Butylphenyl Methylpropional

What Is It?

Butylphenyl methylpropional – also called p-tert-butyl-alpha-methylhydrocinnamic aldehyde (common fragrance ingredient name: lilial) – is a colorless to pale yellow liquid synthetic fragrance compound. Although many widely used fragrance ingredients in laundry and cleaning products contain lilial as a component, its use in cosmetics and personal care products is restricted. It may also be used in biocidal products, coatings and paints, fillers/plasters, ink/toners, polishes/wax blends and scented articles (clothes, eraser, toys, paper articles).

Why Is It Used?

Butylphenyl methylpropional functions as a fragrance ingredient with a powerful, floral-fresh odor.

Scientific Facts

Butylphenyl Methylpropional is a colorless to pale yellow liquid synthetic fragrance compound.

Safety Information

United States

IFRA

The safety of butylphenyl methylpropional has been evaluated by the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials Expert Panel (REXPAN). Based on this evaluation, an International Fragrance Association (IFRA) Standard was established in 2020 (Amendment 49), prohibiting the use of butylphenyl methylpropional in finished product application with oral and lips exposure, and restricting its use in other cosmetics products.

Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety

The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety defers review of individual fragrance ingredients to the IFRA program, as is the case for butylphenyl methylpropional, which has no significant uses in cosmetics and personal care products other than as a fragrance.

European Union (EU)

Butylphenyl methylpropional is listed on Annex II (list of substances prohibited in cosmetic products) of the Cosmetics Regulation of the EU.

EU Ban

Butylphenyl methylpropional (lilial) is classified as a reproductive toxicant according to the EU Regulation on the classification, labelling, and packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP).

In 2017, the EU’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) reviewed the safety of butylphenyl methylpropional as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics products. Based on reproductive toxicity findings in laboratory studies and a detailed aggregate exposure assessment arising from the use of different product types together, SCCS concluded that butylphenyl methylpropional cannot be considered safe.

In light of the 2017 SCCS opinion, the EU Commission banned the use of butylphenyl methylpropional in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in the EU in May 2020, effective March 1, 2022.

More information about the safety of fragrances.

More Scientific Information

Butylphenyl methylpropional functions as a fragrance ingredient with a powerful, floral-fresh odor.

Resources

Search Title 21 of the FDA Code of Federal Regulations

Link to the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials

EU Cosmetics Inventory