What it is
In the register’s words: “Citral is the aldehyde.”
- EU register name (INCI)
- CITRAL
- CAS number
- 5392-40-5
- EC number
- 226-394-6
- Other names in the register
- 2,6-Octadienal, 3,7-dimethyl-; 3,7-Dimethyl-2,6-octadienal
What the register lists it for
These are the uses the European Commission’s CosIng register lists for Citral in any cosmetic, hair roles first. They say why a maker might add it, not what it does in one formula, and they aren’t a safety rating.
- Fragrance
-
Gives the product its smell or covers an unpleasant one. A label may name each scent ingredient or group them as Fragrance (Parfum).
Register definition: “Imparting an odour or taste. Creating a perceivable pleasant smell and/or masking a bad smell.”
- Perfuming
-
Used as a perfume or scent material. Essential oils and their scent compounds, such as linalool and limonene, carry this role.
Register definition: “Used for perfume and aromatic raw materials.”
- Flavoring
-
Gives a product a taste. On a hair label it is a role the ingredient has elsewhere, such as in lip balm or toothpaste.
Register definition: “Imparting taste and/or flavour to a cosmetic product.”
Where it sits on each label
US labels list ingredients from most to least, except that those at 1% or less may follow in any order. A name near the top is a large part of the formula. A label doesn’t mark where the 1% point falls, so further down, the order says little about how much is in it.
- Shampoos 2 labels First five names: 0 of 2 Shampoos without it
- Clarifying shampoos 2 labels First five names: 0 of 2 Clarifying shampoos without it
- Rinse-out conditioners 3 labels First five names: 0 of 3 Rinse-out conditioners without it
- Deep conditioners 2 labels First five names: 0 of 2 Deep conditioners without it
- Leave-in conditioners 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Leave-in conditioners without it
- Stylers 4 labels First five names: 0 of 4 Stylers without it
- Protein treatments 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Protein treatments without it
- Heat protectants 3 labels First five names: 0 of 3 Heat protectants without it
- Hair oils 2 labels First five names: 0 of 2 Hair oils without it
Every label, product by product (20)
- OLAPLEX No.4 Bond Maintenance Strengthening Shampoo Shampoo 72nd of 78 names
- OLAPLEX Nº.4CURL Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Shampoo Shampoo 59th of 62 names
- OLAPLEX No.4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo Clarifying shampoo 49th of 55 names
- Malibu C Un-Do-Goo Shampoo Clarifying shampoo 16th of 16 names
- Jessicurl Too Shea! Extra Moisturizing Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 23rd of 31 names
- Bouclème Curl Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner · listed as **Citral 33rd of 38 names
- OLAPLEX No.5 Bond Maintenance Strengthening Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 60th of 66 names
- Jessicurl Deep Conditioning Treatment Deep conditioner 22nd of 30 names
- Bouclème Intensive Moisture Treatment Deep conditioner · listed as **Citral 48th of 50 names
- Bouclème Curl Cream Leave-in conditioner · listed as **Citral 38th of 38 names
- Bouclème Super Volumising Foam Styler · listed as **Citral 33rd of 36 names
- Bouclème Curl Defining Gel Styler · listed as **Citral 30th of 31 names
- Bouclème Super Hold Styler Styler · listed as **Citral 47th of 48 names
- DevaCurl Ultra Defining Gel Styler 22nd of 22 names
- ApHogee Two-Step Protein Treatment Protein treatment 11th of 29 names
- Curlsmith Curlshield Cream Heat protectant 27th of 37 names
- OLAPLEX Nº.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum Heat protectant 27th of 31 names
- Bouclème Curl Defence Spray Heat protectant · listed as †Citral 31st of 35 names
- OLAPLEX Nº.7 Bonding Oil Hair oil 17th of 21 names
- Bouclème Revive 5 Hair Oil Hair oil · listed as †Citral 28th of 31 names
Each line runs from the first name on a label to the last; a dot is where this ingredient sits. Makers change formulas now and then; if the list on your bottle differs, go by your bottle.
Your next step
Other fragrance ingredients on these labels
- Fragrance (Parfum) 133 labels
- Potassium Sorbate 61 labels
- Sodium Benzoate 61 labels
- Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil 32 labels
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride 26 labels
- Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil 26 labels
- Sodium Chloride 26 labels
- Benzoic Acid 25 labels
Updated · The name, numbers and uses come from the European Commission’s CosIng entry (CC BY 4.0); we write the uses in US spelling and put the hair ones first. The labels are each maker’s own. The order rule is the FDA’s Cosmetics Labeling Guide. All our sources are on the Sources page.