Fragrance & essential oils in skincare — what they do

Fragrance and essential oils add scent but can be a sensitivity trigger — useful to recognise on a label if your skin is reactive.

18 fragrance & essential oils in the K-beauty INCI decoder

• Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone — A violet-like fragrance component that adds scent and is a listed skin allergen.
• Benzyl Salicylate — A soft floral fragrance component that adds scent and is a recognized allergen for some users.
• Citral — A lemony fragrance component that adds scent but is a known allergen for reactive skin.
• Citronellol — A rose-like fragrance component that adds scent but is a listed allergen for some users.
• Coumarin — A sweet, hay-like fragrance component that adds scent and is a recognized skin allergen.
• Eucalyptus Oil — An aromatic essential oil that adds a fresh, cooling scent but can be irritating for reactive skin.
• Eugenol — A clove-like fragrance component that adds scent and is a listed allergen for some people.
• Fragrance (Parfum) — Added scent that makes a product smell pleasant but can bother fragrance-sensitive skin.
• Geraniol — A sweet, floral fragrance component that adds scent and is a recognized skin allergen.
• Hexyl Cinnamal — A jasmine-like fragrance component that adds scent but is a listed skin allergen.
• Hydroxycitronellal — A delicate floral fragrance component that adds scent and is a recognized allergen.
• Lavender Oil — A lavender essential oil that adds natural scent and aroma but can sensitize reactive skin.
• Lemon Peel Oil — A citrus essential oil that adds bright scent but can make skin more sensitive to sunlight.
• Lilial — A floral fragrance component that adds scent and is a recognized allergen for sensitive skin.
• Limonene — A citrus-smelling fragrance component that adds scent but is a recognized allergen for some people.
• Linalool — A floral fragrance component that adds scent and is a known allergen for sensitive skin.
• Parfum — The European labeling term for added scent, a common source of sensitivity for reactive skin.
• Tea Tree Oil — A tea-tree essential oil added for its aroma; it can irritate or sensitize skin.

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✍️ Written & reviewed by the KoreaPlus Editorial team — dermatologist-informed, cosmetic-science researched & source-cited. Last reviewed 2026-06-21.

General educational information using cosmetic structure-function wording — not medical advice. Always patch-test new actives. © KoreaPlus.