Is Benzyl Alcohol safe in cosmetics?
Benzyl Alcohol has a safety rating of "MODERATE" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: permitted. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Benzyl Alcohol
Also known as: Benzenemethanol, 4-06-00-02222, BRN 0878307, EINECS 202-859-9, EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 009502 (+15 more)
INCI: BENZYL ALCOHOL
Benzyl Alcohol (CAS 100-51-6) is a cosmetic preservative functioning as fragrance; preservative; solvent. NOAEL 8.33333 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted, max 1% as preservative in cosmetics (Annex V); labelling required >10 ppm leave-on / >100 ppm rinse-off as fragrance. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data.
Function
fragrance; preservative; solvent
Editorial assessment
MODERATE
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
EU Max Conc.
1% as preservative in cosmetics (Annex V); labelling required >10 ppm leave-on / >100 ppm rinse-off as fragrance
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted as both fragrance and preservative; GRAS status; RIFM-assessed
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Benzyl Alcohol.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
10 study endpoints found for Benzyl Alcohol. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.
| Endpoint | Value | Route | Species | Study Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | =175 mg/kg | oral | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR Safety Assessment |
| NOAEL | =175 mg/kg | oral | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR Safety Assessment |
| NOAEL | =175 mg/kg | oral | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR Safety Assessment |
| NOAEL | =175 mg/kg | oral | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR Safety Assessment |
| NOAEL | =250 mg/kg | oral | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR Safety Assessment |
| NOAEL | =250 mg/kg | oral | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR Safety Assessment |
| NOAEL | =250 mg/kg | oral | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR Safety Assessment |
| NOAEL | =250 mg/kg | oral | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR Safety Assessment |
| NOAEL | =550 mg/kg | oral | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR Safety Assessment |
| NOAEL | =550 mg/kg | oral | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR Safety Assessment |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Short-term Exposure Effects
The aerosol is irritating to the eyes and skin. The substance may cause effects on the nervous system.
Long-term Exposure Effects
Repeated or prolonged contact may cause skin sensitization.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its vapour and by ingestion.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Benzyl Alcohol across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
Sensitization Profile
Contact sensitization data for Benzyl Alcohol based on clinical patch test studies and IFRA standards.
Sensitization Rate
low
Allergen Class
fragrance
EU Allergen Listed
yes
Patch Test Positive Rate
0.5%
Cross-reactivity Group
balsam-of-peru-group
Reaction Type
contact-dermatitis
IFRA Restricted
— max 1.0% in finished products
Source: ESSCA/IVDK
Dermal Penetration Profile
Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Benzyl Alcohol, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.
Absorption %
18-28%
Penetration Level
dermis
Penetration Depth
epidermis/dermis
Molecular Weight
108.1 Da
Log P
1.1
Systemic Absorption
yes
Topical Bioavailability
12-22%
Safety Margin Factor
high
Vehicle Dependent
Yes — absorption varies by formulation
Source: SCCS Opinion
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
10 toxicity values from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | =400 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | chronic | EFSA |
| LOEL | =25 mg/kg-day | Mouse | injection | short-term | ECOTOX |
| NOEL | =25 mg/kg-day | Mouse | injection | short-term | ECOTOX |
| NOEL | =800 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | short-term | ECOTOX |
| LOEL | =300 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | short-term | ECOTOX |
| LOEL | =600 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | acute | ECOTOX |
| NOEL | =300 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | acute | ECOTOX |
| LEL | =200 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | subchronic | EPA ToxRefDB |
| LEL | =800 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | subchronic | EPA ToxRefDB |
| LEL | =400 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | subchronic | EPA ToxRefDB |
EU CLP Annex VI Harmonized Classification
Legally binding harmonized classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI.
Signal Word
Warning
Pictograms
Harmful / Irritant
Hazard Class and Category
Acute Tox. 4; Eye Irrit. 2; Skin Sens. 1B
Hazard Statements
- H302 Harmful if swallowed
- H319 Causes serious eye irritation
- H317 May cause an allergic skin reaction
Specific Concentration Limits / M-factors
oral: ATE = 1200.0 mg/kg bw
Inserted via ATP: ATP21
Sensitization AOP Dashboard
Adverse Outcome Pathway data across 5 assays (DPRA, KeratinoSens, hCLAT, LLNA, NESIL) aggregated from public sources.
DPRA Cys %
0.57%
DPRA Lys %
0.49%
KeratinoSens IC50
2000 µM
hCLAT CV75
1000 µg/mL
LLNA EC3
50%
NESIL
3543 µg/cm²
LLNA: Weak (1B)
GHS: 1B
Human: positive
Source: LLNA: Kern et al. (2010); DPRA: Hoffmann et al., 2018 | Urbisch et al. 2015 [DOI:10.1016/j.yrtph.2014.12.008]; KS: Urbisch et al. 2015 [DOI:10.1016/j.yrtph.2014.12.008] | Unilever commissioned, Covance; hCLAT: No reference provided in NICEATM database | Unilever commissioned, Covance; HPPT: [12] Kligman AM (1970): Report to RIFM, 7 October, unpublished.
HRIPT Human Patch Test Studies
5 human repeat insult patch tests aggregated from dermatological literature.
| Test Type | N | Sensitized | Dose µg/cm² | NESIL µg/cm² | Potency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HRIPT | 110 | 1 | 8858 | 5905 | - |
| HRIPT | 101 | 0 | 5905 | 5905 | non-sensitizer |
| HRIPT | 107 | 0 | 3543 | 3543 | non-sensitizer |
| HMT | - | 0 | 6480 | - | - |
| HRIPT | - | 0 | 3543.31 | - | - |
Endocrine Disruptor Evidence (Expanded)
Cross-referenced EDC classifications, mechanism data, and dose-response evidence from EDLists, SIN List, and cosmetic-specific detail sources.
Cosmetic-Specific Mechanism
Category: preservative
Receptor targets: ERα (very weak)
LOEC: N/A
EU status: allowed (max 1% preservative)
weak modulator
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
10,000 - 100,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Hazard classification: Restricted (Annex XVII)
EU CosIng Annex Listing
European Commission CosIng database Annex references per Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
Annex V — Permitted Preservatives
Max: 1.0%
Expanded Jurisdictional Detail
Additional regulatory detail beyond the 7-jurisdiction summary: Saudi SFDA, Korea MFDS, ASEAN ACD, Japan/Korea, Brazil/India, and cross-jurisdictional restriction entries.
KR Korea MFDS Annex 2 (Restricted)
Category: Preservative. Max: 1.0% (hair dye solvent: 10%). —
SA Saudi SFDA (III - Restricted)
Product type: (a) Solvent (b) Fragrance/ aromatic compositions/ their raw materials.
BRIN Brazil/India Cosmetics
Brazil: Restricted (Fragrance Allergen) · max >0.001% leave-on / >0.01% rinse-off requires labeling
Brazil: Permitted Preservative · max 1,0%
India: Restricted
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (5)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN | permitted_preservative | 1 | All cosmetics |
| IN | permitted_preservative | 1.0 | all cosmetics |
| GCC | restricted | 1.0 | All cosmetics |
| BR | permitted_preservative | 1 | (*) may be used for other purposes subject to other lists |
| ASEAN | permitted_preservative | 1% | All products |
Expanded Dermal Absorption Data
Cross-database dermal penetration: EPA Dryad physics-based, Roberts Mendeley permeation, and SCCS-aggregated measured values.
Roberts Skin Permeation (Mendeley 2022)
MW: 108.1
Log Kow: 1.04
Log Kp: -2.222059991327963
Log Jmax: -5.62
Source: Roberts Cheruvu Mendeley 2022
IFRA Concentration Limits (12 Product Categories)
International Fragrance Association standards per product category. Restriction: Restriction. Effective: 2021-02-10.
| Category | Max % | Category | Max % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (Lip products) | 5.0% | 7a (Deodorant – not spray) | 10.0% |
| 2 (Body spray) | 1.5% | 7b (Deodorant spray) | 10.0% |
| 3 (Body cream) | 5.0% | 8 (Face cream) | 1.7% |
| 4 (Fine fragrance) | 15.0% | 9 (Soap) | 15.0% |
| 5a (Body lotion) | 5.0% | 10a (Household – non-spray) | 15.0% |
| 5b (Face cream leave-on) | 5.0% | 10b (Household – spray) | No Restriction% |
| 5c (Hand cream) | 5.0% | 11a (Intimate – leave-on) | 1.7% |
| 5d (Baby cream) | 1.7% | 11b (Intimate – rinse) | 1.7% |
| 6 (Mouthwash) | 5.0% | 12 (Not for consumer exposure) | No Restriction% |
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
| Product Category | Typical Range | Max Reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face Cream | 0.1–1 | 1 | CIR Expert Panel |
| Shampoo | 0.1–1 | 1 | CIR Expert Panel |
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Antioxidant
Binder
Biocide
Cleaning agent
Coalescing agent
Deodorizer
Diluent
Emulsifier
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
Regulatory List Membership (7)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Consumer Product Chemical
EU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for Benzyl Alcohol — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Regulatory Flags
preservative
microbiome-disruptive
commensal-inhibitor
in-vitro-concern
eu_children_restricted
epa_safer_alternative
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
eu_cosing_listed
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Benzyl Alcohol by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
19
Lowest NOAEL
175
Highest NOAEL
1400
Units vary across source rows: mg/kg, mg/kg bw/day, mg/kg/day
CIR Safety Assessment
COSMOS DB
Known Synonyms
Benzenemethanol
4-06-00-02222
BRN 0878307
EINECS 202-859-9
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 009502
FEMA No. 2137
Methanol, phenyl-
NCI-C06111
Alcool benzilico
UNII-LKG8494WBH
Ulesfia
.alpha.-hydroxytoluene
.alpha.-toluenol
Aromatic alcohol
Aromatic primary alcohol
Bentalol
Benzal alcohol
Benzenmethanol
Benzoyl alcohol
Benzyl alkohol
Chemical Function
Preservative
Solvent
Fragrance
Emulsifier
Biocide
Pharmaceutical
Regulatory Lists
Europe; Personal care - hair styling and care - shampoo-dandruff
Europe
Europe; Specialty occupational products
drinking_water; Europe; manufacturing; plastic_additive
active_ingredient; Pesticides
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
pharmaceutical
pharmaceutical
Cleaning products and household care - air freshener; Cleaning products and household care - laundry and fabric treatment - fabric deodorizer; detected; Europe; Vehicle - car interior - auto air freshener
artificial_saliva; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
Europe; Personal care - body hygiene - hand soap
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides
active_ingredient; animal_products; Europe; pharmaceutical; residue
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Vehicle - car interior
detected; Europe; Vehicle - car interior
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - children's art and toys - modeling clay; detected; Europe
air; Arts and crafts/Office supplies - children's art and toys - modeling clay; detected; emissions; Europe
air; Arts and crafts/Office supplies - children's art and toys - modeling clay; detected; emissions; Europe
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical and food safety data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
BENZYL ALCOHOL
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL720
Max Phase
4
SOURCE
EFSA / FDA GRAS
food_additives
Food Safety Data
Same-CAS food additive or FDA GRAS records from the core public database.
Food Name
Benzyl alcohol
E Number
E1519
ADI
5 mg/kg bw
Food Category
emulsifier
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Benzyl Alcohol allowed in the EU?
Benzyl Alcohol EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: 1% as preservative in cosmetics (Annex V); labelling required >10 ppm leave-on / >100 ppm rinse-off as fragrance. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Benzyl Alcohol do in cosmetics?
Benzyl Alcohol functions as: fragrance; preservative; solvent. It is classified as a Preservative in our database. CAS number: 100-51-6.
What is the NOAEL for Benzyl Alcohol?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Benzyl Alcohol is =175 mg/kg based on a developmental toxicity study via oral route in rat. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: CIR Safety Assessment.
Is Benzyl Alcohol used outside cosmetics?
Benzyl Alcohol also appears in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Benzyl Alcohol 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
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