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Citral

What Citral is & what it does

A lemon-scented fragrance component found in citrus and lemongrass oils. It adds scent and is a recognized allergen.

What is Citral and what does it do in sunscreen?

Citral is a lemon-scented fragrance component found naturally in citrus and lemongrass oils. In sunscreen it is there to add or round out the scent of the product, not to protect or treat the skin. It plays no role in sun protection and is purely about how the product smells.

Is Citral safe?

For most people, yes, at the small amounts used in cosmetics. However, Citral is a recognized fragrance allergen, which is why EU rules require it to be named on the label once it is present above a set threshold. The labeling is a transparency measure so that people who are sensitive can spot and avoid it.

Is Citral an allergen?

Yes. Citral is one of the fragrance substances officially recognized as a potential allergen, and it must be declared by name on EU ingredient lists when present above the regulated threshold. Most people tolerate it without any issue, but those with sensitive or fragrance-reactive skin may want to avoid it. Listing it by name is what lets them do that.

Does Citral clog pores?

No. Citral is a volatile fragrance molecule used in tiny amounts, not an oil or wax, so it is not a pore-clogging concern. If your skin reacts to it, that is far more likely to be fragrance sensitivity than clogged pores. People prone to fragrance reactions may still prefer to skip it.

Why is Citral listed separately on the label?

Because it is a regulated fragrance allergen. EU cosmetic rules require certain fragrance components, including Citral, to be named individually once they pass a set concentration, rather than being hidden under the general word "parfum" or "fragrance." Seeing it spelled out is a sign of proper allergen labeling, not of anything wrong with the product.

Sunscreens with Citral

We rate 239 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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