Good Cosmetic Ingredient

Butyl Salicylate

INCI: BUTYL SALICYLATE

CAS Number
2052-78-8
Function
Fragrance ingredient with floral/balsamic note; minor UV absorber
Safety Rating
GOOD

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status prohibited
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes Typically adequate at fragrance use levels (≤0.5% in finished product)

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
not established
Dermal Absorption
moderate
Sensitization
moderate

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Butyl salicylate may hydrolyze to free salicylic acid on skin; if significant, Annex III concentration limits for salicylic acid could apply. Not recommended in products for children under 3 if salicylic acid release is confirmed. Phototoxicity assessment recommended.

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Concern Level: Moderate

Regulatory Flags

fragrance-component ifra_fragrance fda_food_additive jecfa_safe

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Butyl Salicylate safe in cosmetics?

Butyl salicylate may hydrolyze to free salicylic acid on skin; if significant, Annex III concentration limits for salicylic acid could apply. Not recommended in products for children under 3 if salicylic acid release is confirmed. Phototoxicity assessment recommended. The EU classifies Butyl Salicylate as "prohibited". Safety rating: GOOD.

Is Butyl Salicylate allowed in the EU?

Butyl Salicylate EU regulatory status: prohibited. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Butyl Salicylate do in cosmetics?

Butyl Salicylate functions as: Fragrance ingredient with floral/balsamic note; minor UV absorber. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 2052-78-8.

What is the Margin of Safety for Butyl Salicylate?

not established The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

Compliance Tools

Check Butyl Salicylate compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
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Substance Compliance
Check compliance across 55 jurisdictions
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
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Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions

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