Poor Fragrance Sensitization Data

Musk Xylene

INCI: MUSK XYLENE

CAS Number
81-15-2
Function
Fragrance fixative (nitro-musk, powdery-musky odor)
Safety Rating
POOR

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status restricted
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes No federal US ban. IFRA 51st Amendment (Oct 2025 full compliance deadline) actively encourages replacement with macrocyclic alternatives such as ambrettolide and cashmeran.

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

Safety Data

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

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Sensitization Profile

Contact sensitization data for Musk Xylene based on clinical patch test studies and IFRA standards.

Sensitization Rate
low
Allergen Class
fragrance
EU Allergen Listed
no
Patch Test Positive Rate
0.1%
Cross-reactivity Group
nitromusk-group
Reaction Type
contact-dermatitis
IFRA Restricted

Source: IFRA/SCCS

Expert Verdict

One of only two commercially significant nitro musks remaining as of 2025, with production declining sharply in Europe. Documented phototoxicity and photomutagenicity distinguish it from musk ketone. IFRA 51st Amendment (June 2023, full compliance Oct 2025) encourages full replacement with safer macrocyclic musks. Avoid in modern formulations.

⚠️
Concern Level: High

Regulatory Flags

nitro-musk phototoxic photomutagenic bioaccumulation environmental-persistence ifra-phase-out eu-restricted endocrine_disruptor eu_cosing_listed

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Musk Xylene safe in cosmetics?

One of only two commercially significant nitro musks remaining as of 2025, with production declining sharply in Europe. Documented phototoxicity and photomutagenicity distinguish it from musk ketone. IFRA 51st Amendment (June 2023, full compliance Oct 2025) encourages full replacement with safer macrocyclic musks. Avoid in modern formulations. The EU classifies Musk Xylene as "restricted". Safety rating: POOR.

Is Musk Xylene allowed in the EU?

Musk Xylene EU regulatory status: restricted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Musk Xylene do in cosmetics?

Musk Xylene functions as: Fragrance fixative (nitro-musk, powdery-musky odor). It is classified as a Fragrance in our database. CAS number: 81-15-2.

What is the Margin of Safety for Musk Xylene?

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 Musk Xylene compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

🔬
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
 🧪
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across 55 jurisdictions
 🧮
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
 ⚗️
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions

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