Ingredient Dictionary

N-BUTYL ALCOHOL

Butan-1-ol is a primary alcohol that is butane in which a hydrogen of one of the methyl groups is substituted by a hydroxy group.

How much products actually contain

No product states its amount yet.

Of the products containing it, 1,236 list it before the 1% line and 5 after it (usually 1% or less).

Products using this ingredient

12 of 1,240 confirmed · likeliest to carry enough first · See all 1,240

Definition

Butan-1-ol is a primary alcohol that is butane in which a hydrogen of one of the methyl groups is substituted by a hydroxy group. It it produced in small amounts in humans by the gut microbes. It has a role as a protic solvent, a mouse metabolite and a human metabolite. It is a primary alcohol, a short-chain primary fatty alcohol and an alkyl alcohol.

Source: PubChem

US FDA substance register · UNII 8PJ61P6TS3 · registered name Butyl alcohol · single chemical substance

Source: US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)

Cosmetic roles

Gives the product a scentPERFUMINGBase that dissolves other ingredientsSOLVENTMakes alcohol undrinkableDENATURANT

Safety & regulatory references

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

Source: Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)

Other restriction: ban substances that deplete the ozone layer

Source: EU CosIng ingredient list

Reviewed by CIR: Final Report of the Addendum to the Safety Assessment of n-Butyl Alcohol as Used in Cosmetics

Source: US Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Reviewed by CIR: Final Report on the Safety Assessment of n-Butyl Alcohol

Source: US Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

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

Official labels & definitions

JCIA labelling name ブタノール: 本品は、次の化学式で表される脂肪族アルコールである。

Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)

Names & identifiers

N-BUTYL ALCOHOLINCI부틸알코올Korean label name (MFDS standard)1-ButanolSynonymブタノールJapanese labelling name

CAS No.chemical registry number: 71-36-3
EC No.EU chemical inventory number: 200-751-6
DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID: DTXSID1021740
DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID: DTXCID701740

IUPAC: Butan-1-ol
Molecular formula: C4H10O
Molecular weight: 74.123 g/mol

Measured properties

Appearance: N-butyl alcohol is a colorless liquid. Used in organic chemical synthesis, plasticizers, detergents, etc. · Liquid, CBI
Odour: HARSH FUSEL ODOR WITH BANANA · Odor similar to amyl alcohol
Boiling point: 243.9 °F at 760 mmHg (USCG, 1999) · 117.7 °C
Melting point: -129 °F (USCG, 1999) · -89.8 °C
Solubility: 9 % (NIOSH, 2024) · 63200 mg/L (at 25 °C)
Colour: colourless
Melting/freezing point: -90 ℃
Initial boiling point and range: 117 ℃
Flash point: 29.9 ℃
Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits: 11.3 / 1.4 %
Vapour pressure: 9.31 hPa(20℃)
Vapour density: 2.6
Relative density: 0.81 (g/cm3)
n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow): 1
Auto-ignition temperature: 345 ℃
Viscosity: 2.947 cP(20℃)
Molecular weight: 74.12

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 57 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.

Solvent27
Fragrance5
Processing aids not otherwise specified3
Intermediate2
Chemical reaction regulator2
Surfactant (surface active agent)2
Flavouring and nutrient2
Pigment2

9 other uses

Dispersing agent2
Plasticizer2
Fuel2
Conductive agent1
Viscosity modifier1
Defoamer1
Cleaning agent1
Monomers1
Reducing agent1

Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard

Irritation and sensitisation studies

8 skin studies and 7 eye studies are on record.

Classed as moderate1

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 15 studies

Category 6.3A (Category 2)
Skin Irritation · Read Across
Skin corrosion/irritation - Category 2
Skin Irritation · Screening
Skin Irrit. 2
Skin Irritation · Screening
Not likely to be sensitizing
skin sensitisation: in vivo (LLNA) · Screening · equivalent or similar to OECD Guideline 429 (Skin Sensitisation: Local Lymph Node Assay)
Category 2
Skin Irritation · Screening
Classification not possible
Skin Sensitization · Screening
Category 6.3B (Category 3)
Skin Irritation · Read Across
Skin Irrit. 2
Skin Irritation · Authoritative
Serious eye damage/eye irritation - Category 2
Eye Irritation · Screening
Category 8.3A (Category 1)
Eye Irritation · Read Across
Eye Dam. 1
Eye Irritation · Authoritative
Eye Dam. 1
Eye Irritation · Screening
Corrosive or Irritation Persists for > 21 days
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion) according to
Category 2A
Eye Irritation · Screening
Category 6.4A (Category 2A)
Eye Irritation · Read Across