Meet Our Ingredients: Science Backed and Inspired by Nature

LISTERINE® has more than 135 years of clinical studies and scientific support. With Essential Oils at the core of our formulations, we count on the power of naturally sourced Eucalyptol and ingredients that are inspired by nature and backed by science to create the products you know and love.

We Have High Safety and Efficacy Standards

We have high safety and efficacy standards for LISTERINE®. Of all the available ingredients, we only use less than 1% in our LISTERINE® products.

  • Every delivery from our suppliers is inspected to confirm ingredients meet our high standards for purity.
  • LISTERINE® labels state “Keep out of reach of children.” Additionally, LISTERINE® bottles feature child-resistant caps.
  • LISTERINE® products come with a seal to ensure that no one has tampered with the product before you purchase it.

Our Four Essential Oils

Our formula is inspired by plants known for their disinfecting abilities and antimicrobial qualities.

01. Eucalyptol

Extracted from a Eucalyptus plant

02. Menthol

A minty oil similar to extract of a mint leaf

03. Methyl Salicylate

Inspired by winter green

04. Thymol

Inspired by the oil of a Thyme plant

Discover our products

LISTERINE® Cool Mint® Mouthwash

Kills 99.9% of germs that cause bad breath, plaque & gingivitis.

Featured Ingredients
Alcohol
Helps to dissolve the oils in our mouthwash.
4 Essential Oils
Kills germs that cause plaque & gingivitis.
LISTERINE® UltraClean® Mouthwash

Fights tartar buildup & kills 99.9% of germs that cause bad breath, plaque, and gingivitis/early gum disease.

Featured Ingredients
Alcohol
Helps to dissolve the oils in our mouthwash.
Zinc Chloride
Helps prevent Tartar build-up.
LISTERINE® Total Care® Mouthwash

Helps prevent cavities, restores enamel and kills 99.9% of bad breath germs.

Featured Ingredients
Alcohol
Helps to dissolve the oils in our mouthwash.
Sodium Fluoride
Helps prevent dental cavities.

Commonly Used Ingredients

LISTERINE® also contains other vital ingredients in addition to our four essential oils.

Learn More

Let’s Talk About Alcohol

Alcohol carefully disperses our essential oils to cut through biofilm. It also lets you Feel the Whoa! - our famously intense, signature sensation.

But we totally get that alcohol may not be everyone’s cup of tea. So, we also created alcohol-free products that are made using essential oils dispersed in a different way, these products offer an alternative mouthwash experience – while also providing a whole mouth clean.

Behind the Scenes with LISTERINE®

Learn more about the journey of making LISTERINE® with our Principal Scientist Victoria Aleles. A story that combines arts with science and begins (and ends) with you!