All About Linalool: Lavender's All-Natural Aromatic, Antimicrobial Powerhouse

If you pay attention to ingredient labels, you may have noticed a common ingredient that pops up in a lot of them: linalool. Linalool can be found in cosmetics, skin care, perfumes, food, and even beer. It might seem like linalool is in everything—but there’s a good reason for that.

What is Linalool?

Linalool is a common terpene: a naturally occurring group of molecules that are common building blocks used by plants and some animals. There are over 30,000 different types of terpenes, ranging from antioxidants to pigments to resins. One of the most popularly used types of terpenes are volatile terpenes—molecules that evaporate easily at room temperature, making them especially fragrant to our noses. Because of that quality, many of these terpenes are commonly used as fragrances, including linalool, limonene, and geraniol.

What Does Linalool Smell Like?

Linalool has a distinctive fragrance that’s floral, woody, and a little bit spicy. You’re probably most familiar with this scent in lavender, which gets most of its classic aroma from linalool. It’s commonly thought of as a soothing, relaxing fragrance. It’s also used as a flavor element, adding an almost citrusy hint of sweetness and spice to food and drink.

Where Does Linalool Come From?

Linalool is found naturally in a wide variety of plants, including high concentrations in lavender, sweet basil, bay laurel (the plant bay leaves come from), coriander, lemongrass, and sweet orange. Plants use linalool for their metabolism, to fight pests and bacteria, and as a scent component to attract pollinators and seed dispersers. That impressive versatility is the reason so many plants contain linalool!

Linalool was first derived from botanical essential oils which can be steam distilled to isolate pure linalool. That’s how most linalool was originally produced for the perfume industry back in the 1950s. However, linalool has become such a popular ingredient that the demand quickly outpaced the natural supply. Today, most linalool used commercially is synthetic linalool which is conveniently produced as a byproduct of synthesizing Vitamins A and E. Natural linalool is now largely viewed as a specialty ingredient and most commercial product formulations either use essential oils containing high concentrations of linalool or pure synthetic linalool.

How Much Linalool Is In Lavender?

Linalool is the dominant phytochemical in lavender which gives lavender its signature scent—and makes lavender one of the most notable natural sources of linalool. Lavender essential oils contain at least 20-45% linalool and 25-46% linalyl acetate: linalool’s corresponding ester which has a similar scent. This high concentration of linalool is what makes lavender essential oil ideal for aromatherapy and antimicrobial usage, while lavender flowers are perfect for both the aroma and for culinary uses.

Linalool concentration varies between varieties of lavender and is a large part of what changes the scent profile and usage of each type. For example, Lavandula angustifolia (also known as “English lavender” or “true lavender”) is prized for its high concentration of linalool and linalyl acetate which gives it a fresh, floral, classically lavender scent. It also makes English lavender top-tier for aromatherapy and antimicrobial applications. On the other hand, many lavender hybrids like Dutch lavender and lavandin are lower in linalool and higher in camphor and eucalyptol which makes them smell less floral and more herbaceous. They are often hardier plants which produce more natural oils, but they have fewer therapeutic benefits. The more powerful aroma from the camphor and eucalyptol does make them excellent both as a pleasant household scent and for helping deter some pest insects.

Each variety of lavender has its uses, but if you’re looking for the highest concentration of linalool, be sure to check the variety of lavender being used and if they list the percentage of linalool and linalyl acetate on the label.

What Is Linalool Used For?

As previously mentioned, linalool is a popular fragrance used in many scented products including perfume, soap, detergent, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, air fresheners, and much more. You may also find it as a flavoring in foods and beverages, particularly beer where it is used to enhance hoppy flavors. There’s a large amount of linalool in many essential oils as well thanks to their highly concentrated formula. Odds are, you already have plenty of products with linalool in your home! 

Linalool does more than just smell good, however. Linalool is an anxiolytic, meaning it helps to curb anxiety. That’s one of the reasons linalool-containing lavender is such a popular scent to use in aromatherapy—research shows that inhaling the scent of linalool has been shown to reduce signs of stress and anxiety. Linalool is also naturally antimicrobial, effectively killing many different kinds of bacteria. There’s even research which shows that linalool may help support heart health and fight tumors.

Is Linalool Safe?

Linalool is considered safe for people to use in fragrances, topical applications, and culinary uses and many plants and essential oils high in linalool have been used for their fragrance and flavor for thousands of years. Some people do report skin irritation from linalool, but that typically only occurs when linalool has oxidized. To avoid any issues, try to keep any products with concentrated linalool in a cool, dark area, keep them as air-tight as possible, and use them when they are fresh.

When it comes to animals, linalool is generally safe to use around your pets with some caveats. Technically, linalool is toxic to cats and dogs, but that only applies if they consume large quantities of linalool. In small quantities, linalool and lavender essential oils can be perfectly safe for dogs and cats. In fact, some studies have even shown that lavender-based aromatherapy can help reduce stress in dogs. To be safe, avoid using any concentrated linalool or lavender products in your pet’s food or on their body to avoid ingestion and store those products out of your pet’s reach. If you’re using strong fragrances or diffusing essential oils, just make sure to leave an open door or another way for your pet to get away from the scent in case it bothers them.

All in all, linalool is a powerful, versatile molecule that provides impressive benefits for scent, flavor, and our mental and physical health. You can find synthetic linalool in many fragrances or go straight to the botanical source with essential oils like lavender oil. Whatever your preference, breathe deep and enjoy the perks of a little linalool.