4-methylbenzyl alcohol is a methylbenzyl alcohol in which the methyl substituent is para to the hydroxymethyl group.
Definition
4-methylbenzyl alcohol is a methylbenzyl alcohol in which the methyl substituent is para to the hydroxymethyl group. It has a role as a fragrance and a xenobiotic metabolite. It is a methylbenzyl alcohol and a member of toluenes.
Source: PubChem
US FDA substance register · UNII EXZ915A627 · registered name 4-METHYLBENZYL ALCOHOL · single chemical substance
Cosmetic roles
Safety & regulatory references
- Restricted
- International fragrance standard (IFRA)
Source: IFRA fragrance standards
Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance
Other restriction: ban substances that deplete the ozone layer
Source: EU CosIng ingredient list
More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature
Official labels & definitions
JCIA labelling name メチルベンジルアルコール: 本品は、次の化学式で表される有機化合物である。
Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)
Names & identifiers
- CAS No.chemical registry number
- 589-18-4
- EC No.EU chemical inventory number
- 209-639-1
- DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID
- DTXSID5025574
- DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID
- DTXCID205574
- IUPAC
- (4-Methylphenyl)methanol
- Molecular formula
- C8H10O
- Molecular weight
- 122.167 g/mol
Measured properties
- Appearance
- P-methyl benzyl alcohol appears as needles or off-white crystalline powder. (NTP, 1992) · White solid, [HSDB] White crystalline solid, [Alfa Aesar MSDS]
- Boiling point
- 423 °F at 760 mmHg (NTP, 1992) · 217 °C
- Melting point
- 138 to 142 °F (NTP, 1992) · 61.5 °C
- Solubility
- 1 to 10 mg/mL at 70.7 °F (NTP, 1992) · Very soluble in ether, ethanol
- Density
- 0.978 at 72 °F (NTP, 1992) - Less dense than water, will float · 0.978 g/cu cm at 22 °C
- Colour
- grey
- Melting/freezing point
- 61.5 ℃
- Initial boiling point and range
- 217 ℃
- Vapour pressure
- 0.016 ㎜Hg( 25℃, est.)
- Water solubility
- 7710 ㎎/ℓ( 25℃)
- Vapour density
- 4.2
- Relative density
- 0.978 (22℃)
- n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow)
- 1.58
- Molecular weight
- 122.164
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 5 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.
- Fragrance2
- Flavouring and nutrient1
- Deodorizer1
- Softener and conditioner1
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Irritation and sensitisation studies
2 skin studies and 0 eye studies are on record.
The study conclusions largely agree (100%). These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.
See all 2 studies
- SkinIrr2
Skin Irritation · QSAR Predicted - Skin corrosion/irritation - Category 2
Skin Irritation · Screening
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Related literature
Linked databases 19
- Australian Industrial Chemicals Inventory (AICIS)
- ChEBI
- China inventory of existing ingredients (IECIC)
- EU CosIng ingredient list 2
- IFRA fragrance standards
- JCIA labelling names (Japan)
- Korea Cosmetic Association ingredient dictionary
- Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)
- KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
- MFDS (Korea) cosmetic ingredient register 2
- NIST Chemistry WebBook
- PubChem 2
- Tlooto literature search 2
- UniChem cross-reference IDs
- US EPA CompTox dashboard 2
- US EPA DSSTox chemical database
- US FDA substance registration (GSRS)
- US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)
- Wikidata