Sclareolide Bad Fragrance Synthetic and Natural No known benefits Sclareolide at a glance Fragrance ingredient with a musky/woody aroma Potentially problematic for long-term skin health May be extracted from plants such as clary sage White crystalline powder in raw form Sclareolide description Sclareolide is a fragrance ingredient commonly derived from plant sources like clary sage and tobacco. Known for its musky, woody aroma, it’s widely used in skin care and other cosmetics to enhance formula’s scent and boost the longevity of other fragrances. While safety data indicates sclareolide generally does not cause surface level skin sensitization, its volatile fragrance compounds have the potential to incite irritation deeper down. This type of irritation is problematic for long-term skin health. See related ingredient Parfum/Fragrance for a deeper dive into the issues fragrant skin care ingredients can cause. Although sclareolide is predominantly used for its aromatic effects, some beauty brands claim antibacterial and anti-dandruff effects. However, these claims lack FDA-backing. Sclareolide has also been touted as a self-tanning agent. At the time of this writing, we could not find independent research supporting its ability to act as such. More likely, it’s included in self-tanning formulations to mask unpleasant odors. Sclareolide appears as a white crystalline powder in its raw material form. Related ingredients: Parfum/Fragrance Clary Sage