Phenylacetonitrile

INCI: PHENYLACETONITRILE

CAS Number
140-29-4
Function
Perfuming (fragrance ingredient; also known as benzyl cyanide)
Safety Rating
POOR

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status restricted
US Notes DEA List I controlled chemical precursor โ€” purchase/import triggers reporting requirements. FDA has no specific cosmetic ban but acute toxicity profile is prohibitive for most applications

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

Safety Data

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

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Acutely toxic with H301 (oral), H311 (dermal), and H331 (inhalation) classifications. Lachrymator and DEA List I controlled precursor. Not recommended for leave-on cosmetics without robust justification.

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Concern Level: High

Regulatory Flags

fragrance-component eu_banned_cosmetics eu_cosing_listed

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Phenylacetonitrile safe in cosmetics?

Acutely toxic with H301 (oral), H311 (dermal), and H331 (inhalation) classifications. Lachrymator and DEA List I controlled precursor. Not recommended for leave-on cosmetics without robust justification. The EU classifies Phenylacetonitrile as "permitted". Safety rating: POOR.

Is Phenylacetonitrile allowed in the EU?

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

What does Phenylacetonitrile do in cosmetics?

Phenylacetonitrile functions as: Perfuming (fragrance ingredient; also known as benzyl cyanide). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 140-29-4.

What is the Margin of Safety for Phenylacetonitrile?

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.

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