Ingredient
Tetramethyl acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Benefits
Synthetic
One of those long names, huh? Try pronouncing it out loud! This aromatic compound is more commonly called "OTNE"... and it's much simpler indeed.
OTNE is a synthetic fragrance material invented in 1975 that immediately achieved great success. It is part of the ketone family of chemicals. Lush purchases this ingredient from China through UK and EU distributors.
What does tetramethyl acetyloctahydronaphthalenes smell like?
Some scents are hard to describe. The term most often used to characterise OTNE’s fragrance is “velvety”. It’s a smooth aroma, amber-like, with woody and floral notes. It is said to bring harmony to a perfume and to blend really well with almost everything, wether floral, musky, fresh or woody.
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.