Methyl Benzoate

What Is It?

Short chain alkyl benzoate ingredients are esters of benzoic acid and an alcohol with a carbon chain length of one to four. These ingredients include Methyl Benzoate, Ethyl Benzoate, Propyl Benzoate, Butyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Benzoate and Isobutyl Benzoate. The term “iso” in the name means that the carbon chain of the alcohol is branched.

Why Is It Used?

Methyl Benzoate, Ethyl Benzoate, Propyl Benzoate, Butyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Benzoate and Isobutyl Benzoate may be used in cosmetics and personal care products as fragrance ingredients and preservatives. Methyl Benzoate and Isobutyl Benzoate may also be used as solvents.

Follow this link for more information about how preservatives protect cosmetics and personal care products.

More information about fragrances.

Scientific Facts

Methyl Benzoate, Ethyl Benzoate, Propyl Benzoate, Butyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Benzoate and Isobutyl Benzoate are fragrant colorless liquids that are not soluble in water.

Safety Information

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permits Methyl Benzoate, Ethyl Benzoate, Propyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Benzoate and Isobutyl Benzoate to be used as flavoring agents for direct addition to food. Butyl Benzoate is permitted for use as an indirect food additive as a component of adhesives.

The safety of Methyl Benzoate, Ethyl Benzoate, Propyl Benzoate, Butyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Benzoate and Isobutyl Benzoate has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel.

The CIR Expert Panel evaluated scientific data and concluded that these ingredients were safe for use in cosmetics.

CIR Safety Review:

The CIR Expert Panel reviewed safety data on Methyl Benzoate, Ethyl Benzoate, Propyl Benzoate, Butyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Benzoate and Isobutyl Benzoate as well as data on the components of these ingredients including benzoic acid, methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, butyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol. Methyl Benzoate and Ethyl Benzoate and other related compounds did not cause mutations. Tested undiluted, Methyl Benzoate, Ethyl Benzoate, Butyl Benzoate and Isopropyl Benzoate were considered mild eye and skin irritants. The short chain alkyl benzoate ingredients were not dermal sensitizers.

Based on the information reviewed, the CIR Expert Panel concluded that Methyl Benzoate, Ethyl Benzoate, Propyl Benzoate, Butyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Benzoate and Isobutyl Benzoate were safe as used in cosmetic products.

Link to FDA Code of Federal Regulations

The European Union lists salts and esters of benzoic acid (including Methyl Benzoate, Ethyl Benzoate, Propyl Benzoate, Butyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Benzoate and Isobutyl Benzoate) as preservatives that may be safety used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 0.5% (See Annex IV).

Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation: http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_packaging/co0013_en.htm

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/default.htm

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/