Excellent Active Ingredient NOAEL Data GHS Classified

Triethyl Citrate

INCI: TRIETHYL CITRATE

CAS Number
77-93-0
Function
deodorant active; antimicrobial; pH regulator; fragrance fixative; plasticizer
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
EU Max Conc. 0.3-1%
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes Cosmetic ingredient; GRAS for food use (FDA); deodorant action via bacterial energy metabolism disruption; cosmetic classification (not OTC drug)

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

6 study endpoints found for Triethyl Citrate. 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 4000 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 280 mg/kg bw/day oral cat Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 284 mg/kg bw/day oral dog Chronic COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 226 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Carcinogenicity COSMOS_DB
dose_tested 4000 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
dose_tested 284 mg/kg bw/day oral dog Chronic COSMOS_DB

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 and respiratory tract.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol and by ingestion.

Expert Verdict

Antimicrobial deodorant active with enzymatic metabolic disruption mechanism. Bacteria consume triethyl citrate, triggering bacterial esterase-mediated hydrolysis to release citric acid and ethanol, both of which inhibit the bacterial Krebs cycle and disrupt energy metabolism without broad-spectrum microbiome disruption. Operates optimally at pH 5 with minimal sensitization potential and excellent tolerability. GRAS food-grade compound suitable for microbiome-friendly deodorant positioning.

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Concern Level: Low

Regulatory Flags

deodorant-active antimicrobial krebs-cycle-inhibitor enzymatic-mechanism ph-regulator fragrance-fixative aluminum-free microbiome-friendly cosmetic-classification gras epa_safer_alternative ifra_fragrance fda_food_additive

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Triethyl Citrate safe in cosmetics?

Antimicrobial deodorant active with enzymatic metabolic disruption mechanism. Bacteria consume triethyl citrate, triggering bacterial esterase-mediated hydrolysis to release citric acid and ethanol, both of which inhibit the bacterial Krebs cycle and disrupt energy metabolism without broad-spectrum microbiome disruption. Operates optimally at pH 5 with minimal sensitization potential and excellent tolerability. GRAS food-grade compound suitable for microbiome-friendly deodorant positioning. The EU classifies Triethyl Citrate as "permitted". Safety rating: EXCELLENT. 6 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.

Is Triethyl Citrate allowed in the EU?

Triethyl Citrate EU regulatory status: permitted. Maximum allowed concentration: 0.3-1%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Triethyl Citrate do in cosmetics?

Triethyl Citrate functions as: deodorant active; antimicrobial; pH regulator; fragrance fixative; plasticizer. It is classified as a Active Ingredient in our database. CAS number: 77-93-0.

What is the Margin of Safety for Triethyl Citrate?

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 Triethyl Citrate?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Triethyl Citrate is 4000 mg/kg bw/day based on a Short Term Toxicity study via oral route in rat. A total of 6 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.

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