BENZYL BENZOATE
Fragrance Ingredient; Solvent; ANTIMICROBIAL; MASKING
Also listed as
BENYLATE; BENZOIC ACID, BENZYL ESTER; BENZOIC ACID, PHENYLMETHYL ESTER; PHENYLMETHYL BENZOATE; BENZYL ESTER BENZOIC ACID; PHENYLMETHYL ESTER BENZOIC ACID; ASCABIN; ASCABIOL; BENYLATE; BENZOIC ACID, PHENYLMETHYL ESTER; BENZYL ALCOHOL BENZOIC 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 |
 | Restrictions & warnings |
| Allergies/immunotoxicity |
| Contamination concerns |
 | Other strong concerns for this ingredient: Occupational hazards |
 | Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Endocrine disruption, Ecotoxicology, Data gaps |
|
See products containing BENZYL BENZOATE | |
About BENZYL BENZOATE: Benzyl Benzoate is the ester of benzyl alcohol and benzoic acid.
BENZYL BENZOATE has reported used in the following product types: hair color and bleaching (116); lip gloss (109); fragrance for women (85); moisturizer (71); facial moisturizer/treatment (62); lipstick (52); anti-aging (41); styling gel/lotion (40); conditioner (34); body wash/cleanser (33)
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Possible human immune system toxicant | EU Banned and Restricted Fragrances |
Restrictions & warnings
| 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 |
Occupational hazards
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
Endocrine disruption
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Associated with endocrine disruption | Charles AK, Darbre PD, 2009 |
Ecotoxicology
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | European Union - Classification & Labelling | |
| show more | ||
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel | ||
| 126 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical see search results -> | PubMed |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Multiple, additive exposure sources
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Everything Added to Food |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | BENZYL BENZOATE | •Harmful •Toxic to aquatic organisms |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | BENZYL BENZOATE | • Fully up-to-date toxicology information has been sought. |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | BENZOIC ACID, PHENYLMETHYL ESTER | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for as a low human health priority. |
| EU Banned and Restricted Fragrances | BENZYL BENZOATE | Fragrance chemical, which is less frequently reported and thus less documented as a consumer allergen. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | BENZYL BENZOATE | •The chemical has been reported as used in fragrance compounds by IFRA affiliated member companies in 2008. |
| International Fragrance Association Codes & Standards | BENZYL BENZOATE | •Fragrance subject to restrictions: safe only within recommended use or concentration limits |
| Charles AK, Darbre PD, 2009 | BENZYL BENZOATE | Benzyl benzoate demonstrated estrogenic activity by increasing the proliferation of breast cancer cells in vitro. |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | CPS&Q (Consumer Products Safety & Quality) formely known as ECB (European Chemicals Bureau). 2008. Classification and Labelling: Chemicals: Annex VI of Directive 67/548/EEC through the 31st ATP. |
| 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. |
| Environment 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. |
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