On 29 July 2026, the SCCS (Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety) approved, by written procedure, two mandates from the European Commission to assess the safety of Cuminaldehyde, on the one hand, and p-Cymene, on the other. These two fragrance ingredients are threatened with CLH classification as substances toxic to reproduction and, consequently, with a possible ban as CMRs.
Cuminaldehyde
Background
Cuminaldehyde (CAS No.122-03-2, EC No.204-527-4), with chemical name “4-propan-2-ylbenzaldehyde”, is an aromatic aldehyde naturally occurring in several Natural Complex Substances (NCS), paricularly in cumin oil and it is used in cosmetic products mainly as a fragrance ingredient and flavour-related constituent. Cuminaldehyde is reported in the CosIng database and is associated with functions such as perfuming and skin conditioning.
Cuminaldehyde is not currently regulated under the EU Cosmetics Regulation. It is a naturally occurring constituent of numerous essential oils and botanical extracts used in both leave-on and rinse-off cosmetic products. It is present at relatively high concentrations in certain NCS, notably cumin seed oil, and occurs at lower levels in other essential oils such as caraway, eucalyptus, myrrh and cassia oils. As a result, Cuminaldehyde is widely present in fragrance mixtures and cosmetic formulations containing plant-derived ingredients. In addition to its use in cosmetics, Cuminaldehyde is found in household products and occurs naturally in foods and spices, resulting in widespread and well-established consumer exposure from both cosmetic and non-cosmetic sources.
The European Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) of ECHA issued in October 2025 an opinion recommending among others a classification for Cuminaldehyde as “Reprotoxic of Category …
