Aromatics Academy
Citrus Oil Phototoxicity & Safety
TS Aromatics Safety Team May 2026 · 5 min readintermediate
Understanding Phototoxicity
Phototoxicity occurs when furocoumarins in citrus oils react with UV light, causing burns or hyperpigmentation. Bergamot oil contains the highest bergaptene levels, followed by lime, lemon, and grapefruit.
Safe Usage Levels
IFRA restricts bergaptene to 0.0015% in leave-on products exposed to sunlight. For cold-pressed citrus oils, use at ≤0.5% of the total formulation for leave-on, ≤2% for rinse-off. Furocoumarin-free (FCF) bergamot is available for phototoxic-free formulations.