Ingredient Dictionary

PHENETHYL ALCOHOL

2-phenylethanol is a primary alcohol that is ethanol substituted by a phenyl group at position 2.

How much products actually contain

10 products state the amountmedian 0.00015%

under 0.01% 10
0.01–0.1% 0
0.1–1% 0
1% or more 0

Amounts are mostly stated by products named after the ingredient, so they may lean towards token amounts.

Of the products containing it, 36 list it before the 1% line and 126 after it (usually 1% or less).

Products using this ingredient

12 of 162 confirmed · likeliest to carry enough first · See all 162

Definition

2-phenylethanol is a primary alcohol that is ethanol substituted by a phenyl group at position 2. It has a role as a plant growth retardant, a fragrance, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolite, a plant metabolite and an Aspergillus metabolite. It is a primary alcohol and a member of benzenes.

Source: PubChem

US FDA substance register · UNII ML9LGA7468 · registered name PHENYLETHYL ALCOHOL · single chemical substance

Source: US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)

Cosmetic roles

Listed as a fragrance-composition material (not a claim that it adds scent)FRAGRANCE

Safety & regulatory references

Argentina · Brazil

Maximum concentration permitted at final product : 0.5%

Source: MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information

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

Source: Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)

Reviewed by CIR: Annual Review of Cosmetic Ingredient Safety Assessments: 2005/2006

Source: US Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Reviewed by CIR: Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Phenethyl Alcohol

Source: US Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

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

Official labels & definitions

JCIA labelling name フェネチルアルコール: 本品は、次の化学式で表される芳香族アルコールである。

Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)

Names & identifiers

PHENETHYL ALCOHOLINCI페네틸알코올Korean label name (MFDS standard)BenzeneethanolSynonymフェネチルアルコールJapanese labelling name

CAS No.chemical registry number: 60-12-8
EC No.EU chemical inventory number: 200-456-2
DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID: DTXSID9026342
DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID: DTXCID206342

IUPAC: 2-Phenylethan-1-ol
Molecular formula: C8H10O
Molecular weight: 122.167 g/mol

Measured properties

Appearance: liquid
Colour: colourless
Melting/freezing point: -27 ℃
Initial boiling point and range: 218.2 ℃
Flash point: 96 ℃(c.c.)
Vapour pressure: 0.0868 ㎜Hg(25℃)
Water solubility: 22.2 g/ℓ(25℃)
Vapour density: 4.21
Relative density: 1.0202
n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow): 1.36
Auto-ignition temperature: 410 ℃
Viscosity: 7.6 cP(25℃)
Molecular weight: 122.16

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: KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)

What products actually use it for

What the 414 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.

Fragrance398
Preservative5
Deodorizer4
Flavouring and nutrient3
Processing aids not otherwise specified1
Solvent1
Antioxidant1
No specific technical function1

Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard

Irritation and sensitisation studies

4 skin studies and 2 eye studies are on record.

Classed as low3

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 6 studies

Not likely to be sensitizing
skin sensitisation: in vivo (LLNA) · Screening · according to OECD Guideline 429 (Skin Sensitisation: Local Lymph Node Assay) according to EPA OPPTS 870.2600 (Skin Sensitisation)
Classification not possible
Skin Sensitization · Screening
Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · other guideline: Not specified according to
Not classified
Skin Irritation · Screening
Category 6.4A (Category 2A)
Eye Irritation · Read Across
Category 2
Eye Irritation · Screening