Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil
Also known as Lavender oil, True lavender essential oil, English lavender oil, Lavandula angustifolia oil, LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA OIL
“EU CosIng says: restricted.”
Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil is the volatile essential oil steam-distilled from the flowers of true (English) lavender, Lavandula angustifolia (Lamiaceae), composed predominantly of linalool (~30-40%) and linalyl acetate (~30-50%) with minor amounts of 1,8-cineole, lavandulol, terpinen-4-ol, and other monoterpenes. Distinct from Lavandula stoechas (Spanish lavender), Lavandula hybrida (lavandin), and Lavandula intermedia — different chemistry and different safety profiles. The oil was added to EU Annex III as Entry 360 by Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 (effective 26 July 2023), grouped with L. hybrida and L. intermedia under combined 'Lavandula Oil/Extract' labeling — fragrance-allergen disclosure required above 0.001% leave-on / 0.01% rinse-off. Lavender oil is NOT covered by the CIR Expert Panel as of either the September 2022 or December 2025 Quick Reference Tables (verified by alphabetical traversal — the L-section jumps from 'Lanolin' / 'Lauramidopropyl Hydroxysultaine' with no Lavandula entries; CIR defers fragrance-only ingredients to RIFM). The dominant safety concern is documented prehapten autoxidation: Hagvall 2008 (PMID 18759894) showed lavender oil's terpenes autoxidize at the same rate as pure isolates, with substantially increased allergenic potency after air exposure; Sköld 2008 (PMID 18154552) showed 10-week air-oxidized linalyl acetate is ~7x more sensitizing than unoxidized; Hagvall 2016 (PMID 26671837) reported 2.8% positive patch test rate to oxidized lavender oil among consecutive dermatitis patients, with imperfect overlap to individual oxidized linalool/linalyl acetate reactions — implying additional unidentified allergenic oxidation products in the whole oil. The constituent-level fragrance-allergen content (linalool Annex III Entry 84, linalyl acetate Annex III Entry 337) applies separately to those FREE forms in formulation; the lavender oil entry covers the whole oil.
Distinctive floral-herbal fragrance widely used in perfumery, skincare, haircare, and aromatherapy formulations
Long history of use in traditional European cosmetics dating to Roman antiquity
Antimicrobial activity attributed to monoterpene constituents (linalool, linalyl acetate, terpinen-4-ol) — relevant to product preservation rather than direct skin benefit
Pure (fresh, unoxidized) lavender oil is significantly less sensitizing than aged/oxidized oil — formulation with antioxidants, opaque packaging, and reasonable expiration dating can substantially reduce real-world allergenicity
- · No CIR Expert Panel safety assessment as of Dec 2025 QRT — leaves a US regulatory coverage gap; the oil is fragrance-class and CIR defers fragrance-only ingredients to RIFM/IFRA
Regulated EU fragrance allergen (Annex III Entry 360 added by Reg 2023/1545): label declaration required as 'Lavandula Oil/Extract' above 0.001% (leave-on) or 0.01% (rinse-off); transition period for new products through July 2026, all products through July 2028
Prehapten chemistry — both major constituents (linalool ~30-40%, linalyl acetate ~30-50%) autoxidize on air exposure forming hydroperoxide sensitizers; pure fresh oil is significantly less allergenic than oxidized oil (Hagvall 2008 PMID 18759894, Sköld 2008 PMID 18154552 demonstrated ~7x increased potency after 10 weeks air exposure)
Oxidized lavender oil yielded 2.8% positive patch test rate in consecutive dermatitis patients (Hagvall & Bråred-Christensson 2016 PMID 26671837) — among the highest frequencies of contact allergy to studied essential oils in that cohort
Imperfect cross-detection: only 56% of patients positive to oxidized lavender oil also reacted to oxidized linalool or linalyl acetate individually (Hagvall 2016) — suggesting additional unidentified allergenic oxidation products in the whole oil beyond the two flagged constituents
Constituent fragrance allergens linalool (Annex III Entry 84) and linalyl acetate (Annex III Entry 337) trigger their own label declaration thresholds when present as FREE form in formulation — using lavender oil pushes both toward reporting thresholds rapidly even at low oil concentrations
NOT interchangeable with Lavandula stoechas (Spanish lavender — different chemistry, very different ketone/cineole profile) or Lavandula hybrida/intermedia (lavandin — though grouped in Annex III Entry 360, has higher camphor content); this packet covers L. angustifolia (true/English lavender) specifically
EU Regulation 1223/2009 Annex III (as amended by Regulation 2023/1545) — Entry 360: Lavandula hybrida / intermedia / angustifolia oil/ext…
“360 ... Lavandula angustifolia oil/extract ... Lavandula Angustifolia Oil; Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract ... 84776-65-8 / 8000-28-0 / 90063-37-9 ... The presence of the substance or substances shall be indicated 'Lavandula Oil/ Extract' in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1), point (g), when the concentration of the substance or substances exceeds: — 0,001 % in leave-on products — 0,01 % in rinse-off products.”— EU Reg 2023/1545 (OJ L 188/1, 26.7.2023), Annex III Entry 360