Hydroxycitronellol is a perfume ingredient with a medium strength floral scent, reminiscent of lily and sweet tropical melon.
Contents
Uses
In cosmetics and personal care products, Hydroxycitronellal is used in the formulation of colognes, hair sprays, perfumes and skin care products.
Benefits
It is found widely as a chief constituent in essential oils including ilang-ilang oil, palmarosa oil, geranium oil, orange flower oil, lemongrass oil, hops oil, and lavender oil (Source).
Citral and Geraniol are two main components of Hydroxycitronellol. Citral is used as a raw material in the synthesis ionone, a perfumery and flavoring component used in the production of retinol. Geraniol is a pheromone of certain species of bees, secreted by the scent glands of worker bees to signal the location of nectar-bearing flowers and the entrances to their hives. Geraniol is often used in insect repellent products.
Cautions
A study showed that in aftershave, Hydroxycitronellol has caused facial psoriasis and it is a documented irritant, but only above 5% concentration; cosmetics are only approved for use under 1% concentration. There are some studies that show organ toxicity resulting from Hydroxycitronellol, according to Cosmetic Database, but the occurrence was low and only in rats.
Interactions
None are recorded.
Other names
Hydroxycitronellal
References
TruthinAging, https://www.truthinaging.com/ingredients/hydroxycitronellal
Cosmeticsinfo, http://www.cosmeticsinfo.org/ingredient/hydroxycitronellal-0