Fa
Farnesol
Farnesol
A naturally-occurring fragrance compound used for a soft, floral scent; a labeled allergen.
What it does
Farnesol is a sesquiterpene alcohol found in many flowers, with a soft, sweet, floral scent, sometimes also used to support fragrance preservation. It is one of the fragrance compounds the EU requires to be labeled because it can cause allergic reactions in some people. It is a scent ingredient rather than a skin active.
The evidence, graded
expert consensusAmylcinnamyl alcohol, benzyl cinnamate, cinnamyl alcohol, farnesol, and methyl 2-octynoate complete the EU's list of 26 fragrance ingredients that must be named on a cosmetic label above trace levels. All five come up positive on patch testing less often than the G13 and G16 names, but a confirmed reaction to one is a real reason to avoid it.SCCS 2012 · European Commission SCCS ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
Browse all 668 ingredients — grouped by what they do, each with whatever evidence we can cite.
This page is public so a shared ingredient card always has its sources behind it — and so you can check them without an account.
Want more like this?
Every evidence-based flag cites its source, Drop tells you when your routine is complete, and it helps you simplify — instead of selling you more. The app launches on iOS and Android in October 2026. Rate my routine works today at /rate — no sign-in.