Also known as: Ethylene glycol monophenyl ether, Phenoxetol, Phenyl cellosolve, 4-06-00-00571, AI3-00752()C (+14 more)
INCI: PHENOXYETHANOL
Phenoxyethanol (CAS 122-99-6) is a cosmetic preservative functioning as Preservative. NOAEL 357 mg/kg bw/day (PDF-verified against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted, max 1.0%. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data.
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Phenoxyethanol is classified GHS Danger (H302, H318, H319, H335, H336, H320, H361) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics at max 1.0%.
US NotesPermitted; no US-specific concentration cap. EU SCCS safety confirmation at <1% includes all consumer groups. In practice, sensitive-skin leave-on products use 0.19–0.29% — well below regulatory limit. Best combined with ethylhexylglycerin (0.3–0.8%) and/or caprylyl glycol rather than used at maximum single-preservative dose. MI (methylisothiazolinone) is contraindicated for leave-on products — EU banned in leave-on since 2016; sensitization rate 6–12% in dermatitis patients.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the
Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Phenoxyethanol.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the
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Toxicological Studies
10 study endpoints found for Phenoxyethanol. 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
=2 mg/kg
intravenous
-
NOAEL study
SCCS_vision_codex
NOAEL
=2 mg/kg
intravenous
-
NOAEL study
SCCS_vision_codex
NOAEL
=2 mg/kg
intravenous
-
NOAEL study
SCCS_vision_codex
NOAEL
=2 mg/kg
intravenous
-
NOAEL study
SCCS_vision_codex
NOAEL
=2.69 mg/kg/d
dermal
rat
NOAEL study
SCCS_vision_codex
NOAEL
=2.69 mg/kg bw/day
dermal
rabbit
NOAEL study
SCCS_vision_codex
NOAEL
=2.69 mg/kg/d
dermal
rat
NOAEL study
SCCS_vision_codex
NOAEL
=2.69 mg/kg bw/day
dermal
rabbit
NOAEL study
SCCS_vision_codex
NOAEL
=2.69 mg/kg/d
dermal
rat
NOAEL study
SCCS_vision_codex
NOAEL
=2.69 mg/kg bw/day
dermal
rabbit
NOAEL study
SCCS_vision_codex
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. The substance may cause effects on the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. This may result in impaired functions.
Long-term Exposure Effects
The substance defats the skin, which may cause dryness or cracking. The substance may have 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 aerosol, through the skin and by ingestion.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Phenoxyethanol across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
SCCS NOAEL Values
NOAEL/LOAEL values cited in official SCCS opinions for Phenoxyethanol.
NOAEL
LOAEL
Route
Species
Study
DA% (SCCS)
Opinion
357 mg/kg/day
-
Dermal
Rabbit
Subchronic (repeated dose) (28 days (5 d/week; adjusted from 5/7))
80
SCCS/1575/16 (2016)
Sensitization Profile
Contact sensitization data for Phenoxyethanol based on clinical patch test studies and IFRA standards.
Sensitization Rate
low
Allergen Class
preservative
EU Allergen Listed
no
Patch Test Positive Rate
0.5%
Cross-reactivity Group
none
Reaction Type
contact-dermatitis
Source: ESSCA; IVDK; NACDG
Dermal Penetration Profile
Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Phenoxyethanol, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.
Absorption %
15-25%
Penetration Level
epidermis
Penetration Depth
epidermis/dermis
Molecular Weight
138.2 Da
Log P
1.16
Systemic Absorption
yes
Topical Bioavailability
10-20%
Safety Margin Factor
high
Vehicle Dependent
Yes — absorption varies by formulation
Source: SCCS/1575/16, CIR
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
10 toxicity values from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
Endpoint
Value
Species
Route
Duration
Source
NOAEL
=80 mg/kg-day
Rat
oral
subchronic
HESS
LOAEL
=1000 mg/kg-day
Rabbit
dermal
short-term
ECHA IUCLID
LOAEL
~1875 mg/kg-day
Mouse
oral
-
ECHA IUCLID
LOAEL
>3700 mg/kg-day
Mouse
oral
-
ECHA IUCLID
LOAEL
~1875 mg/kg-day
Mouse
oral
-
ECHA IUCLID
NOAEL
~375 mg/kg-day
Mouse
oral
-
ECHA IUCLID
NOAEL
~375 mg/kg-day
Mouse
oral
-
ECHA IUCLID
LD50
=933 mg/kg
Mouse
oral
-
ChemIDplus
LD50
=5510 mg/kg
Rabbit
dermal
-
ChemIDplus
LD50
=1260 mg/kg
Rat
oral
-
ChemIDplus
EU CLP Annex VI Harmonized Classification
Legally binding harmonized classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI.
Signal Word
Danger
Pictograms
Harmful / IrritantCorrosive
Hazard Class and Category
Acute Tox. 4; STOT SE 3; Eye Dam. 1
Hazard Statements
H302Harmful if swallowed
H335May cause respiratory irritation
H318Causes serious eye damage
Specific Concentration Limits / M-factors
oral: ATE = 1394.0 mg/kg bw
Inserted via ATP: ATP17
Sensitization AOP Dashboard
Adverse Outcome Pathway data across 5 assays (DPRA, KeratinoSens, hCLAT, LLNA, NESIL) aggregated from public sources.
DPRA Cys %
11.4%
DPRA Lys %
25.4%
KeratinoSens IC50
2000 µM
hCLAT CV75
1000 µg/mL
NESIL
6750 µg/cm²
GHS: 1BHuman: positive
Source: DPRA: Hoffmann et al., 2018; KS: No reference provided in NICEATM database; hCLAT: No reference provided in NICEATM database; HPPT: [321] RIFM (1982): RIFM report number 1643, January 13, unpublished.
HRIPT Human Patch Test Studies
4 human repeat insult patch tests aggregated from dermatological literature.
Test Type
N
Sensitized
Dose µg/cm²
NESIL µg/cm²
Potency
HMT
-
0
6750
-
-
HMT
-
0
6750
-
-
HRIPT
-
0
8266.68
-
-
HRIPT
-
0
12000
-
-
Endocrine Disruptor Evidence (Expanded)
Cross-referenced EDC classifications, mechanism data, and dose-response evidence from EDLists, SIN List, and cosmetic-specific detail sources.
Under investigationEvidence: Limited(2026)
Health effects:Yes
Affected pathways:Estrogenic
Regulatory framework:BPR
Source list: II
Cosmetic-Specific Mechanism
Category:preservative
Receptor targets:ERα (weak)
LOEC:100 µM
EU status:restricted (max 1%)
weak agonist
Dose-Response Data Points
Endpoint
Target
Value
Direction
NOAEL_development
developmental
486 mg/kg/day
-
NOAEL_reproduction
reproductive
400 mg/kg/day
-
dermal_absorption_rinseoff
skin
37% %
-
dermal_absorption_leaveon
skin
78–81% %
-
ERα agonistic activity screening
ERα
EC50/IC50: No significant ER agonism at non-cytotoxic concentrations in most assays; some studies show LOEC ~100 µM; LOEC: ~100 µM (reported in some studies); NOEC: not established mixed
EC50/IC50: In vitro EC50 not established; LOEC ~1 mg/L (zebrafish thyroid gene expression); LOEC: ~1 mg/L (zebrafish); NOEC: not established mixed
thyroid disruptor (suggestive)
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
10,000 - 100,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Hazard classification:Restricted (Annex XVII)
EU CosIng Annex Listing
European Commission CosIng database Annex references per Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
Annex V — Permitted Preservatives
Max: 1.0%
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.
KR Korea MFDS Annex 2 (Restricted)
Category: Preservative. Max: 1.0%. —
SA Saudi SFDA (V - Preservatives)
Max: 0.01.
JPKR Japan/Korea Cosmetics
Japan (Positive (Preservative)): max 1.0
Korea (Restricted): max 1.0
Japan (Restricted): max 1.0%
BRIN Brazil/India Cosmetics
Brazil: Permitted Preservative · max 1,0%
India: Permitted Preservative · max 0.01
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (7)
Jurisdiction
Status
Max %
Product Type
JP
restricted
1.0%
All cosmetics
CN
permitted_preservative
1
All cosmetics
IN
permitted_preservative
1.0
all cosmetics
AU
restricted
1.0
preservatives
GCC
restricted
1.0
All cosmetics
BR
permitted_preservative
1
-
ASEAN
permitted_preservative
1.0%
All products
Expanded Dermal Absorption Data
Cross-database dermal penetration: EPA Dryad physics-based, Roberts Mendeley permeation, and SCCS-aggregated measured values.
Aggregated DA Values (3 records across 5 sources)
Type
DA %
Method
Skin Model
SCCS Ref
measured_sccs_opinion
80.0%
-
-
SCCS/1633/21
measured_sccs_opinion
47.0%
-
-
SCCS/1575/16
measured_sccs_opinion
47.0%
-
-
SCCS/1575/16
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
Product Category
Typical Range
Max Reported
Source
Face Cream
0.5–1
1
CIR/VCRP
Body Lotion
0.5–1
1
CIR/VCRP
Shampoo
0.5–1
1
CIR/VCRP
Serum
0.5–1
1
CIR/VCRP
Conditioner
0.5–1
1
CIR/VCRP
Additional Ingredient Properties
10 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (3)
Carcinogen Classification
No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).
Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
ICSC Safety Card
0538
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Skin Eye Respiratory Irritation
A skin and severe eye irritant.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
AntioxidantBiocideChemical reaction regulatorFilm formerFlavouring and nutrientFlow promoterFragranceNo specific technical functionPlasticizerPreservative
Regulatory List Membership (8)
EU Regulated in Personal CareEU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)IFRA Fragrance Transparency ListEPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)FDA Indirect Food Contact AdditivesConsumer Product ChemicalEU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Phenoxyethanol.
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - general arts and crafts supplies - arts and crafts adhesive; detected; EuropeArts and crafts/Office supplies - general arts and crafts supplies - arts and crafts paint; detected; Europeair; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's productsartificial_sweat; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's productsartificial_saliva; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goodsair; detected; emissions; Europe; Personal care - linimentair; Arts and crafts/Office supplies - fabric treatment and dye; detected; emissions; Europeartificial_saliva; detected; emissions; Europe; Other indirect contact consumer goodsartificial_saliva; detected; emissions; Europe; Other indirect contact consumer goodsdetected; Europe; Personal care - linimentdetected; Personal care; Southeast AsiaArts and crafts/Office supplies - fabric treatment and dye; detectedartificial_saliva; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's productsactive_ingredient; Europe; Pesticidesdetected; Europe; Personal care - nails - nail polishEurope; Specialty occupational productsdetected; Europe; Personal care - sexual wellnessdetected; Europe; Personal care - sexual wellness
Australian Status
AICIS status:listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical data.
SOURCEChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERSDB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Phenoxyethanol has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: permitted. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Is Phenoxyethanol allowed in the EU?
Phenoxyethanol EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: 1.0%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Phenoxyethanol do in cosmetics?
Phenoxyethanol functions as: Preservative. It is classified as a Preservative in our database. CAS number: 122-99-6.
What is the NOAEL for Phenoxyethanol?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Phenoxyethanol is =2 mg/kg based on a NOAEL study study via intravenous route in rat. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: SCCS_vision_codex.
Is Phenoxyethanol used outside cosmetics?
Phenoxyethanol 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 Phenoxyethanol have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Phenoxyethanol is classified GHS Danger (H302, H318, H319, H335, H336, H320, H361) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics at max 1.0%.
Compliance Tools
Check Phenoxyethanol compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Scan any product label with Piro — our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.