Is Isoeugenol safe in cosmetics?
Isoeugenol has a safety rating of "POOR" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: permitted. 3 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Isoeugenol
Also known as: 3-06-00-04993, BRN 1909602, EINECS 202-590-7, FEMA No. 2468, 1-Hydroxy-2-methoxy-4-propen-1-ylbenzene (+8 more)
INCI: ISOEUGENOL
Isoeugenol (CAS 97-54-1) is a cosmetic fragrance functioning as fragrance. NOAEL 25 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted, max >10 ppm leave-on / >100 ppm rinse-off. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in food safety data.
Function
fragrance
Editorial assessment
POOR
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
EU Max Conc.
>10 ppm leave-on / >100 ppm rinse-off
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted; classified as strong sensitizer; restrict in leave-on products
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Isoeugenol.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
3 study endpoints found for Isoeugenol. 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 | 70 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Multigeneration Reproductive | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 500 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Developmental | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 528 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Reproductive | COSMOS DB |
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Isoeugenol across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
Sensitization Profile
Contact sensitization data for Isoeugenol based on clinical patch test studies and IFRA standards.
Sensitization Rate
moderate
Allergen Class
fragrance
EU Allergen Listed
yes
Patch Test Positive Rate
2.0%
Cross-reactivity Group
fragrance-mix-I
Reaction Type
contact-dermatitis
IFRA Restricted
— max 0.02% in finished products
Source: ESSCA/IVDK
Dermal Penetration Profile
Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Isoeugenol, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.
Absorption %
20-32%
Penetration Level
dermis
Penetration Depth
epidermis/dermis
Molecular Weight
164.2 Da
Log P
2.91
Systemic Absorption
yes
Topical Bioavailability
15-28%
Safety Margin Factor
very-high
Vehicle Dependent
Yes — absorption varies by formulation
Source: SCCS Opinion
IARC Carcinogenicity
International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) monograph evaluation.
IARC Group
2B
Volume
134
Evaluation Year
2023
Sensitization AOP Dashboard
Adverse Outcome Pathway data across 5 assays (DPRA, KeratinoSens, hCLAT, LLNA, NESIL) aggregated from public sources.
DPRA Cys %
89.3%
DPRA Lys %
12.6%
KeratinoSens IC50
723.015 µM
hCLAT CV75
80.4 µg/mL
LLNA EC3
1.3%
NESIL
5039 µg/cm²
LLNA: Strong (1A)
GHS: 1A
Human: positive
Source: LLNA: Basketter & Cadby (2004) | Ashby et al. (1995); DPRA: Bauch et al. 2011 [DOI:10.1016/j.tiv.2011.05.030] | Jaworska 2011 [DOI:10.1002/jat.2869]; KS: Emter et al. 2010 [DOI:10.1016/j.taap.2010.03.009] | Bauch et al. 2011 [DOI:10.1016/j.tiv.2011.05.030]; hCLAT: Bauch et al. 2011 [DOI:10.1016/j.tiv.2011.05.030] | Ashikaga et al. 2010 [DOI:10.1177/026119291003800403]; HPPT: [57] Kligman AM (1971): Report to RIFM, 25 March, 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 | - | 0 | 250 | 250 | moderate |
| HMT | - | 0 | 5184 | - | - |
| HRIPT | - | 0 | 250 | - | - |
| HRIPT | - | 0 | 5039.37 | - | - |
| OECD_DA_Human | - | 0 | - | - | 1B (Weak sensitizer) |
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: fragrance
Receptor targets: ERα
LOEC: 50 µM
EU status: restricted (allergen; max 0.02% leave-on)
agonist (weak)
Dose-Response Data Points
| Endpoint | Target | Value | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cell proliferation, ER-mediated transcription | ERa | EC50/IC50: EC50 ~10-100 uM; LOEC: 10 uM; NOEC: 1 uM mixed | agonist (weak) |
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.
BRIN Brazil/India Cosmetics
Brazil: Restricted (Fragrance Allergen) · max >0.001% leave-on / >0.01% rinse-off requires labeling
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (1)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| GCC | restricted | 0.001 | Leave-on products |
Expanded Dermal Absorption Data
Cross-database dermal penetration: EPA Dryad physics-based, Roberts Mendeley permeation, and SCCS-aggregated measured values.
EPA Dryad Skin Absorption (physics-based)
MW: 164.204
LogP: 3.03542
Kp epidermis: 0.03864 cm/h
% dose epidermis: 0.96%
% dose stratum corneum: 0.91%
% dose dermis: 0.94%
Source: EPA Dryad Skin Absorption 2024
Roberts Skin Permeation (Mendeley 2022)
MW: 164.2
Log Kow: 2.354
Log Kp: -1.4130090971130056
Log Jmax: -6.660094607516842
Source: Roberts Cheruvu Mendeley 2022
Aggregated DA Values (1 records across 5 sources)
| Type | DA % | Method | Skin Model | SCCS Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| measured_in_vitro | 38.4 | In vitro human SABS (Bronaugh approach / RIFM protocol) | Human skin (RIFM SABS) | RIFM monograph 2016 (2016) |
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) | 0.0013% | 7a (Deodorant – not spray) | 0.0027% |
| 2 (Body spray) | 0.0004% | 7b (Deodorant spray) | 0.0027% |
| 3 (Body cream) | 0.0013% | 8 (Face cream) | 0.00044% |
| 4 (Fine fragrance) | 0.0053% | 9 (Soap) | 0.0066% |
| 5a (Body lotion) | 0.0013% | 10a (Household – non-spray) | 0.0066% |
| 5b (Face cream leave-on) | 0.0013% | 10b (Household – spray) | No Restriction% |
| 5c (Hand cream) | 0.0013% | 11a (Intimate – leave-on) | 0.00044% |
| 5d (Baby cream) | 0.00044% | 11b (Intimate – rinse) | 0.00044% |
| 6 (Mouthwash) | 0.0013% | 12 (Not for consumer exposure) | No Restriction% |
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Deodorizer
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
Processing aids not otherwise specified
Regulatory List Membership (5)
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Consumer Product Chemical
EU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for Isoeugenol — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Regulatory Flags
allergen-eu
strong-sensitizer
ifra-restricted
annex-iii-restricted
eu-labelling-required
original-26-allergen
endocrine_disruptor
eu_children_restricted
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
eu_cosing_listed
jecfa_safe
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Isoeugenol by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
3
Lowest NOAEL
70 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
528 mg/kg bw/day
COSMOS DB
Dermal Absorption
View details ->| Absorption % | Method | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 38.4 | In vitro human SABS (Bronaugh approach / RIFM protocol) | Typical cosmetic vehicle |
Known Synonyms
3-06-00-04993
BRN 1909602
EINECS 202-590-7
FEMA No. 2468
1-Hydroxy-2-methoxy-4-propen-1-ylbenzene
4-Hydroxy-3-methoxy-1-propen-1-ylbenzene
3-Methoxy-4-hydroxy-1-propen-1-ylbenzene
NCI-C60979
UNII-5M0MWY797U
1-Hydroxy-2-methoxy-4-propenylbenzene
3-Methoxy-4-hydroxypropenylbenzene
4-Hydroxy-3-methoxypropenylbenzene
Propenylguaiacol
Chemical Function
Fragrance
Flavouring and nutrient
Regulatory Lists
Europe
Cleaning products and household care - air freshener; Europe
Cleaning products and household care - air freshener; Europe
active_ingredient; Australia
Cleaning products and household care - air freshener; detected; Europe
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care - general moisturizing - hand/body lotion
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; nondetect; Personal care
detected; Europe; Personal care - make-up and related
detected; Europe; Personal care - make-up and related
Cleaning products and household care - general household cleaning - surface cleaner; Cleaning products and household care - laundry and fabric treatment; detected; Europe
consumer_product; detected; Europe
detected; Europe; Personal care - sexual wellness
detected; Europe; Personal care - sexual wellness
detected; Europe; Personal care - sexual wellness
Europe; Personal care - sexual wellness
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in food safety data.
SOURCE
EFSA / FDA GRAS
food_additives
Food Safety Data
Same-CAS food additive or FDA GRAS records from the core public database.
Food Name
ISOEUGENOL
ADI
No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent mg/kg bw
Food Category
flavoring
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Isoeugenol allowed in the EU?
Isoeugenol EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: >10 ppm leave-on / >100 ppm rinse-off. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Isoeugenol do in cosmetics?
Isoeugenol functions as: fragrance. It is classified as a Fragrance in our database. CAS number: 97-54-1.
What is the NOAEL for Isoeugenol?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Isoeugenol is 70 mg/kg bw/day based on a Multigeneration Reproductive study via oral route in rat. A total of 3 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS DB.
Is Isoeugenol used outside cosmetics?
Isoeugenol also appears in food safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Isoeugenol 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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