Baby Safety / Compounds / alpha-Isomethyl ionone

Is alpha-Isomethyl ionone safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

(Babies-specific data is limited; this page draws from human adult context.) alpha-Isomethyl ionone poses moderate risk to adults under typical exposure conditions.

What is alpha-isomethyl ionone?

The IUPAC name is 2,6,10-trimethylundeca-5,9-dien-2-one.

Also known as: 2,6,10-trimethylundeca-5,9-dien-2-one, 3-Methyl-4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-yl)-3-buten-2-one, (3E)-3-methyl-4-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-yl)but-3-en-2-one, RefChem:1068240.

IUPAC name
2,6,10-trimethylundeca-5,9-dien-2-one
CAS number
127-51-5
Molecular formula
C14H22O
Molecular weight
206.32 g/mol
SMILES
CC1=CCCC(C1C=C(C)C(=O)C)(C)C
PubChem CID
5372174

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

alpha-Isomethyl ionone poses moderate risk to adults under typical exposure conditions.

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified alpha-Isomethyl ionone. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EU——EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 - extended allergen declaration requirement
IFRA——IFRA Standards on Fragrance Materials

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter alpha-isomethyl ionone

  • Perfume
  • Personal Care
  • Fragrance Mixtures

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to alpha-Isomethyl ionone:

  • Fragrance-free product formulations
    Trade-offs: Eliminates allergen risk entirely; consumer acceptance varies (some associate scent with cleanliness/efficacy); growing market segment; regulatory advantage in EU (no IFRA compliance needed).
    Relative cost: Lower (ingredient elimination)
  • Essential oil-free synthetic fragrance blends with established safety profiles
    Trade-offs: Allows scent without specific natural allergens; synthetic molecules can be individually safety-tested; some synthetics have their own sensitization profiles; cost comparable to natural blends.
    Relative cost: Lower (ingredient elimination)
  • Encapsulated fragrance technologies (reduced dermal contact)
    Trade-offs: Reduces dermal contact by 60-90% via polymer shell release mechanism; higher formulation cost; may alter scent perception (delayed release); shell material itself requires safety assessment.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Naturally-derived isolates at IFRA-compliant concentrations
    Trade-offs: Alternative fragrance ingredient; individual safety profile should be assessed per IFRA standards; sensitization potential varies by compound; patch testing recommended for sensitive individuals.
    Relative cost: 2-5× conventional

Frequently asked questions

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Sources (1)
  1. ATSDR Toxicological Profile — CAS 127-51-5 — reference

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →