Is Methyl Benzoate safe in cosmetics?
Methyl Benzoate 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.
Methyl Benzoate
Also known as: EINECS 202-259-7, Essence of niobe, FEMA No. 2683, Oil of niobe, Methylester kyseliny benzoove (+1 more)
INCI: METHYL BENZOATE (BENZOIC ACID, METHYL ESTER)
Methyl Benzoate (CAS 93-58-3) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Fragrance, Preservative, Skin Conditioning (Emollient), Solvent. NOAEL 250 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted; 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 93-58-3 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Fragrance, Preservative, Skin Conditioning (Emollient), Solvent
Safety Rating
MODERATE
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
methyl benzoate
InChIKey
QPJVMBTYPHYUOC-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Allowed. Also has FEMA GRAS status for flavor use. No specific FDA prohibition or restriction for cosmetic use
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Methyl Benzoate.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
10 study endpoints found for Methyl Benzoate. 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 | =125 mg/kg/d | oral | rat | repeated dose toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =125 mg/kg/d | oral | rat | repeated dose toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =125 mg/kg/d | oral | rat | repeated dose toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =125 mg/kg/d | oral | rat | repeated dose toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =130 mg/kg/d | - | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =130 mg/kg/d | - | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =130 mg/kg/d | - | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =130 mg/kg/d | - | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =175 mg/kg | oral | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =175 mg/kg | oral | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Signal Word
WARNING
Hazard Statements
Combustible liquid Harmful to aquatic life
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance may cause effects on the central nervous system. This may result in impaired functions.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its vapour.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Methyl Benzoate across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
HRIPT Human Patch Test Studies
1 human repeat insult patch test aggregated from dermatological literature.
| Test Type | N | Sensitized | Dose µg/cm² | NESIL µg/cm² | Potency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMT | - | 0 | 2592 | - | - |
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
100 - 1,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (2)
ICSC Safety Card
1187
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Skin Eye Respiratory Irritation
Irritates the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. | A skin and eye irritant.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Regulatory (5)
JECFA Number
851
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
JECFA Evaluation
METHYL BENZENECARBOXYLATE | 2001 | No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent | TRS 909-JECFA 57/73 | FAS 48-JECFA 57/227
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
JECFA Evaluation
NIOBE OIL | 2001 | No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent | TRS 909-JECFA 57/73 | FAS 48-JECFA 57/227
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
JECFA Evaluation
METHYL BENZOATE | 2001 | No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent | TRS 909-JECFA 57/73 | FAS 48-JECFA 57/227
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
JECFA Evaluation
OIL OF NIOBE | 2001 | No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent | TRS 909-JECFA 57/73 | FAS 48-JECFA 57/227
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Biocide
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
No specific technical function
Preservative
Softener and conditioner
Solvent
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 Methyl Benzoate.
Regulatory Flags
fragrance-component
preservative
epa_safer_alternative
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
jecfa_safe
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Methyl Benzoate by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
20
Lowest NOAEL
125
Highest NOAEL
1000
Units vary across source rows: mg/kg/d, mg/kg
CIR_vision_codex
Known Synonyms
EINECS 202-259-7
Essence of niobe
FEMA No. 2683
Oil of niobe
Methylester kyseliny benzoove
UNII-6618K1VJ9T
Chemical Function
Solvent
Preservative
Softener and conditioner
Fragrance
No specific technical function
Flavouring and nutrient
Regulatory Lists
artificial_saliva; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - general arts and crafts supplies - arts and crafts paint; detected; Europe
detected; Europe; Personal care - sexual wellness
detected; Europe; Personal care - sexual wellness
air; Cleaning products and household care - laundry and fabric treatment; detected; emissions
air; Cleaning products and household care - air freshener; detected; emissions
Australia; Food and drug - smoking-related products
IFRA Transparency
Europe
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
SCIL (9/2019)
consumer_product
active_ingredient; animal_products; Europe; pharmaceutical; residue
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
METHYL BENZOATE
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL16435
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Methyl Benzoate allowed in the EU?
Methyl Benzoate EU regulatory status: restricted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Methyl Benzoate do in cosmetics?
Methyl Benzoate functions as: Fragrance, Preservative, Skin Conditioning (Emollient), Solvent. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 93-58-3.
What is the NOAEL for Methyl Benzoate?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Methyl Benzoate is =125 mg/kg/d based on a repeated dose toxicity study via oral route in rat. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: CIR_vision_codex.
Is Methyl Benzoate classified as hazardous under GHS?
Methyl Benzoate carries a GHS signal word of "WARNING". Hazard statements: Combustible liquid Harmful to aquatic life. 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 Methyl Benzoate used outside cosmetics?
Methyl Benzoate 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.
Compliance Tools
Check Methyl Benzoate 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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