Moderate Cosmetic Ingredient Sensitization Data

Phenylacetaldehyde

INCI: PHENYLACETALDEHYDE

CAS Number
122-78-1 [^1_17]
Function
Fragrance (powerful floral/hyacinth note)
Safety Rating
MODERATE

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status restricted
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes FEMA 2874; GRAS for food; not specifically restricted by FDA in cosmetics

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

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
moderate
Sensitization
moderate

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Sensitization Profile

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

Sensitization Rate
low
Allergen Class
fragrance
EU Allergen Listed
yes
Patch Test Positive Rate
0.2%
Cross-reactivity Group
none
Reaction Type
contact-dermatitis
IFRA Restricted

Source: EU 2023/1545; SCCS

Expert Verdict

Reactive aldehyde that forms Schiff bases with skin proteins (sensitization mechanism); IFRA category-specific concentration limits apply; not phototoxic; must verify EU allergen declaration obligations

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Concern Level: Moderate

Regulatory Flags

potential-allergen fragrance-component ifra_fragrance fda_food_additive jecfa_safe

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Phenylacetaldehyde safe in cosmetics?

Reactive aldehyde that forms Schiff bases with skin proteins (sensitization mechanism); IFRA category-specific concentration limits apply; not phototoxic; must verify EU allergen declaration obligations The EU classifies Phenylacetaldehyde as "restricted". Safety rating: MODERATE.

Is Phenylacetaldehyde allowed in the EU?

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

What does Phenylacetaldehyde do in cosmetics?

Phenylacetaldehyde functions as: Fragrance (powerful floral/hyacinth note). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 122-78-1 [^1_17].

What is the Margin of Safety for Phenylacetaldehyde?

adequate 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 Phenylacetaldehyde compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
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Substance Compliance
Check compliance across 55 jurisdictions
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
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Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions

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