What Canada’s New 2026 Fragrance Allergens Disclosure Means for You

These days, when you buy a perfume and look at the package, you will notice that the ingredient list is longer in some products. In addition to the familiar words like limonene, linalool, citral, eugenol, you also may see words that it reminds you of a chemistry book: 3-propylidenephtalide, trimethylbenzenepropanol etc. And you wonder: Why are there so many allergens listed for this perfume? Does this mean that this perfume is unsafe?

Let’s answer to the first question first: the why.

To align with changes that have been already implemented by the European Union, Canada has introduced this year 2 changes regarding fragrance disclosure for cosmetics, including perfumes and soaps.

Beginning with April 12^th 2026, 24 fragrance allergens must be individually disclosed in Canada when their concentration exceeds 0.001% in leave-on cosmetics (e.g. perfumes) or 0.01% in rinse-off cosmetics (e.g. soaps in Canada). Of note, in Canada, soaps are considered cosmetics. From August 1st 2026, the requirement for fragrance allergens disclosure includes 81 allergens for new cosmetics. Existing cosmetics have a transition period until August 1, 2028 to comply with this expanded requirement. These changes align Canada with the European Union's expanded fragrance-allergen disclosure approach under Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545, which amended Annex III of the EU Cosmetics Regulation.

What these changes mean for you

You now have more information about certain allergenic substances present in cosmetics.  What is less known is that these substances can occur naturally in essential oils and other botanical materials.

This does not mean that these perfumes, soaps and other cosmetics have suddenly become dangerous. Instead, this transparency is helping people who are sensitive to particular allergens to identify them more easily, before buying a product.

What fragrance allergen actually means

A fragrance allergen is a substance capable of inducing an allergic reaction in a person who has become sensitized to that particular substance during prior exposure to the same allergen.

Seeing a fragrance allergen on a label does not mean that the perfume is unsafe, nor that everyone who wears it will develop an allergy. Only susceptible individuals to that particular allergen may develop an allergic reaction. Reading the fragrance allergens allows someone who knows they are sensitive to a specific allergen(s) to make an informed choice about wearing or not a cosmetic product.

Allergens can be found in natural essential oils

We all love roses, lemon peels, lavender flowers or clove buds for their fragrant scent. Each of them has dozen or hundreds of substances in their composition, sometimes up to 400 substances, as is the case with roses. Their beautiful scent results from a mixture of 30-100 specific volatile and bioactive substances. Some of these substances are also known fragrance allergens. These fragrance allergens are a natural constituent of the plant itself.

Here are few examples of fragrance allergens carried in natural essential oils.

Linalool is an important constituent of lavender. It is also among the substances listed for fragrance-allergen disclosure when is present in a concentration above the applicable threshold.

Limonene, citral are present in significant amount in many citrus oils, depending on the botanical species, country of origin etc.

Rose-derived essential oils can naturally contain geraniol, citronellol, citral etc. in a concentration depending on the type of rose, time of harvest etc.  

Ylang-ylang is another complex natural complex ingredient. It can contain benzyl benzoate, benzyl salicylate, linalool etc.

When you read a perfume's ingredient list and see “Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Eugenol... “it does not mean that this perfume contains lots of synthetic chemicals. Some of those substances may be present naturally in the perfume composition via essential oils, absolutes or other botanical materials used during formulation.

This is why responsible perfumery, soap and cosmetic handcrafting and manufacturing require knowledge, documentation and careful formulation.

What is International Fragrance Association (IFRA) and why does it matter?

IFRA is a global organization founded in 1973 that sets and promotes internationally recognized industry standards for worldwide safe use of fragrance ingredients. This includes establishing maximum allowed concentrations, restriction and prohibition of certain ingredients and substances used in the fragrance and cosmetic industries. Its current list contains thousands of substances, including natural complex substances (as those found in natural essential oils).

These IFRA Standards are voluntary for fragrance industry. They do not replace country-specific cosmetic regulations and laws.

Health Canada considers that both natural and synthetic ingredients are suitable for cosmetic use when they meet applicable safety requirements. Fragrance allergens disclosure tells you about the allergenic potential of certain substances present above threshold limit in natural and synthetic ingredients, as established by IFRA.

For artisan perfumers, IFRA-based formulation is part of a broader system for managing and communicating the safe use of fragrance ingredients and perfumes.

Here are few practical tips for you when considering a perfume:

• Find out if the perfume uses natural essential oils or synthetics. This will help you understand the origin of the fragrance allergens disclosed. Limonene, linalool, eugenol, geraniol, citral and other declarable substances can occur naturally in botanical ingredients or be present as synthetic ingredients.
• A longer ingredient list reflects the expanded fragrance allergens disclosure. More ingredient names on the label can also means more transparency.  It also means that this is a new perfume released after Aug. 1st 2026 or that the brand, for a higher transparency, chose to pro-actively list earlier the fragrance allergens included in the expanded disclosure requirement for the perfume(s) already present in the market. This makes your shopping better informed.
• If you have a diagnosed fragrance allergy, learn its INCI name (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients). INCI naming is a system of universal, standardized names used worldwide to identify cosmetic and personal care ingredients on product labels. Remember to discuss your individual sensitivities with your healthcare professional.
• Ask fragrance brands about the IFRA Standards. Consider finding whether the fragrance is formulated according to the current IFRA Standards.
• Remember that an IFRA compliant cosmetic product may contain declarable fragrance allergens. Following the IFRA standards is a voluntary act that means higher transparency and a more informed decision for you before buying a perfume, soap or other cosmetic product.

Olyantis®’s perfumes are formulated according to IFRA standards. We proactively decided to list the fragrance allergens using the 81 allergens list before Aug 1^st. 2026, for a higher transparency. You can explore them here.

Knowing more about the substances found in natural ingredients does not diminish the beauty of scents. It helps us understand their complexity better, appreciate them even more and wear them safer.