine, citrus, woody, and floral fragrances.
Safety and regulations
This ingredient is on the European Union (EU) list of allergens that cosmetic companies must declare. Since 2009, EU cosmetics regulations, alongside other global bodies, have identified 26 materials (now 24 after lilial and lyral’s permanent ban) commonly found in fragrances that are more likely to cause allergic reactions in the form of skin sensitisation or irritation in susceptible individuals. These substances are referred to as allergens and are subject to restrictions to ensure their safe use in cosmetics. They must also appear on product labels when they occur above a certain limit: 0,001 % for leave-on products like moisturisers and 0,01 % for rinse-off products like shower gels. This list has been updated with 56 additional substances, which should start to appear on labels in 2026, with a deadline of 2028.
While allergies affect only a small minority, it is still important to highlight the presence of allergens in products so that customers who may be more sensitive to them can make informed decisions. Being an allergen doesn’t mean an ingredient is unsafe.
At Lush, these substances can occur naturally in essential oils, absolutes, and resinoids, or may be added to support our fragrance formulas. To help customers better understand what's in their products, we've colour-coded our ingredients on the labels. When obtained from natural sources, the allergen is in green text. When naturally occurring in an ingredient such as an essential oil, it is also listed in green, preceded by an asterisk (e.g. *Limonene). When added to a formula in a synthetic form, it is listed in black, without an asterisk.