What it is
The register’s chemical name for it: “7-Hydroxycitronellal.”
- EU register name (INCI)
- HYDROXYCITRONELLAL
- CAS number
- 107-75-5
- EC number
- 203-518-7
What the register lists it for
These are the uses the European Commission’s CosIng register lists for Hydroxycitronellal 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.
- 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.”
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.
- Clarifying shampoos 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Clarifying shampoos without it
- Leave-in conditioners 2 labels First five names: 0 of 2 Leave-in conditioners without it
- Stylers 2 labels First five names: 0 of 2 Stylers without it
- Heat protectants 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Heat protectants without it
- Curl refreshers 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Curl refreshers without it
Every label, product by product (7)
- Ouidad Water Works Clarifying Shampoo Clarifying shampoo 27th of 33 names
- Aunt Jackie's Quench! Moisture Intensive Leave-In Conditioner Leave-in conditioner 27th of 31 names
- PATTERN Leave-In Conditioner Leave-in conditioner 39th of 43 names
- DevaCurl Ultra Defining Gel Styler 20th of 22 names
- PATTERN Curl Gel Styler 35th of 38 names
- TRESemmé Protecting Heat Styling Spray Heat protectant 27th of 29 names
- PATTERN Hydrating Mist Curl refresher 48th of 52 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 perfuming ingredients on these labels
- Linalool 63 labels
- Citronellol 24 labels
- Geraniol 24 labels
- Hexyl Cinnamal 21 labels
- Coumarin 15 labels
- Benzyl Salicylate 12 labels
- Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil 11 labels
- Amyl Cinnamal 9 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.