Good Cosmetic Ingredient NOAEL Data GHS Classified

Phenylethyl Alcohol

INCI: PHENETHYL ALCOHOL

CAS Number

60-12-8

Function

Fragrance, Antimicrobial Preservative, Masking Agent, Preservative Booster

Safety Rating

GOOD

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status permitted

🇺🇸 US Status permitted

US Notes FEMA GRAS No. 2858; CIR safe up to 1.0%; no FDA cosmetic concentration limits

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

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)

adequate

Dermal Absorption

low

Sensitization

low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Toxicological Studies

8 study endpoints found for Phenylethyl Alcohol. 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	2500 mg/kg bw/day	oral	rat	Subchronic	COSMOS_DB
NOAEL	51 mg/kg bw/day	oral	rat	Subchronic	COSMOS_DB
NOAEL	4.3 mg/kg bw/day	oral	rat	Developmental	COSMOS_DB
LOAEL	4.30000019073 mg/kg bw/day	oral	rat	Developmental	COSMOS_DB
dose_tested	2500 mg/kg bw/day	oral	rat	Subchronic	COSMOS_DB
NOAEL	510 mg/kg bw/day	dermal	rat	dermal	REACH
NOAEL	510 mg/kg bw/day	dermal	rat	dermal	REACH
NOAEL	510 mg/kg bw/day	dermal	rat	dermal	REACH

GHS Hazard Classification

Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.

Signal Word

DANGER

Pictograms

skull;toxic; cancer;health haz

Hazard Statements

Harmful if swallowed Toxic in contact with skin Causes skin and eye irritation Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child May be harmful if swallowed and enters airways

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. If swallowed the substance may cause vomiting and could result in aspiration pneumonitis.

Long-term Exposure Effects

Animal tests show that this substance possibly causes toxicity to human reproduction or development.

Routes of Exposure

The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol or vapour, through the skin and by ingestion.

Expert Verdict

Permitted in EU without concentration limits and cannot be formally declared as a preservative; CIR safe-use ceiling of 1.0% and IFRA limits are the operative guardrails.

⚠️

Concern Level: Low

Regulatory Flags

epa_safer_alternative ifra_fragrance fda_food_additive

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Phenylethyl Alcohol safe in cosmetics?

Permitted in EU without concentration limits and cannot be formally declared as a preservative; CIR safe-use ceiling of 1.0% and IFRA limits are the operative guardrails. The EU classifies Phenylethyl Alcohol as "permitted". Safety rating: GOOD. 8 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.

Is Phenylethyl Alcohol allowed in the EU?

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

What does Phenylethyl Alcohol do in cosmetics?

Phenylethyl Alcohol functions as: Fragrance, Antimicrobial Preservative, Masking Agent, Preservative Booster. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 60-12-8.

What is the Margin of Safety for Phenylethyl Alcohol?

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.

What is the NOAEL for Phenylethyl Alcohol?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Phenylethyl Alcohol is 2500 mg/kg bw/day based on a Subchronic study via oral route in rat. A total of 8 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.

Is Phenylethyl Alcohol classified as hazardous under GHS?

Phenylethyl Alcohol carries a GHS signal word of "DANGER". Hazard statements: Harmful if swallowed Toxic in contact with skin Causes skin and eye irritation Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child May be harmful if swallowed and enters airways. 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.

Compliance Tools

Check Phenylethyl Alcohol compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder

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82 Allergen Checker

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Substance Compliance

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MoS Calculator

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Heavy Metal Limits

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