Ingredient dictionary

Cinnamal

Also listed as: Cinnamaldehyde

Cinnamal is the label name for cinnamaldehyde, the aroma molecule that gives cinnamon its warm, spicy smell and is mainly used to scent products. It is on the label of 5 products in our library. Checked against our library November 6, 2026.

The catch: cinnamal is one of 26 scent allergens that EU rules ask brands to name on labels, and it can irritate or trigger reactions in sensitive skin, so check labels if you know you react to it, including on products scented only with essential oils.

Labelled fragrance allergens. If you know you react to one of them, this is the line to check. They also show up in products scented only with essential oils.

What Cinnamal does

Adds warm, spicy cinnamon scent
Blends with floral and woody notes
Builds a sweet, spicy fragrance profile

Cinnamal is the name for cinnamaldehyde, the main aroma molecule in cinnamon bark. It can be taken from natural cinnamon oil or made in a lab. Its scent is strong, so small amounts go a long way in a formula.

Formulators use cinnamal to give warm, sweet-spicy notes to shampoos, creams, and hair products. It blends well with floral and woody scents, so it fits many fragrance styles. It shows up most often in styling products.

Good for

Best for people who like a warm, spicy scent and have no known reaction to cinnamon.

Be careful if

Cinnamal is one of 26 scent allergens that EU rules ask brands to name on labels, and it can irritate or trigger reactions in sensitive skin, so check labels if you know you react to it, including on products scented only with essential oils.

Frequently asked questions

Is cinnamal the same as cinnamon?

Not quite. Cinnamal is one aroma molecule, cinnamaldehyde, that is found in cinnamon bark oil. Cinnamon oil holds many other compounds too, so it smells more layered than cinnamal alone.

Is cinnamal safe for sensitive skin?

It is widely used, but it is a known allergen for some people. If your skin reacts easily to fragrance, choose unscented products or patch test a new one on your inner arm first.