

BENZOIC ACID, 2-HYDROXY-, PHENYLMETHYL ESTER; BENZYL 2-HYDROXYBENZOATE; BENZYL O-HYDROXYBENZOATE; 2-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, BENZYL ESTER; PHENYLMETHYL 2-HYDROXYBENZOATE; SALICYLIC ACID, BENZYL ESTER; PHENYLMETHYL ESTER BENZOIC ACID, 2-HYDROXY-; BENZYL ESTER 2-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID; BENZYL ESTER SALICYLIC ACID; 2-HYDROXY- PHENYLMETHYL ESTER BENZOIC ACID; BENZOIC ACID, 2HYDROXY, PHENYLMETHYL ESTER


Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to this ingredient -- not the products containing it -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.
| This ingredient: | |
![]() | Cancer |
![]() | Developmental/reproductive toxicity |
![]() | Violations, restrictions & warnings |
![]() | Allergies/immunotoxicity |
![]() | Contamination concerns |
![]() | Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Endocrine disruption, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Ecotoxicology, Data gaps |
|
See products containing BENZYL SALICYLATE | |
About BENZYL SALICYLATE: Benzyl Salicylate is the ester of benzyl alcohol and salicylic acid.
BENZYL SALICYLATE has reported used in the following product types: hair color and bleaching (107); fragrance for women (71); facial moisturizer/treatment (53); moisturizer (45); styling gel/lotion (44); conditioner (39); lip gloss (36); body spray (30); anti-aging (29); shampoo (23)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Known human immune system toxicant | EU Banned and Restricted Fragrances |
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Recommended restricted in cosmetics - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Fragrance subject to restrictions: safe only within recommended use or concentration limitsn) | International Fragrance Association Codes & Standards |
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Associated with endocrine disruption | Charles AK, Darbre PD, 2009 |
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at high doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | RTECS®- Food and Cosmetics Toxicology 1973 | |
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| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List |
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel | ||
| 19 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical see search results -> | PubMed |
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be persistent | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Everything Added to Food |
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | BENZYL SALICYLATE | • Fully up-to-date toxicology information has been sought. |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | BENZOIC ACID, 2-HYDROXY-, PHENYLMETHYL ESTER | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for suspected aquatic toxicity. |
| EU Banned and Restricted Fragrances | BENZYL SALICYLATE | Fragrance chemical, which, according to existing knowledge, is frequently reported as a well-recognised consumer allergen |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | BENZYL SALICYLATE | •The chemical has been reported as used in fragrance compounds by IFRA affiliated member companies in 2008. |
| International Fragrance Association Codes & Standards | BENZYL SALICYLATE | •Fragrance subject to restrictions: safe only within recommended use or concentration limits |
| Charles AK, Darbre PD, 2009 | BENZYL SALICYLATE | Benzyl salicylate demonstrated estrogenic activity by increasing the proliferation of breast cancer cells in vitro. |
| RTECS®- Food and Cosmetics Toxicology 1973 | BENZYL SALICYLATE | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). 2008. EAFUS [Everything Added to Food]: A Food Additive Database. FDA Office of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| EU Banned and Restricted Fragrances | SCCPNFP (Scientific Committee On Cosmetic Products And Non-Food Products). 1999. Opinion Concerning Fragrance Allergy In Consumers. . SCCNFP/0017/98 Final, December 1999; and SCCPNFP (Scientific Committee On Cosmetic Products And Non-Food Products). 2000. An Initial List Of Perfumery Materials Which Must Not Form Part Of Fragrances Compounds Used In Cosmetic Products. SCCNFP/0320/00, final May 2000. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | IFRA (International Fragrance Assocication). 2010. IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List based on 2008 Use Survey. Accessed online 01/04/2010: http://www.ifraorg.org/Home/News/Latest-News/page.aspx/66?xf_itemId=43&xf_selectionDatapartId=25 |
| International Fragrance Association Codes & Standards | IFRA (International Fragrance Association). 2006. Codes and Standards. |
| Open scientific literature | Charles AK, Darbre PD. 2009. Oestrogenic activity of benzyl salicylate, benzyl benzoate and butylphenylmethylpropional (Lilial) in MCF7 human breast cancer cells in vitro. J Appl Toxicol. 29(5): 422-34. |
| RTECS®- Food and Cosmetics Toxicology 1973 | RTECS®- Food and Cosmetics Toxicology. (London, UK) V.1-19, 1963-81. For publisher information, see FCTOD7. 11,1029,1973 |
"RTECS®" is a United States trademark owned and licensed under authority of the U.S. Government, by and through MDL Information Systems, Inc.
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