ABSTRACT
Geraniol is frequently used in cosmetics (ca. 70% of perfumes examined by Johansen and coworkers [1]) and has been cited as a moderately frequent cause of allergic contact dermatitis [2]. The following reviews the published data on the sensitization potential of geraniol: (E)-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-ol (CASRN: 106-24-1, EINECS 203-377-1). A semiquantitative evaluation of the different reports cited below has been made in accordance with the rules outlined by Hostynek and Maibach [3], which are based on those made by Benezra and others in 1985 [4]. This approach has already been used to examine four other substances that have also been cited as frequent causes of contact dermatitis: alpha-iso-methylionone [5], anisyl alcohol [6], linalool [7], and amlycinnamic aldehyde [8].
