Want to understand more about your linalool allergy? Linalool is a natural chemical: it naturally occurs within lots of different essential oils (over 200 in total) but as some people are allergic to it, it is often confused with a non-natural ingredient, so I’m here to clear up any confusion.
So what exactly is linalool?
Wikipedia says linalool, “is a naturally occurring terpene alcohol chemical found in many flowers and spice plants with many commercial applications, the majority of which are based on its pleasant scent (floral, with a touch of spiciness).”
Many people mistakenly think this is a man-made chemical (or synthetic) added to skincare and beauty products – this isn’t true, linalool is a totally natural part of many plants. But if you have skin problems or a reaction after using products which contains it, you should look out for it in label ingredients and avoid it, even though it is a ‘natural’ ingredient.
Which essential oils contain it?
Lavender contains it, so does geranium, chamomile, rose, ylang ylang, neroli, rosewood and most of the flowery essential oils, all of the citrus oils (mandarin, lemon, bergamot, sweet orange etc), and many of the herby oils such as basil, thyme, rosemary, clary sage and peppermint. There’s too many to list, so it’s easier to say what doesn’t contain it (see list below or buy my full guide to linalool & limonene).
In some cases, linalool can aggravate eczema and sensitive skin; it make make your skin red, sore and itchy. If you have sensitive skin, it’s so important to learn a bit about reading product labels, not just so you can avoid synthetic irritants (preservatives, perfumes, sulphates etc) but so you can avoid anything that might cause your skin problems.
As a manufacturer of natural beauty products, I have to legally declare all ‘naturally occurring allergens’ on the back labels of my products, so you can rest assured that if you do have an issue with linalool, you can avoid it by looking at my ingredient list, both on the product label and on the website product page.
Clear labelling is a legal requirement if you want to sell products in the UK (and EU), and so if you come across a product that is labelled in correctly or does not contain any ingredients listing, avoid it like the plague! It is probably not safety assessed.
You can read more about naturally occurring allergens here in this blog.
Want to know lots more about both Linalool & Limonene? 
I’ve written a really useful guide to what essential oils can and can’t be used if you have these allergies, and how to use those essential oils you can use, download this guide now. It includes tons of useful information, including really easy skincare recipes you can make yourself. If you are outside of the UK, click here to purchase it.
You could sign up to my email newsletters so you can find out more about new linalool free products I’m creating, so that you can have comfortable skin.
LJ Products that don’t contain Linalool
A large number of my handmade products have only a couple of allergens, or do not contain any allergens at all (and no linalool or limonene in any of these items) and can be purchased by clicking the link below, which will take you to the shop page. There is more information on each item on the products pages (UK only): 
Very Sensitive Organic Moisturiser
OMG – choose Sensitive – please note not the original version
Super Fruit Face Oil (made with the fruit seeds, not the fruit oils)
Cucumber & Watermelon Eye Serum
From LJ’s Garden: Calendula Oil
Forest option: Beautiful Bathing Salts
Shampoo Bar – choose the sensitive option
SAVE: with the Linalool-Free Bundle – try three of my products
All these are available to purchase on my website (UK only), just click on them and see more on the shop page. These are perfect for people with lots of skincare allergies because they are so gentle and pure, as are all LJ products, but these are extra-careful as they don’t contain linalool.
If it’s your first time ordering, then you can get 10% OFF your first order – just quote WELCOME10 at the checkout.
I can also make pretty much all of my products linalool free, as the essential oils are the last thing to be added when I am making the products, so it’s easy for me to pour out the products before adding the essential oils. Do contact me if you like the look of my products, but need everything to be free from linalool or free from all essential oils. I have a large amount of customers with allergies who trust me to make their skincare safe for them.
Limonene is another allergen that lots of people need to avoid. Read more about limonene on this blog. And Limonene is also covered in great detail in my new downloadable guide.
I should add that all my products are completely free from “fragrance” or “perfume”. These are words used to describe synthetic ingredients that are added to products, and they are bad for you, particularly if you have very sensitive skin.
Essential Oils that do not contain Linalool
If you still love essential oils but need to avoid linalool, here’s a short list of 10 oils that don’t contain it (there are many more oils that don’t contain it – my full guide lists 23 different oils), but here’s just a few that you might have heard of):
- benzoin
- cedarwood
- eucalyptus
- galbanum
- hyssop
- myrhh
- patchouli
- sandalwood
- tea tree
- vetiver
This is the short-list; you can get the full list if you buy my Linalool & Limonene Guide Book. (Please note: the information on allergens given above is taken from a spreadsheet that lists all known allergens in essential oils produced by the EFFA and is approved by the ‘Essential Oils Expert Working Group’, part of the Royal Society of Chemistry.) My book also gives you full details on how to use them and how they benefit your skin, and your general well-being. Download it now and start understanding your skin.
PLEASE NOTE: essential oils do vary between suppliers, so when you buy a new oil, check with the manufacture what allergens theirs contain. Try to buy from a supplier that is a member of IFA (as I am) so that they are a good supplier who gives clear information.
Linalool tends to be associated with flowery and pleasant-smelling oils. The oils listed above (and more that are listed in my book) are definitely more “planty” and herbal/earthy smelling. Many of these oils won’t smell like the aromatherapy products you already know, as those will all contain the more flowery oils.
Can I have lovely natural products with my allergy?
Yes, you can, you just need to understand how to read your ingredient labels correctly, or just buy from the list above. Or make your own – buy my new guide here which tells you how to make your own skincare easily.
Can I make my own?
If you have an interest in making your own linalool-free products then you should consider booking onto one of my Natural Beauty Workshops. where I will teach you to make some very simple, but effective organic skincare products. This would be a great way for you to understand more about linalool and how to easily avoid it. Or check out my other blogs where I give instructions on how to make simple products at home. 
SUMMER 2021 update: I have also started running a one-to-one or very small group Linalool-free Workshop here in Cheshire, so if you’d like to book in, contact me for more details. We will talk about essential oils that can be used safely, taking into account your skin allergies, and how look after your skin and make a couple of products for you to take home. The cost is £49.95 and the the workshop will last around 2 hours.
If you are not within travelling distance of Cheshire, you can still get all the information you need in my Linalool Guide Book.
If you are struggling with your skin because of allergies and intolerances, I really advise you take a bit of time to understand what’s happening to your skin and your body as a whole. You may find my Eczema Book helpful, as it contains a ton of information to help you to heal your skin, inside and out. It’s available as an immediate download. As someone with severe eczema myself, I do understand what you are going through with skin troubles, but you can make your skin better by taking control and learning more about your skin.
Hope this was helpful.
