Is Citronellyl acetate safe for babies and kids?
Moderate risk for kidsInfants are more vulnerable to Citronellyl acetate than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.
What is citronellyl acetate?
The IUPAC name is 3,7-dimethyloct-6-enyl acetate.
Also known as: 3,7-dimethyloct-6-enyl acetate, 3,7-Dimethyl-6-octen-1-yl acetate, Acetic acid, citronellyl ester, 6-Octen-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, 1-acetate.
- IUPAC name
- 3,7-dimethyloct-6-enyl acetate
- CAS number
- 150-84-5
- Molecular formula
- C12H22O2
- Molecular weight
- 198.30 g/mol
- SMILES
- CC(CCC=C(C)C)CCOC(=O)C
- PubChem CID
- 9017
Risk for babies
Moderate riskInfants are more vulnerable to Citronellyl acetate than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.
Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.
Risk for pregnant and nursing people
Context-dependentPrenatal exposure to Citronellyl acetate through personal care products may affect fetal development. Some fragrance chemicals are sensitizers or endocrine-active compounds with transplacental transfer.
No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.
Regulatory consensus
2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Citronellyl acetate. The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IFRA | 2024 | no_restriction | No IFRA restriction. |
| FDA | 1965 | GRAS | GRAS food flavoring |
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 citronellyl acetate
- Personal Care — perfume, soap, lotion, shampoo
- Consumer Products — cleaning products, air fresheners
-
Fragrance
— perfume, cologne, scented personal care products, household fragrance products, candles
Identified in Fragrance Ingredient Safety Priority Research database (2,325 ingredients)
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Citronellyl acetate:
-
Geranyl acetate
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: 1.2-2×
-
Rhodinyl acetate
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: 1.2-2×
Frequently asked questions
Is citronellyl acetate safe for kids?
Infants are more vulnerable to Citronellyl acetate than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.
What products contain citronellyl acetate?
Citronellyl acetate appears in: perfume (Personal care); soap (Personal care); cleaning products (Consumer products); air fresheners (Consumer products); perfume (Fragrance).
What should I do if my child is exposed to citronellyl acetate?
Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.
See Citronellyl acetate in the baby app
Look up products containing citronellyl acetate, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in baby View raw API dataSources (1)
- PubChem Compound Database (2026) — database
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 →