Baby Safety / Compounds / Linalool

Is Linalool safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Linalool 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 linalool?

The IUPAC name is 3,7-dimethylocta-1,6-dien-3-ol.

Also known as: 3,7-dimethylocta-1,6-dien-3-ol, Linalol, LINALYL ALCOHOL, beta-Linalool.

IUPAC name
3,7-dimethylocta-1,6-dien-3-ol
CAS number
78-70-6
Molecular formula
C10H18O
Molecular weight
154.25 g/mol
SMILES
CC(=CCCC(C)(C=C)O)C
PubChem CID
6549

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Linalool 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 Linalool 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 Linalool.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
Unknown——

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 linalool

  • Personal Care — shampoo, soap, lotion, deodorant, perfume
  • Consumer Products — laundry detergent, cleaning products, candles, air fresheners
  • Food — flavoring (GRAS), essential oils
  • 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 Linalool:

  • Dihydromyrcenol
    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×
  • Tetrahydrolinalool
    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×

Frequently asked questions

Is linalool safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Linalool 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 linalool?

Linalool appears in: shampoo (Personal care); soap (Personal care); laundry detergent (Consumer products); cleaning products (Consumer products); flavoring (GRAS) (Food).

What should I do if my child is exposed to linalool?

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 Linalool in the baby app

Look up products containing linalool, 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 →