Amyl Acetate

What Is It?

Amyl Acetate and Isoamyl Acetate are solvents used to dissolve other ingredients. In cosmetics and personal care products, Amyl Acetate is used in nail polish and enamels, nail enamel removers and manicure preparations.

Why Is It Used?

Amyl Acetate and Isoamyl Acetate may be used to dissolve other ingredients. Amyl Acetate and Isoamyl Acetate are also used as a fragrance ingredients due to their pear- or banana-like aromas.

Scientific Facts

Amyl Acetate, as used in cosmetic products, is the ester of mixed isomers of Amyl Alcohol and Acetic Acid. Amyl and Isoamyl Acetates are simple molecules that occur naturally in various fruits but they are typically synthesized for commercial use.

Safety Information

The Food and Drug Administration reviewed the safety of Amyl Acetate and approved its use as an indirect food additive as a component of adhesives. The safety of Amyl Acetate and Isoamyl Acetate has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that Amyl Acetate and Isoamyl Acetate were safe as used in cosmetic products.

CIR Safety Review: The CIR Expert Panel noted that Amyl Acetate and Isoamyl Acetate were non-mutagenic in a series of mutagenicity assays. The acute oral toxicity of Amyl Acetate was very low and other studies did not indicate toxicity. No evidence of delayed contact hypersensitivity, phototoxicity, or photoallergy due to Amyl Acetate or Isoamyl Acetate was observed in human repeat insult patch test studies.

FDA: Link to the Code of Federal Regulations for Amyl Acetate
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr…

The use of Amyl Acetate and Isoamyl Acetate are permitted in Europe subject to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European Union.

Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation: 
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_p…

The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives has established an Acceptable Daily Intake of 0-3 mg Isoamyl Acetate/kg body weight. No safety concern was indicated at current levels of intake when used as a flavoring agent.
http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jeceval/jec_1138.htm

More Scientific Information

Amyl Acetate, or Pentyl Acetate, is the ester of mixed isomers of Amyl Alcohol and Acetic Acid and is used as a solvent for nitrocellulose or in combination with other solvents. Isoamyl Acetate, or Isopentyl Acetate, is primarily used as a fragrance ingredient.

Resources

Find out more about the regulation of Food Additives by the Food and Drug Administration

Food Ingredients and Packaging: http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/default.htm

Food Contact Substances: http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/PackagingFCS/defaul…

Substances Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS): http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/default.htm

Search the Code of Federal Regulations http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm

EU Cosmetics Inventory http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/