Beta-Caryophyllene
Beta-caryophyllene
- Role
- A scent molecule that is part of the fragrance.
- Catalog formulas
- 3
- Type
- Scent
- Verified
- 09.11.2026
What does this ingredient do in an antiperspirant?
According to CosIng, it functions as a perfuming and skin-conditioning ingredient. COSMILE Europe notes that under the EU Regulation it must be listed separately, and gives a general guide: fragrances as a whole make up about 0.2–1% of deodorant sprays and about 1–3% of deodorant sticks.
Part of a system, not a label in isolation
In an antiperspirant or deodorant it only contributes to the scent and does not reduce sweating. Its presence in the list means the product is fragranced.
Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 added beta-caryophyllene to the list of fragrance allergens (Annex III, entry 332): above 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products it must be named separately in the ingredient list. New products must comply from 31 July 2026, and products already on the market may be sold until 31 July 2028.
The 2012 SCCS opinion lists it as an established contact allergen in humans with up to 10 reported positive reactions; in one study 0.6% of 1,606 consecutively tested patients reacted. It oxidises in air, but according to the SCCS its allergenicity rises comparatively little: 0.5% of 1,511 patients reacted to the oxidised form.
It is not caryophyllene oxide (Caryophyllene Oxide), its main oxidation product, to which 0.1% of patients in the same study reacted. Nor is it Parfum: beta-caryophyllene is only one possible part of a fragrance.
Products containing Beta-Caryophyllene
Links are based on the complete published INCI list for the exact product version.
Sources
The conclusions apply to the stated conditions and jurisdictions, not automatically to every concentration or product.
- EU CosIng: Beta-Caryophyllene Supports: function, substance identity
- CosIng Checker: Annex III, entry 332 (Beta-Caryophyllene) Supports: restrictions, allergen labelling
- European Commission: fragrance allergens Supports: allergen labelling, Regulation 2023/1545 deadlines
- SCCS/1459/11: Opinion on fragrance allergens in cosmetic products Supports: allergenicity assessment, oxidation
- COSMILE Europe (CosIng data): Beta-Caryophyllene Supports: function, share of fragrance in deodorants