Ingredient
*Benzaldehyde
Benefits
Natural
Benzaldehyde is the scent that comes to mind when we think of almonds' aroma—or, more precisely, marzipan.
What is natural benzaldehyde?
Benzaldehyde is a chemical compound that occurs naturally in some plants and, therefore, in their essential oils and extracts. It is found in almond, cassia, cistus, and cinnamon essential oils. It smells distinctly of almonds and, some would say, cherries too.
Why does this appear in my list of ingredients?
Benzaldehyde, alongside 79 other fragrance substances, has been identified as an allergen by the EU cosmetics regulations and other global bodies. This means that, whether natural or synthetic, it is more likely to cause allergic reactions in the form of skin sensitisation or irritation in susceptible individuals.
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. These substances 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.
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 listed in green, preceded by an asterisk (e.g. *Benzaldehyde). When added to a formula in a synthetic form, it is listed in black, without an asterisk.