Tarragon oil and your health

Learn about tarragon oil, its potential health risks and how to reduce your exposure

On this page

• About tarragon oil
• Safety of tarragon oil
• What we're doing to reduce your exposure to tarragon oil
• What you can do to reduce your exposure to tarragon oil

About tarragon oil

Tarragon oil is extracted from the tarragonplant and is known as an essential oil. It can occur naturally in food and may be used as a food-flavouring agent. It's also used as a fragrance ingredient in a variety of products available to consumers, such as:

• cosmetics, such as:
  • fragrances
  • moisturizer
  • massage oil
  • antiperspirant and deodorant
• pest control products
• non-prescription drugs
• natural health products, such as digestive aid capsules

Tarragon oil can be purchased as an essential oil at a concentration of up to 100%. It may be used by consumers as an ingredient in do-it-yourself (DIY) products and applications at home.

Tarragon oil may also be called:

• estragon
• false tarragon
• dragon sage-wort
• dragon wormwood
• Artemisia dracunculus

Safety of tarragon oil

Under Canada's Chemicals Management Plan, we review and manage the potential risks that chemical substances can pose to people in Canada and the environment. The first stage of the review process is a draft chemical risk assessment.

We have completed the draft assessment of tarragon oil. We're proposing that tarragon oil may increase your risk of cancer when used in certain products that are inhaled or applied to the skin, including:

• cosmetics, such as:
  • body fragrance
  • body and facial moisturizer
• when added to DIY products, such as:
  • homemade:
    • bath oil
    • massage oil
    • body moisturizer
  • aromatic diffusers (aromatherapy)

We're also proposing that:

• tarragon oil is not harmful to the environment
• levels of exposure to tarragon oil from food and other products available to consumers considered in our assessment, do not pose a risk to human health

What we're doing to reduce your exposure to tarragon oil

Our assessment is not yet final. We're continuing to evaluate the potential risk posed by tarragon oil before we publish our final conclusion. This includes:

• tracking new information on exposures or hazards
• asking the public to comment on our draft assessment
• reviewing and using this information to help inform our final assessment

If the proposed findings for this substance are confirmed in the final assessment, we will consider:

• adding it to Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
  • this would allow Canada to implement preventive or control actions for the life cycle of the substance, including:
    • research and development
    • manufacture
    • use
    • storage
    • transport
    • disposal or recycling
• adding it to the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
  • this would provide information to manufacturers on the restriction or prohibition of the use of tarragon oil in cosmetics
• taking actions to help reduce exposures to tarragon oil from products that are inhaled or applied to the skin to levels that help protect human health
  • this includes the use of the essential oil in DIY applications

Methyl eugenol, a chemical found in tarragon oil, is already described as restricted on the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. This list provides information to manufacturers on the permitted use of essential oils that contain methyl eugenol in certain cosmetics.

You can provide any comments on our draft assessment and proposed risk management during the 60-day public comment period.

What you can do to reduce your exposure to tarragon oil

You can take steps to reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals.

Limit your use of tarragon oil in DIY products and applications that are inhaled or applied to the skin.

Read product labels and follow all safety warnings and directions:

• labels on cosmetics, natural health products and non-prescription drugs must list all ingredients and instructions for use
• only use over-the-counter products that have a drug identification number (DIN) or natural product number (NPN)
  • these numbers mean the product is regulated under the Food and Drugs Act
• follow the manufacturer's directions to dispose of the product safely

If you're unsure if your product contains tarragon oil, contact the manufacturer.

If you're exposed to tarragon oil at work, talk to your employer and occupational health and safety (OHS) official about:

• relevant laws
• safe handling and storage practices
• requirements under OHS legislation and the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)

Related links

• List of Toxic Substances
• Chemical risk assessments
• Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
• Use household chemicals safely
• Toxic substances list: schedule 1
• Measuring your exposure to chemicals
• Canada's systems for addressing chemicals
• Overview of the Chemicals Management Plan

For industry and professionals

• Risk assessment of chemical substances
• Phenylpropanoids and Aldehydes Group – information sheet
• Risk management scope for the phenylpropanoids and aldehydes group