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People can be allergic to just about anything, but toothpaste's mint and cinnamon flavorings, which can include the allergens balsam of Peru, cinnamic aldehyde and peppermint and spearmint flavors, are major culprits in skin reactions, Gallo said.

As examples of the aldehyde oils, benzoic aldehyde, C6H5CHO, "oil of bitter almonds," and cinnamic aldehyde, C6H5CH=CHCHO, found in the oils of cinnamon and cassia, may be cited.

It consists essentially of cinnamic aldehyde, and by the absorption of oxygen as it becomes old it darkens in colour and develops resinous compounds.

The value of the oil depends upon its aldehyde content, the chief constituent being cinnamic aldehyde.

Besides cinnamic aldehyde the oil contains eugenol and phellandrene.