The 25 fragrance allergens Korea makes brands name
On a Korean label, the word 향료 can cover a fragrance mixture. Certain fragrance allergens are an exception: when they cross the applicable threshold, their names have to appear separately.
| Label example | Hangul | What the name tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Limonene | 리모넨 | A listed fragrance allergen that may need individual disclosure |
| Linalool | 리날룰 | Common fragrance constituent and contact-allergy marker |
| Citral | 시트랄 | One of the named substances in the Korean list |
| Geraniol | 제라니올 | One of the named substances in the Korean list |
| Benzyl Alcohol | 벤질알코올 | Can appear for more than one formulation role; the name alone does not prove it was added as perfume |
Why the threshold matters
The rule is not "if a fragrance contains limonene, write limonene." The finished-product concentration and product type matter. A rinse-off cleanser and a leave-on cream have different disclosure thresholds.
That means an ingredient name on the label cannot be reverse-engineered into the exact percentage. It also means absence of the name is not proof that the molecule is chemically absent at every trace level.
The names are useful if you already know your trigger
Fragrance allergy is a real form of allergic contact dermatitis. Current dermatology reviews continue to identify fragrance components among common allergens in personal-care products, and patch testing remains the standard method used clinically to identify a specific contact allergy.
For someone with a confirmed allergy to a named fragrance substance, individual labeling can make avoidance practical. For someone without that history, counting allergen names is not a reliable way to score how "safe" or "gentle" a product is.
Do not read botanical origin into the name
Limonene is associated with citrus and linalool with many aromatic plants, but a label does not tell you the ingredient's source simply from the INCI name. It may come from a fragrance mixture, a botanical material or another formulation source.
What to do with the last part of a Korean label
- If you have a known fragrance allergy, scan for the exact names your clinician or patch-test result identified.
- Do not equate a longer allergen disclosure with a more dangerous formula.
- Do not assume "fragrance-free" means zero possibility of contact allergy from every other ingredient.
- If you repeatedly develop dermatitis from personal-care products, ingredient-list reading is useful, but diagnosis belongs with a clinician.
I rechecked this page against the MFDS notice issued 5 August 2026 because an allergen list is the kind of regulatory content that should never be copied forward without a date.
- MFDS Notice No. 2026-56: Precautions for Cosmetics and Fragrance Allergen Labeling
- 2026 review: Allergic contact dermatitis to personal care products
Frequently asked
Does Korea require 25 fragrance allergens to be named?
The current MFDS rule specifies 25 fragrance-allergen substances for individual disclosure when the applicable concentration threshold is exceeded.
Are the thresholds the same for every product?
No. Rinse-off and other products use different thresholds.
Does seeing limonene or linalool mean a product is unsafe?
No. It means the ingredient is disclosed. Personal allergy is a separate question.
Does absence of a listed allergen prove zero trace amount?
No. Labeling thresholds and formulation sources mean the ingredient list is not a zero-detection laboratory report.