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HOME / INGREDIENTS / Ocimum basilicum (sweet basil) oil


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OCIMUM BASILICUM (SWEET BASIL) OIL

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COMMONLY FOUND IN


SYNONYMS

OILS, BASIL, OIL, ESSENTIAL, BASIL, BASIL OIL (OCIMUM BASILICUM L.), BASIL OIL, BASIL (OCIMUM BASILICUM L.), AEC BASIL OIL, BASIL OIL, ESSENTIAL, ESSENTIAL BASIL OIL, BASIL ABSOLUTE; BASILIC GREEN; BASILIC SUPERESSENCE, SWEET BASIL OIL


RESTRICTED

EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient without adequate substantiation.

Common Concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • No Data
    Asthma / Respiratory
  • SOME
    Skin Allergies & Irritation
  • SOME
    Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity
  • SOME
    Cancer
  • No Data
    Environment


Top Scoring Factors

Evidence of cancer; skin irritation/allergies/damage; developmental/endocrine/reproductive effects


Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
Health Issue Level of Concern Source
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Known to cause cancer

high

California OEHHA (Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment): Proposition 65 List (2020 Update)

EPA's review of industry submitted toxicity data and the potential for human exposure concludes that this substance poses a moderate risk for human health.

some

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): EPA Hazard-Based Prioritizations - Risks

Recognized by the European Union as a skin allergen

some

EU Cosmetics Directive: Allergen list

The European Commission's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety reports this substance is an established contact allergen in humans.

some

EU Cosmetics Directive: Opinion on Frangrance allergens in cosmetics (2011)

NTP Toxcast scored 1.5-2.5

some

National Toxicology Program (NTP): EWG Toxcast Analysis

NTP Toxcast scored 1.5-2.5

some

National Toxicology Program (NTP): EWG Toxcast Analysis

Causes skin irritation

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

This peer-reviewed study reports this substance is a significant skin sensitizer after oxidation.

some

Johanna Bråred Christensson, Mihály Matura, Birgitta Gruvberger, Magnus Bruze & Ann-Therese Karlberg. 2010. Linalool--a significant contact sensitizer after air exposure. Contact dermatitis 62(1), 32-41.

This peer-reviewed study reports this substance is a significant skin sensitizer after oxidation.

some

Johanna Bråred Christensson, Pia Forsström, Ann-Marie Wennberg, Ann-Therese Karlberg & Mihály Matura. 2009. Air oxidation increases skin irritation from fragrance terpenes. Contact dermatitis 60(1), 32-40.

This peer-reviewed study reports this substance is a significant skin sensitizer after oxidation.

some

Deirdre A. Buckley. 2011. Allergy to oxidized linalool in the UK. Contact dermatitis 64(4), 240-1.

This peer-reviewed study reports this substance is a contact skin allergen.

some

Mihály Matura, Maria Sköld, Anna Börje, Klaus E. Andersen, Magnus Bruze, Peter Frosch, An Goossens, Jeanne D. Johansen, Cecilia Svedman, Ian R. White & Ann-Therese Karlberg. 2005. Selected oxidized fragrance terpenes are common contact allergens. Contact dermatitis 52(6), 320-8.

causes serious eye irritation

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

A review article reports this substance may have anticarcinogenic activity

low

F. Bakkali, S. Averbeck, D. Averbeck & M. Idaomar. 2008. Biological effects of essential oils--a review. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association 46(2), 446-75.

A peer-reviewed study reports that botanical oils prevent oxidative damage.

low

Kevin P. Anthony, Suziat A. Deolu-Sobogun & Mahmoud A. Saleh. 2012. Comprehensive assessment of antioxidant activity of essential oils. Journal of food science 77(8), C839-43.

This substance is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) as a food additive by the US Food and Drug Administration

Only in: Household Cleaners

low

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): FDA - Priority based Assessment of Food Additive (PAFA)

A review article reports this substance is not mutagenic

low

F. Bakkali, S. Averbeck, D. Averbeck & M. Idaomar. 2008. Biological effects of essential oils--a review. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association 46(2), 446-75.

This substance is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) as a food additive by the US Food and Drug Administration

Only in: Household Cleaners

low

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): FDA - Priority based Assessment of Food Additive (PAFA)

This substance is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) as a food additive by the US Food and Drug Administration

Only in: Household Cleaners

low

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): FDA - Priority based Assessment of Food Additive (PAFA)



Understanding scores

EWG provides information on cleaning product ingredients from the published scientific literature, to supplement incomplete data available from companies and the government. The ratings indicate the relative level of concern posed by exposure to the ingredients in this product - not the product itself - compared to other product formulations. The ratings reflect potential health hazards but do not account for the level of exposure or individual susceptibility, factors which determine actual health risks, if any.

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Healthy Cleaning ingredient hazard score, from A to F, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG VERIFIED® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend


4

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