Ingredient dictionary

Cinnamyl Alcohol

Also listed as: Cinnamic Alcohol

Cinnamyl Alcohol is a fragrance ingredient with a soft, sweet, floral scent. It occurs naturally in some plants, and formulators add it mainly to give products their smell. It is on the label of 10 products in our library. Checked against our library November 6, 2026.

The catch: cinnamyl Alcohol is one of the 26 scent chemicals the EU requires brands to name on the label, so check the label if you know you react to it, including in 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 Cinnamyl Alcohol does

Gives products a soft, sweet scent
Adds a floral, balsamic note to blends
Rounds out other fragrance ingredients

Cinnamyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol that occurs naturally in some plants, such as cinnamon. It is often made from cinnamaldehyde, the main scent compound in cinnamon bark, by converting it into the alcohol form. Its smell is soft, sweet and floral, with a warm, balsamic edge.

Formulators use it mainly as a fragrance ingredient. It helps round out a blend with a gentle sweetness, and it is a scent ingredient rather than a skin care active. It mixes easily with the oils and alcohols found in creams, perfumes and hair products.

Good for

Suits people who enjoy a soft, sweet floral scent and have no known reaction to fragrance ingredients.

Be careful if

Cinnamyl Alcohol is one of the 26 scent chemicals the EU requires brands to name on the label, so check the label if you know you react to it, including in products scented only with essential oils.

Frequently asked questions

Is Cinnamyl Alcohol safe for sensitive skin?

Many people use it without trouble, but it is a fragrance ingredient and can trigger skin reactions in some people. If your skin is sensitive, look for products labeled fragrance-free, and patch test a new product on a small area first.

Is Cinnamyl Alcohol the same as cinnamon?

No. Cinnamon is a spice made of many compounds. Cinnamyl Alcohol is one single aromatic chemical, found naturally in some plants and used mainly for scent. It is not a cinnamon extract.