Baby Safety / Compounds / Geranyl nitrile (citronellyl nitrile)

Is Geranyl nitrile (citronellyl nitrile) safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Geranyl nitrile (citronellyl nitrile) 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 geranyl nitrile (citronellyl nitrile)?

The IUPAC name is 3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienenitrile.

Also known as: 3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienenitrile, citronitrile, 3,7-Dimethyl-2,6-octadienenitrile, 2,6-Octadienenitrile, 3,7-dimethyl-.

IUPAC name
3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienenitrile
CAS number
5146-66-7
Molecular formula
C10H15N
Molecular weight
149.23 g/mol
SMILES
CC(=CCCC(=CC#N)C)C
PubChem CID
21768

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Geranyl nitrile (citronellyl nitrile) 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.

What to do: 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.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Prenatal exposure to Geranyl nitrile (citronellyl nitrile) 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.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Geranyl nitrile (citronellyl nitrile).

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IFRA2020restrictionIFRA restriction — systemic toxicity limits (nitrile metabolism)

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 geranyl nitrile (citronellyl nitrile)

  • Personal Care — perfume, fragrance formulations
  • 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 Geranyl nitrile (citronellyl nitrile):

  • Citronellol
    Trade-offs: Removes 95-99% of dissolved contaminants including metals, PFAS, nitrates; wastes 2-4 gallons per gallon produced (improving with newer systems); removes beneficial minerals; $0.05-0.25/gallon; requires pre-treatment for longevity.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Geraniol
    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 geranyl nitrile (citronellyl nitrile) safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Geranyl nitrile (citronellyl nitrile) 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 geranyl nitrile (citronellyl nitrile)?

Geranyl nitrile (citronellyl nitrile) appears in: perfume (Personal care); fragrance formulations (Personal care); perfume (Fragrance); cologne (Fragrance).

What should I do if my child is exposed to geranyl nitrile (citronellyl nitrile)?

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 Geranyl nitrile (citronellyl nitrile) in the baby app

Look up products containing geranyl nitrile (citronellyl nitrile), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

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Sources (1)
  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 →