Is 2,3-Butanediol safe in cosmetics?
2,3-Butanediol has a safety rating of "MODERATE" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: restricted.
MODERATE
Cosmetic Ingredient
2,3-Butanediol
INCI: 2,3-BUTANEDIOL
2,3-Butanediol (CAS 513-85-9 (meso); 5341-95-7 (D-form); 24347-58-8 (L-form)) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Solvent, humectant, skin conditioning agent. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database.
CAS Number
513-85-9 (meso); 5341-95-7 (D-form); 24347-58-8 (L-form)
View industrial chemical safety profile →
Function
Solvent, humectant, skin conditioning agent
Editorial assessment
MODERATE
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
US US Status
restricted
US Notes
Not specifically restricted; however, CIR (2024) found insufficient data to determine safety
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for 2,3-Butanediol.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for 2,3-Butanediol — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Regulatory Flags
ifra_fragrance
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 2,3-Butanediol allowed in the EU?
2,3-Butanediol EU regulatory status: restricted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does 2,3-Butanediol do in cosmetics?
2,3-Butanediol functions as: Solvent, humectant, skin conditioning agent. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 513-85-9 (meso); 5341-95-7 (D-form); 24347-58-8 (L-form).
Compliance Tools
Check 2,3-Butanediol compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
Related Ingredients
Alanyl Glutamine
EXCELLENT
Same category
Skin conditioning, humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Polysaccharides
EXCELLENT
Same category
Humectant, skin conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
EXCELLENT
Same category
Skin conditioning, humectant
Alpha-Glucan
EXCELLENT
Same category
Skin Conditioning, Film Forming, Hume...
Ammonium Hydrolyzed Collagen
EXCELLENT
Same category
Antistatic; film forming; hair condit...
Arabinose
EXCELLENT
Same category
Humectant / Moisturizing agent; promo...
(20S)-Protopanaxadiol
MODERATE
Similar safety
(Cnidium Officinale/Coptis Chinensis/Glycyrrhiza Uralensis) Root Extract
MODERATE
Similar safety
Skin conditioning
(Cryptomeria Japonica/Chamaecyparis Obtusa) Stem Ferment Extract
MODERATE
Similar safety
Antimicrobial, antioxidant, humectant
(Eclipta Prostrata/Houttuynia Cordata) Leaf Extract
MODERATE
Similar safety
Skin conditioning
(Lepidium Meyenii/Sarcodon Aspratus) Root Water
MODERATE
Similar safety
Skin conditioning
(Licorice/Reynoutria Japonica) Root/Stem Extract
MODERATE
Similar safety
Skin conditioning, antioxidant
Acetoin
EXCELLENT
Chemical family
Skin conditioning, fragrance
Methylbutenes
MODERATE
Chemical family
Solvent / viscosity controlling
2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8-Octahydro-2,5,5-Trimethyl-2-Naphthol
GOOD
Browse nearby
Fragrance (ambery/woody note)
Is 2,3-Butanediol in Your Products?
Scan any product label with Piro — our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.
Try Piro Free →Analyze Your Full Ingredient List
Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for 2,3-Butanediol in your formulation.