EU Fragrance Regulation 2026: What Now Appears on the Label

If you turn a cosmetics bottle over and read the ingredients, one word almost always appears: Parfum. Sounds harmless, but it is a little black box. Dozens of individual substances can hide behind this one term. That is exactly what the EU fragrance regulation changes: since 31 July 2026, new cosmetic products have to name far more fragrances individually on the label. For everyone with sensitive skin, that is really good news.

The key points at a glance:

• More transparency: Instead of just “Parfum”, far more fragrances will now be listed individually on the pack, including essential oils such as lavender, peppermint or ylang-ylang oil.
• Deadlines: Since 31 July 2026 the requirement applies to newly placed products, and from 31 July 2028 to everything on the shelf.
• Natural does not automatically mean mild: Many of the fragrances come from plants and can still trigger allergies.
• For people with allergies: If you know your triggers, you will find them much more easily on the label from now on.

What is behind “Parfum” on the label?

Manufacturers are allowed to hide their fragrance blend behind the collective term “Parfum”. That protects formulas, but makes things difficult for you if your skin reacts to a particular fragrance. Until now, only a few well-known allergens such as Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol or Citral had to be named individually. Names many people read for the first time, even though they have always been in lavender oil, citrus peel and rose petals.

From 24 to more than 80 fragrances that must be declared

The list of fragrances that must appear individually on the label originally comprised 26 substances. Two of them, Lilial and HICC, have since been banned completely in the EU, which is why people often speak of 24. Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 adds numerous further fragrances and plant oils, bringing the total to more than 80.

Why the EU is tightening the labelling rules

Fragrances are among the most common triggers of contact allergies. In a European population study, depending on the test method, around 1 to 3 in 100 people reacted allergically to a standard fragrance mix. That sounds like very few, but it adds up to millions. If you are affected, you know the drill:

• Buy a new product.
• A few days later, your skin itches, burns or flakes.
• The label says “Parfum”, nothing specific.
• Which of the many possible fragrances was it?

The new regulation is meant to end exactly this guessing game. When the relevant allergens are named, you can deliberately avoid what your skin does not tolerate instead of testing blindly again and again.

Which fragrances are new on the label

The new substances include individual fragrance molecules, but also whole plant oils. Some examples from the regulation that you may come across on labels:

Natural does not automatically mean skin-friendly

This is one of the most common misconceptions about fragrances. Many of the allergens that must be declared are of natural origin:

• Limonene comes from citrus peel.
• Linalool is a classic component of lavender oil.
• Geraniol and Citronellol are found in rose and geranium oil.
• Citral is typical of lemongrass.

Essential oil sounds gentle, but can irritate just as much as a synthetic fragrance. Your skin reacts to the individual molecule, not to where it comes from. That is why the new labelling hits natural cosmetics particularly hard: anyone who uses lots of essential oils will now also have to list lots of individual substances. You can read more about why “organic” is not automatically better tolerated in our comparison organic skincare vs. conventional.

Limonene and linalool: why old products can irritate more

When fresh, limonene and linalool are only weak allergens. But when they come into contact with air, they oxidise into so-called hydroperoxides, and these trigger allergies much more often. In an evaluation by German dermatology clinics, 8.8 per cent of the patients tested reacted to oxidised linalool and 3.1 per cent to oxidised limonene. An opened jar that has been sitting in the bathroom for a year can therefore irritate more than on day one. Look out for the open-jar symbol showing the shelf life after opening, for example “12M”.

When does this have to be in place?

The regulation has been in force since 2023. As an EU regulation, it applies directly in all member states without Germany needing its own law. Manufacturers did, however, have a long transition period:

What this means for you: since this summer, the new, longer lists have been appearing gradually. Until 2028, though, products with old and new labelling may stand on the same shelf. So if a pack only says “Parfum” with no further fragrances, that is not automatically a mistake.

Reading the label correctly: how to find fragrances

The ingredient list (INCI) is printed on the packaging or, for very small products, on a leaflet or tag. It is sorted by quantity, in descending order. Fragrances usually come near the end because they are only present in small amounts.

The thresholds: when a fragrance has to be named

• Products that stay on the skin (cream, lotion, serum): from 0.001 per cent.
• Products that are rinsed off (shower gel, shampoo, soap): from 0.01 per cent.

So even very small amounts become visible. If a substance is below the threshold, it may still disappear into the collective term “Parfum”.

What the difference looks like

A simplified example of how the end of an ingredient list changes:

For fragrance-free products, the list stays exactly as it is. We have put together other ingredients that sensitive skin should watch out for in our list of 10 ingredients sensitive skin should avoid.

“Fragrance-free”, “without perfume”, “sensitive”: what the terms mean

• Fragrance-free: Neither perfume nor essential oils have been added. The safest choice for sensitive skin.
• Without perfume: Not always the same thing. Some products use essential oils as an “aroma” and still put “without perfume” on the front. A look at the ingredient list gives it away.
• Sensitive and hypoallergenic: These terms are not legally defined. They do not guarantee that a product is free from fragrances.

Fragrance allergy: how to recognise it and what you can do

Not every reaction is an allergy. Irritation occurs exactly where a product puts strain on the skin and usually fades quickly once you stop using it. A contact allergy, on the other hand, often only develops after hours to days, shows up as redness, itching, blisters or flaking, and can also spread beyond the spot where you applied the product. If the skin barrier is already impaired, for example with atopic dermatitis, psoriasis or very dry skin, it often reacts more quickly. You can read about other triggers that can irritate sensitive skin in the article Sensitive skin: 10 triggers.

When a test at the dermatologist’s makes sense

If you react to cosmetics again and again, a patch test at a dermatology practice can bring clarity. Typical allergens are taped to your back and read after two to three days. If an allergy is found, you receive an allergy passport with the exact names of your triggers. With the new labelling, you will find these names on the label much more easily from now on. For new products at home, a simple test in the crook of your arm helps. Our article on the patch test explains how it works.

Your short shopping checklist

• Carry your allergy passport or a note of your triggers with you, for example as a photo on your phone.
• Read the last lines of the ingredient list: that is where Parfum and the individual fragrances are listed.
• If you have sensitive skin, choose fragrance-free products, including ones without essential oils.
• Introduce new products one at a time and test them on a small area first.

And at natüür?

Most of our skincare is completely fragrance-free, and not because of a new rule, but because sensitive and chronically stressed skin simply does not need fragrances. Of the 12 skincare products in our shop, 8 contain no fragrances at all:

Longer list, less guesswork

At first glance, the new labels seem confusing because the lists are getting longer. In fact, though, they make life with sensitive skin easier: instead of guessing what is behind “Parfum”, you have it in black and white. If you know your triggers, you can now avoid them deliberately. And if you do not know them yet, it is worth seeing a dermatologist if reactions keep coming back.

Frequently asked questions

Do I now have to replace all my products?

No. You can keep using whatever your skin tolerates well. The regulation only changes the labels, not the products themselves.

When does the new labelling apply?

Since 31 July 2026, newly placed cosmetic products have had to carry the extended list. Older stock may still be sold until 31 July 2028.

How many fragrances now have to be named?

More than 80 instead of the previous 24. These include individual fragrance molecules such as vanillin or menthol and plant oils such as lavender, peppermint or ylang-ylang oil.

What are limonene, linalool and the like?

These are fragrances that occur naturally in essential oils, for example in citrus peel, lavender or roses. They smell good, but can trigger skin reactions in some people, especially when they have oxidised through contact with air.

Does “without perfume” automatically mean “fragrance-free”?

Not always. Some products contain essential oils and still advertise themselves as “without perfume”. Only the ingredient list shows whether they really contain no fragrances.

Are natural scents kinder to the skin than synthetic ones?

Not necessarily. Your skin reacts to the individual molecule, not to where it comes from. Lavender oil can irritate too.

Sources

• Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 of 26 July 2023 amending Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as regards labelling of fragrance allergens in cosmetic products
• Bruze M et al.: The significance of batch and patch test method in establishing contact allergy to fragrance mix I. EDEN Fragrance Study. Contact Dermatitis, 2019 (PubMed)
• Schubert S et al.: Patch testing hydroperoxides of limonene and linalool in consecutive patients. Results of the IVDK 2018–2020. Contact Dermatitis, 2023 (PubMed)