At a glance
| Chemical family | A monoterpene alcohol (3,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadien-3-ol); one of the most widely used fragrance ingredients. A semi-volatile scent that lingers on fabric and in air |
| CAS number | 78-70-6 |
| Classification | Not a carcinogen (not IARC-classified). A skin sensitizer in its air-oxidized form; an EU-regulated fragrance allergen that must be declared on labels |
| Where you encounter it | Laundry detergents, fabric softeners, soaps, shampoos, lotions and household cleaners; naturally in lavender, citrus and dozens of essential oils |
| Sleep micro-environment relevance | Fragrance from laundered bedding and bedtime personal care sits right at the breathing zone and skin; the allergenic potency rises as linalool oxidizes in air over time |
| Activated carbon capture | Partly — as a semi-volatile fragrance it can be captured from air, but the simplest lever is fragrance-free bedding-laundry products |
What it is
Linalool is a monoterpene alcohol with a fresh, floral, lavender-like odour, and it is one of the most heavily used fragrance chemicals in the world. It occurs naturally in lavender, citrus, rosewood and many other essential oils, and is added to an enormous range of scented products: laundry detergents, fabric softeners, soaps, shampoos, lotions and household cleaners. Peer-reviewed — Sköld et al. 2004
The single most useful thing to understand about linalool is that the fresh molecule is barely a sensitizer at all. In a controlled sensitization assay, pure linalool produced no sensitizing response. The problem is that linalool is an unsaturated compound that autoxidizes on contact with air, forming hydroperoxides, and those oxidation products are potent contact allergens. Peer-reviewed — Sköld et al. 2004 So the hazard grows with air exposure and age, not from the molecule as bottled.
How it relates to the bedroom
The fragrance that stays on your sheets
Linalool's bedroom route is scent. Fragrance in laundry detergent and fabric softener is designed to persist on fabric, so it remains on washed bedding, and because linalool is semi-volatile it also enters bedroom air from products used before bed. Inferred — from linalool's role as a persistent laundry and personal-care fragrance and its semi-volatility; product-to-bedding transfer levels are not separately quantified here The exposure is low-level but continuous, right at the surface you breathe against and sleep on.
Why the oxidized form is what matters
Pure linalool is nearly inert as an allergen; its air-oxidation products are not. In an international patch-test study of 2,900 consecutive dermatitis patients across six countries, 6.9% reacted to oxidized linalool, making it one of the more common fragrance contact allergens. Peer-reviewed — Bråred Christensson et al. 2016 Because the oxidation happens in the bottle and on the fabric over time, an aged scented product is more allergenic than a fresh one. Peer-reviewed — Sköld et al. 2004
A newly-labeled EU allergen
Recognition of this risk is why the EU expanded its fragrance-allergen labelling rules. Under Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545, linalool must be declared on cosmetic labels when it exceeds set thresholds (0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products), with full compliance required from 31 July 2026. Regulatory — EUR-Lex 2023/1545 The label lets sensitized people identify and avoid it.
What the research says
- Not a carcinogen. Not IARC-classified; the documented concern is skin allergy, not cancer. Inferred — from linalool's absence from IARC carcinogen classifications
- Pure linalool barely sensitizes. In a standard assay the fresh molecule showed no sensitizing potential. Peer-reviewed — Sköld et al. 2004
- Its air-oxidation products are the allergen. Autoxidation forms hydroperoxides that are potent contact allergens. Peer-reviewed — Sköld et al. 2004
- A common fragrance allergen. 6.9% of dermatitis patients react to oxidized linalool. Peer-reviewed — Bråred Christensson et al. 2016
- Now EU-labeled. Must be declared as a fragrance allergen under Regulation 2023/1545. Regulatory — EU 2023/1545
What helps reduce it
Use fragrance-free detergent and skip fabric softener on bedding. This removes the fragrance at the surface you breathe against all night. Inferred
Prefer fresh products over long-aged scented ones. Oxidation, and with it allergenic potency, rises with air exposure over time. Peer-reviewed — Sköld et al. 2004
If you're fragrance-sensitive, read the new EU allergen labels. Linalool must now be declared, so you can identify and avoid it. Regulatory — EU 2023/1545
What does NOT help
- Fearing pure linalool or "lavender." The fresh molecule is a weak sensitizer that most people tolerate; the oxidized form is the issue. Peer-reviewed — Sköld et al. 2004
- Treating it as a cancer risk. Linalool is not a classified carcinogen. Inferred
Open research questions
- How much oxidized-linalool exposure a person actually gets from laundered bedding, as opposed to from direct product use on skin. Speculation
- Whether bedroom-air levels of linalool from scented products reach sensitization-relevant doses for people who are not already eczema-prone. Speculation
Citations
- Sköld M, Börje A, Harambasic E, Karlberg A-T (2004). Contact allergens formed on air exposure of linalool. Chemical Research in Toxicology 17(12):1697–1705. Pure linalool showed no sensitizing potential; air-exposed linalool and its hydroperoxides were clearly positive sensitizers in the local lymph node assay. PMID 15606147. doi.org/10.1021/tx049831z Peer-reviewed
- Bråred Christensson J, et al. (2016). Oxidized limonene and oxidized linalool — concomitant contact allergy to common fragrance terpenes. Contact Dermatitis 74(5):273–280. Oxidized linalool patch-tested positive in 6.9% of 2,900 consecutive dermatitis patients across six countries. PMID 26918793. doi.org/10.1111/cod.12545 Peer-reviewed
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 amending Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as regards labelling of fragrance allergens (Annex III). Linalool must be declared on cosmetic labels above 0.001% (leave-on) / 0.01% (rinse-off); compliance from 31 July 2026. EUR-Lex Regulatory
Frequently asked questions
What is linalool?
Linalool is a monoterpene alcohol and one of the most widely used fragrance ingredients in the world, prized for a fresh, floral, lavender-like scent. It occurs naturally in lavender, citrus and many essential oils, and is added to laundry detergents, fabric softeners, soaps, shampoos, lotions and cleaning products. In the bedroom it reaches you as scent that lingers on laundered bedding and in the air from products used before bed.
Is linalool a carcinogen?
No. Linalool is not classified as a carcinogen by IARC or other major bodies. Its documented concern is skin allergy, not cancer, and specifically allergy to its air-oxidation products rather than to the fresh molecule itself.
Why does "oxidized" linalool matter?
Pure linalool is barely a sensitizer at all — in a standard assay it showed no sensitizing potential. But linalool is an unsaturated compound that autoxidizes on exposure to air, forming hydroperoxides, and those oxidation products are potent contact allergens. So the allergenic potency rises as a scented product ages in air. In an international study, 6.9% of eczema-clinic patients reacted to oxidized linalool, making it one of the more common fragrance allergens.
Should I be worried about it?
For most people, no — linalool is not a carcinogen and the fresh molecule is a weak sensitizer that is tolerated fine. The group that benefits from reducing it is people with sensitive skin or eczema, for whom oxidized linalool is a real contact allergen. The simplest step is fragrance-free detergent and no fabric softener on bedding; the EU now requires linalool to be declared on cosmetic labels so sensitized people can avoid it.
Related compounds
Embr is a sleep environment company researching and addressing the chemistry of the bedroom. Research and product development in progress.
Last reviewed 2026-07-14. If you find a factual error, contact us.