What does p-Mentha-1,3-diene do?

Used in cosmetics as a fragrance ingredient.

Is p-Mentha-1,3-diene safe?

High concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is restricted in EU cosmetics.

beauty
cleaning
food
industrial

p-Mentha-1,3-diene

CAS 99-86-5 · 70/100 · High conf.

Concern score

70/100High concern based on regulatory listings.

High confidence

p-Mentha-1,3-diene in plain language

What it is: On cosmetic ingredient lists it appears as “Alpha-terpinene”.
Also known as Alpha-terpinene · Terpilene · .alpha.-terpinen · 1-Methyl-4-(propan-2-yl)cyclohexa-1,3-diene · 1-methyl-4-propan-2-ylcyclohexa-1,3-diene · .alpha.terpinene
Show all 19 names
1,3-Cyclohexadiene, 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)- · 1,3-Cyclohexadiene, 1-methyl-4-isopropyl- · 1-Isopropyl-4-methyl-1,3-cyclohexadiene · 1-Methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-1,3-cyclohexadiene · 1-Methyl-4-isopropyl-1,3-cyclohexadiene · 1-Methyl-4-isopropylcyclohexadiene-1,3 · 1-isopropyl-4-methyl-cyclohexa-1,3-diene · 1-isopropyl-4-methylcyclohexa-1,3-diene · 4-Isopropyl-1-methyl-1,3-cyclohexadiene · CYCLOHEXA-1,3-DIENE, 1-METHYL-4-(1-METHYLETHYL)- · a-terpinene · alpha -Terpinene; p-Mentha-1,3-diene · p-menta-1,3-dieno
What it does: Used in cosmetics as a fragrance ingredient.
Perfuming
Flavouring agent
Fragrance
Flavouring
Is it a concern?: High concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is restricted in EU cosmetics.

Why it's flagged

p-Mentha-1,3-diene is restricted in cosmetic products under Annex III of the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009.

RestrictedEU EC — restricted

The score describes this ingredient's chemical identity — its hazard profile from published classifications and regulatory status — not the safety of any product it appears in.

Regulation

Restrictions first, then routine listings from published regulatory sources.

EU Annex III — restricted
EU restricted in cosmetics

Recorded in these product areas

Found in consumer products
Cleaning
Industrial

EUEC
Annex III of EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009: substances which cosmetic products must not contain except subject to the restrictions laid down. Other conditions: The presence of the substance shall be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1), point (g), when its concentration exceeds: — 0,001 % in leave-on products — 0,01 % in rinse-off products. The peroxide value shall be less than 10 mmoles/L (This limit applies to the substance and not to the finished cosmetic product).
restricted
View source →

EUEFSAEFSA opinion4 entries
- Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 78, Revision 2 (FGE.78Rev2): Consideration of aliphatic and alicyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons evaluated by JECFA (63rd meeting) structurally related to aliphatic hydrocarbons evaluated by EFSA in FGE.25Rev3 (EFSA CEF)Source →
- Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons (chemical group 31) when used as flavourings for all animal species (EFSA FEEDAP)Source →
- Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 78, Revision 1 (FGE.78Rev1): Consideration of aliphatic and alicyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons evaluated by JECFA (63rd meeting) structurally related to aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons evaluated by EFSA in FGE.25Rev2. EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF) (EFSA CEF)Source →
- Flavouring Group Evaluation 78 (FGE.78): Consideration of Aliphatic and alicyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons evaluated by JECFA (63rd meeting) structurally related to aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons evaluated by EFSA in FGE.25. Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food (EFSA AFC)Source →
EUCosIngActive2 entries
- Alpha-Terpinene is the organic compound that conforms to the formula: Restriction: III/131Source →
- Cosmetics Regulation annex III / ref 131.Source →
GLOBALJECFAEvaluatedJECFA evaluation record.
- JECFA evaluation record.Source →
GLOBALJECFANo safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agentJECFA evaluation lists ADI No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. Functional class: flavouring agent.
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. Functional class: flavouring agent.Source →
USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 7 composition records across product categories including Vehicle, Cleaning products and household care, Cleaning and safety. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Fragrance, Flavouring and nutrient.
- EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 7 composition records across product categories including Vehicle, Cleaning products and household care, Cleaning and safety. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Fragrance, Flavouring and nutrient.Source →
USFDAlisted in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.
- openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.Source →

Expert safety opinions

Independent scientific assessments cited by the records we hold, with the year and link where the record gives one.

SCCS
EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
No SCCS opinion on file.
CIR
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US expert panel)
No CIR safety assessment on file.
EFSA
European Food Safety Authority
- Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 78, Revision 2 (FGE.78Rev2): Consideration of aliphatic and alicyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons evaluated by JECFA (63rd meeting) structurally related to aliphatic hydrocarbons evaluated by EFSA in FGE.25Rev3 (EFSA CEF)
  2015 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons (chemical group 31) when used as flavourings for all animal species (EFSA FEEDAP)
  2015 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 78, Revision 1 (FGE.78Rev1): Consideration of aliphatic and alicyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons evaluated by JECFA (63rd meeting) structurally related to aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons evaluated by EFSA in FGE.25Rev2. EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF) (EFSA CEF)
  2011 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Flavouring Group Evaluation 78 (FGE.78): Consideration of Aliphatic and alicyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons evaluated by JECFA (63rd meeting) structurally related to aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons evaluated by EFSA in FGE.25. Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food (EFSA AFC)
  2009 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
JECFA
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
- JECFA evaluation record.
  Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. Functional class: flavouring agent.
  Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →

Evidence & sources

No graded research studies for p-Mentha-1,3-diene yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.

9 data sources

Where this comes from

CosIng
regulatory · updated 2026-09-23
Open →
EU CosIng Cosmetics Regulation Annexes
regulatory · updated 2023-09-11
Open →
EFSA OpenFoodTox
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
Open →
EPA Chemical and Products Database
exposure · updated January 7, 2008
Open →
EPA DSSTox Identifiers
chemistry · updated 2025-12-29
Open →
FDA GSRS UNII
registry · updated 2026-02-26
Open →
WHO JECFA Database
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
Open →
openFDA Substance
registry · updated 2026-05-24
Open →
PubChem Live Enrichment
chemistry · updated 2026-05-17
Open →

Suitability

Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.

Food use

Food-use source coverage is present in the current record.

Good fit

The ingredient appears in food-oriented source coverage or allowed-use references, which makes food use easier to support than a context with no domain signal at all.

Fragrance avoidance

Not a strong fit for fragrance avoidance because it carries Fragrance.

Avoid

The ingredient itself is a fragrance-linked signal, so it is better treated as an avoid case when fragrance exposure is the main concern.

Where it has been recorded

How often EPA CPDat has listed p-Mentha-1,3-diene in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Source records

Named organisations

VehicleCleaning products and household careCleaning and safety

Typical roles

PerfumingFlavouring agentFragranceFlavouring

See products using p-Mentha-1,3-diene →

Catalog

Found in these products

Their ingredient lists include p-Mentha-1,3-diene; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.

See all 21 →Find products without it →