Benzyl alcohol

Benzyl alcohol

INCI BENZYL ALCOHOLEC number 202-859-9Role Perfuming

Benzyl alcohol is an aromatic alcohol of plant or synthetic origin. It fulfills several roles in cosmetics: fragrance, thickening agent, preservative, and solvent.

PerfumingViscosity controllingRestricted use
Ingredient

Roles & functions

Perfuming — Adds a scent to the product or masks the odour of raw materials.

Viscosity controlling — Increases viscosity and gives the product its texture.

Preservative — Limits the growth of micro-organisms to preserve the product.

Solvent — Dissolves other ingredients to incorporate them into the formula.

Safety

Safety limit not to exceed

PopulationLimit / dayType of referenceSource
Adult · general population4 mg/kg bw/dayAcceptable Daily Intake (ADI)EFSA OpenFoodTox 3.0 (ADI)

Official reference limit, for information only, this is not personalised advice. Ask a pharmacist about your situation.

Last verified :

Regulatory framework

What the authorities say

AuthorityStatus
Commission européenne (CosIng, Règl. 1223/2009)Autorisé sous conditions
CLP classification (Reg. 1272/2008)No CMR classification
ECHA — endocrine disruptor (human health)Not identified as an endocrine disruptor
ECHA — Candidate List (SVHC, REACH Art. 59)Not on the Candidate List (SVHC)
European Commission (Reg. 1223/2009, Annex III)Cosmetic allergen subject to labelling (Annex III)
European Commission (EU catalogue of nanomaterials, Reg. 1223/2009)No referenced nanoform
European Commission — Annex III (Reg. 1223/2009) — maj Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:37:23 GMTPermitted subject to restrictions (Annex III) — (a) Solvent (b) Fragrance/ aromatic compositions/ their raw materials — For purposes other than inhibiting the development of microorganisms in the product. This purpose has to be apparent from the presentation of the product. The presence of the substance shall be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1), point (g), when its concentration exceeds: — 0,001 % in leave-on products — 0,01 % in rinse-off products.
European Commission — Annex V (Reg. 1223/2009) — maj Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:37:23 GMTAuthorised preservative (Annex V) — max 1.0 %

Last verified :

Products

Products containing it

Statistics

In Lou’s database

321
products listed
Most frequent categoriesAnti-aging · Masks · Shower gels & soaps · Hydration · Leave-in & oils
Most frequent brandsNuxe · Horace · Mkl Green Nature · Apivita · Avril
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This information is reported factually and with attribution (authorities and publications cited). It does not constitute medical advice, for your situation, ask a pharmacist or a healthcare professional for advice.

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