Common Name(s): Peruviol,penetrol,3,7,11-trimethyl-1,6,10-dodecatrien-3-ol
CAS Number: 7212-44-4
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides excellent penetration enhancement alongside antimicrobial and sedating anti-inflammatory activity.
Why It's Used: Premium penetration enhancing sesquiterpene โ nerolidol's larger sesquiterpene size vs monoterpene penetration enhancers provides longer-lasting sc lipid incorporation for sustained active delivery with a pleasant floral-woody fragrance.
How It Works: Sesquiterpene size provides deeper sc lipid penetration than smaller monoterpenes (more sustained disruption). penetration enhancement ratio 20-50ร for various permeants in skin models. antimicrobial vs s. aureus and candida. anti-inflammatory via nf-kb inhibition. sedating via gaba-a potentiation.
Typically Found In: Penetration enhanced systems,anti-inflammatory products,sedating aromatic products
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active โ sesquiterpene alcohol
Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.01%โ2%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Conditional - supplier confirmation required
Halal Status: Unverified - supplier confirmation required
Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier. [audit 2026-07-29 rev2: the record's own source_notes does not assert a non-animal origin, or instructs the reader to verify with the supplier; "yes" asserts knowledge the record does not hold. determination requires shariah-panel sign-off.]
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1โ2.
Works Well With: Standard skincare actives
Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Nerolidol's sesquiterpene (c15) vs monoterpene (c10) chain length provides qualitatively different sc interaction: while monoterpenes (like menthol, borneol) provide transient sc fluidisation, nerolidol's larger molecule incorporates more deeply and persistently into the sc lipid phase. the partition coefficient (logp 4.26 vs borneol 2.57) shows nerolidol's much higher sc lipid affinity, explaining its longer-lasting penetration enhancement after a single application.
Last Verified: 2026-03-12
Primary Sources: Cosing database,mota et al. nerolidol penetration enhancement study