Is 2,4-Xylenol safe in cosmetics?
2,4-Xylenol has a safety rating of "POOR" in our database. EU status: prohibited. US status: restricted. 1 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
2,4-Xylenol
Also known as: 4-06-00-03126, Benzene, 2,4-dimethyl-1-hydroxy-, BRN 0636244, Bulk Lysol Brand Disinfectant, Caswell No. 907A (+8 more)
INCI: 2,4-XYLENOL (2,4-DIMETHYLPHENOL)
2,4-Xylenol (CAS 105-67-9) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Denaturant; antimicrobial; primarily an industrial chemical (phenolic. Reported NOAEL =67 mg/kg bw/day in Rat (EFSA_OpenFoodTox_EFSA_ReferencePoints.xlsx); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: prohibited. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 105-67-9 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
2,4-Xylenol is prohibited in EU cosmetics but has active industrial GHS classifications (H301, H311, H314, H317, H318, H411, H303, H312).
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Function
Denaturant; antimicrobial; primarily an industrial chemical (phenolic disinfectant)
Safety Rating
POOR
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
2,4-dimethylphenol
InChIKey
KUFFULVDNCHOFZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
prohibited
US US Status
restricted
US Notes
Not specifically restricted but subject to general safety requirements; not commonly used in cosmetics
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for 2,4-Xylenol.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
1 study endpoint found for 2,4-Xylenol. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.
| Endpoint | Value | Route | Species | Study Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | =67 mg/kg bw/day | oral: unspecified | Rat | subchronic | EFSA_OpenFoodTox_EFSA_ReferencePoints.xlsx |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is corrosive to the skin, respiratory tract and eyes. Corrosive on ingestion. Inhalation of the aerosol may cause lung oedema. See Notes.
Long-term Exposure Effects
Repeated or prolonged contact may cause skin sensitization.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation, by ingestion and through the skin.
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
10 - 100 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Hazard classification: Restricted (Annex XVII)
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (1)
ICSC Safety Card
0458
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
No specific technical function
Regulatory List Membership (2)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
Consumer Product Chemical
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for 2,4-Xylenol.
Regulatory Flags
ifra_fragrance
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to 2,4-Xylenol by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
1
Lowest NOAEL
67 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
67 mg/kg bw/day
EFSA_OpenFoodTox_EFSA_ReferencePoints.xlsx
Known Synonyms
4-06-00-03126
Benzene, 2,4-dimethyl-1-hydroxy-
BRN 0636244
Bulk Lysol Brand Disinfectant
Caswell No. 907A
Du Cor Concentrated Fly Insecticide
EINECS 203-321-6
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 086804
Gable-Tite Dark Creosote
Gable-Tite Light Creosote
Lysol Brand disinfectant
RCRA waste number U101
UNII-5OD803C081
Chemical Function
Fragrance
Flavouring and nutrient
No specific technical function
Regulatory Lists
Europe
IFRA Transparency
consumer_product
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL29878
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 2,4-Xylenol allowed in the EU?
2,4-Xylenol EU regulatory status: prohibited. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does 2,4-Xylenol do in cosmetics?
2,4-Xylenol functions as: Denaturant; antimicrobial; primarily an industrial chemical (phenolic disinfectant). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 105-67-9.
What is the NOAEL for 2,4-Xylenol?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for 2,4-Xylenol is =67 mg/kg bw/day based on a subchronic study via oral: unspecified route in Rat. Source: EFSA_OpenFoodTox_EFSA_ReferencePoints.xlsx.
Is 2,4-Xylenol used outside cosmetics?
2,4-Xylenol also appears in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Does 2,4-Xylenol have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
2,4-Xylenol is prohibited in EU cosmetics but has active industrial GHS classifications (H301, H311, H314, H317, H318, H411, H303, H312).
Compliance Tools
Check 2,4-Xylenol compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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