Eugenol
Eugenol is a naturally occurring fragrant compound found in clove oil, cinnamon and certain other spices. In beauty products it is used in very small amounts as a scent ingredient, a flavouring in lip products, and sometimes as a mild antiseptic or soothing agent. Shoppers will most often spot it on the label of perfumes, toothpastes, mouthwashes and occasional skincare formulas.
How it works in skincare
In cosmetics and skincare, eugenol functions primarily as a fragrance and flavour component, imparting a warm, spicy, clove-like aroma and taste. It can also serve as a mild natural preservative and has been traditionally used at low levels for its soothing qualities in oral-care and lip-care products. Because it is a potential sensitiser, UK formulators must adhere to strict IFRA and EU cosmetic limits to keep it safe for topical use.
Key benefits
- Adds a warm, spicy scent to perfumes and skincare
- Provides natural flavouring in lip balms and toothpastes
- Offers mild soothing properties in oral and lip care
- Acts as a supporting natural preservative in some formulas
- Contributes to the overall fragrance profile of essential-oil blends
- Can enhance the sensory experience of warming or tingling products
Best for
normal skin, oily skin, combination skin, sensitive skin (in very low concentrations)
Where it comes from
Eugenol is naturally extracted from the essential oils of cloves (Syzygium aromaticum), the dried flower buds of the clove tree. It is also found in smaller quantities in cinnamon leaf, nutmeg, basil and bay leaf.
Products with Eugenol
Not every product on UK Lips lists a full ingredient breakdown — so there may be many more formulas that contain Eugenol than we can show here. These are the comparisons where we’ve confirmed it in the listed ingredients.
We haven’t matched this ingredient to a product ingredients list yet — check back as more pages are enriched.