Is Diphenyl Ether safe in cosmetics?
Diphenyl Ether has a safety rating of "MODERATE" in our database. EU status: prohibited. US status: permitted. 1 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Diphenyl Ether
Also known as: Benzene, 1,1'-oxybis-, Phenyl ether, Phenoxybenzene, 4-06-00-00568, BRN 1364620 (+15 more)
INCI: DIPHENYL ETHER
Diphenyl Ether (CAS 101-84-8) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Masking agent / perfuming agent. NOAEL 15 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: prohibited; GHS signal word WARNING. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 101-84-8 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Diphenyl Ether is prohibited in EU cosmetics but has active industrial GHS classifications (H319, H400, H410, H411, H360Df, H303, H316, H320).
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Function
Masking agent / perfuming agent
Safety Rating
MODERATE
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
phenoxybenzene
InChIKey
USIUVYZYUHIAEV-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
prohibited
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted — not restricted under 21 CFR for cosmetics
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Diphenyl Ether.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
1 study endpoint found for Diphenyl Ether. 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 | =1000 mg/kg bw/day | dermal | Rat | subchronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Signal Word
WARNING
Pictograms
EnviroAqua
Hazard Statements
May be harmful if swallowed Causes mild skin irritation Causes eye irritation Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is mildly irritating to the eyes, skin and upper respiratory tract.
Long-term Exposure Effects
Repeated or prolonged contact with skin may cause dermatitis.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Diphenyl Ether across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
HRIPT Human Patch Test Studies
2 human repeat insult patch tests aggregated from dermatological literature.
| Test Type | N | Sensitized | Dose µg/cm² | NESIL µg/cm² | Potency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMT | - | 0 | 2592 | - | - |
| HMT | - | 0 | 2592 | - | - |
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
1,000 - 10,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (3)
Endocrine Disruptors
Potential endocrine disrupting compound
Source: NORMAN Suspect List Exchange
ICSC Safety Card
0791
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Skin Eye Respiratory Irritation
Inhalation may cause irritation of eyes, skin, and respiratory system. | Contact of liquid with eyes causes mild irritation. Prolonged exposure of skin to liquid causes reddening and irritation. | A skin and eye irritant.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Regulatory (4)
JECFA Number
1255
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
JECFA Evaluation
1,1'-OXYBIS-BENZENE | 2003 | No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent | TRS 922-JECFA 61/86 | FAS 52-JECFA 61/335
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
JECFA Evaluation
DIPHENYL ETHER | 2003 | No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent | TRS 922-JECFA 61/86 | FAS 52-JECFA 61/335
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
JECFA Evaluation
PHENOXYBENZENE | 2003 | No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent | TRS 922-JECFA 61/86 | FAS 52-JECFA 61/335
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Deodorizer
Flame retardant
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
Regulatory List Membership (4)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Consumer Product Chemical
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Diphenyl Ether.
Regulatory Flags
fragrance-component
epa_safer_alternative
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
jecfa_safe
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Diphenyl Ether by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
7
Lowest NOAEL
500 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
1000 mg/kg bw/day
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
ECHA_REACH_reach_study_results_dossiers_23-05-2023.zip
Known Synonyms
Benzene, 1,1'-oxybis-
Phenyl ether
Phenoxybenzene
4-06-00-00568
BRN 1364620
EINECS 202-981-2
Ether, diphenyl-
FEMA No. 3667
UNII-3O695R5M1U
1,1'-Oxybis-Benzene
1,1'-Oxybisbenzene, 9CI
1,1'-Oxydibenzene
1,1'-oxybis(benzene)
1,1-Oxybisbenzene
2,2',3-Trihydroxydiphenylether
Diphenyl-Ether
Diphenyloxid
FEMA 3667
Geranium crystals
Oxydiphenyl
Chemical Function
Fragrance
Deodorizer
Flavouring and nutrient
Regulatory Lists
IFRA Transparency
Europe
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
SCIL (9/2019)
consumer_product
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
DIPHENYLETHER
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL38934
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Diphenyl Ether allowed in the EU?
Diphenyl Ether EU regulatory status: prohibited. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Diphenyl Ether do in cosmetics?
Diphenyl Ether functions as: Masking agent / perfuming agent. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 101-84-8.
What is the NOAEL for Diphenyl Ether?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Diphenyl Ether is =1000 mg/kg bw/day based on a subchronic study via dermal route in Rat. Source: ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID.
Is Diphenyl Ether classified as hazardous under GHS?
Diphenyl Ether carries a GHS signal word of "WARNING". Hazard statements: May be harmful if swallowed Causes mild skin irritation Causes eye irritation Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. This classification is based on the ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Card and ECHA C&L inventory data. Note: GHS classification applies to the pure substance — at cosmetic use concentrations, hazard thresholds may not be met.
Is Diphenyl Ether used outside cosmetics?
Diphenyl Ether also appears in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Does Diphenyl Ether have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Diphenyl Ether is prohibited in EU cosmetics but has active industrial GHS classifications (H319, H400, H410, H411, H360Df, H303, H316, H320).
Compliance Tools
Check Diphenyl Ether 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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