Ingredient Dictionary

ISOAMYL ALCOHOL

Isoamylol is an primary alcohol that is butan-1-ol in which a hydrogen at position 3 has been replaced by a methyl group.

Definition

Isoamylol is an primary alcohol that is butan-1-ol in which a hydrogen at position 3 has been replaced by a methyl group. It has a role as an antifungal agent, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolite and a xenobiotic metabolite. It is a volatile organic compound, a primary alcohol and an alkyl alcohol. It derives from a hydride of an isopentane.

Source: PubChem

US FDA substance register · UNII DEM9NIT1J4 · registered name Isoamyl Alcohol · single chemical substance

Source: US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)

Cosmetic roles

Gives the product a scentPERFUMINGAdds flavour (lip and oral products)FLAVOURING

Safety & regulatory references

Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance

Source: Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)

More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature

Names & identifiers

ISOAMYL ALCOHOLINCI아이소아밀알코올Korean label name (MFDS standard)1-Butanol, 3-methyl-Synonym

CAS No.chemical registry number: 123-51-3
EC No.EU chemical inventory number: 204-633-5
DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID: DTXSID3025469
DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID: DTXCID705469

IUPAC: 3-Methylbutan-1-ol
Molecular formula: C5H12O
Molecular weight: 88.15 g/mol

Measured properties

Appearance: Isoamyl alcohol is a colorless liquid with a mild, choking alcohol odor. Less dense than water, soluble in water. Hence floats on water. Produces an irritating vapor. (USCG, 1999) · Dry Powder, Liquid
Odour: CHARACTERISTIC, DISAGREEABLE ODOR · Disagreeable odor.
Boiling point: 270 °F at 760 mmHg (USCG, 1999) · 132.5 °C
Melting point: -179 °F (NIOSH, 2024) · -117.2 °C
Solubility: 2 % at 57 °F (NIOSH, 2024) · MISCIBLE WITH ALC, ETHER, BENZENE, CHLOROFORM, PETROLEUM ETHER, GLACIAL ACETIC ACID, OILS
Density: 0.81 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999) - Less dense than water, will float · 0.813 @ 15 °C/4 °C
Colour: colourless
Melting/freezing point: -117 ℃
Initial boiling point and range: 132.5 ℃
Flash point: 43.5 ℃
Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits: 9 / 1.2 %
Vapour pressure: 3.3 hPa(25℃)
Water solubility: 2.5 g/100㎖(25 ℃)
Relative density: 0.81 (15 DEG C/4 DEG C)
n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow): 1.16
Auto-ignition temperature: 350 ℃
Viscosity: 4.3 cP(25℃)
Molecular weight: 88.15

Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.

Source: PubChem · KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)

What products actually use it for

What the 9 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.

Flavouring and nutrient4
Fragrance3
Flotation agent1
Solvent1

Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard

Irritation and sensitisation studies

4 skin studies and 5 eye studies are on record.

Classed as highly irritating1Classed as low1

The studies disagree (the most common conclusion covers 50%), so they do not establish that this ingredient is irritating. These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.

See all 9 studies

Not classified
Skin Irritation · Screening
Classification not possible
Skin Sensitization · Screening
Category 6.3B (Category 3)
Skin Irritation · Read Across
Severe Irritation
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · other guideline: Federal Register 38, No. 187, s 1500.41, S. 27029 according to
Category 1
Eye Irritation · Screening
Serious eye damage/eye irritation - Category 2
Eye Irritation · Screening
Category 8.3A (Category 1)
Eye Irritation · Read Across
Corrosive or Irritation Persists for > 21 days
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · other guideline: Federal Register 38, No 187, s 1500.41, S. 27019 (1973) according to
Category 6.4A (Category 2A)
Eye Irritation · Read Across