Is Butyloctanol safe in cosmetics?
Butyloctanol has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 1 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Butyloctanol
Also known as: 1-Octanol, 2-butyl-, 2-Butyl-1-octanol, Jarcol I 12, Isofol 12, Guerbet dodecanol (+14 more)
INCI: BUTYLOCTANOL
Butyloctanol (CAS 3913-02-8) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Humectant, Solvent. Synthetic branched-chain primary alcohol. NOAEL 1000 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. 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 3913-02-8 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Humectant, Solvent. Synthetic branched-chain primary alcohol (2-butyl-1-octanol, C12H26O); used in rinse-off and leave-on formulations as a light-texture solvent and moisture-retaining agent; also serves as an intermediate for emollient ester synthesis. Found in hair colourants, shower gels, conditioners and shampoos at low use levels (~0.19% of products).
Safety Rating
GOOD
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
2-butyloctan-1-ol
InChIKey
XMVBHZBLHNOQON-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Not listed on FDA prohibited or restricted cosmetics ingredients lists. General cosmetic use permitted under FDA authority (FD&C Act). No OTC drug monograph classification.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Butyloctanol.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
1 study endpoint found for Butyloctanol. 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 | =1000 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | reproduction developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Butyloctanol across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
100 - 1,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Humectant
Solvent
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Butyloctanol.
Regulatory Flags
synthetic
humectant
solvent
hair-products
limited-safety-data
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Butyloctanol by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
1
Lowest NOAEL
1000 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
1000 mg/kg bw/day
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
Known Synonyms
1-Octanol, 2-butyl-
2-Butyl-1-octanol
Jarcol I 12
Isofol 12
Guerbet dodecanol
Guerbet C12
2-butyloctane-1-ol
2-butiloctan-1-ol
4-01-00-01855
BRN 1738522
2-Butyloctanol
EINECS 223-470-0
NSC 2414
UNII-N442D9VO79
2-butyloctyl alcohol
5-(hydroxymethyl)undecane
5-Hydroxymethylundecane
Isododecyl alcohol
Michel XO-150-12
Chemical Function
Solvent
Humectant
Regulatory Lists
air; Cons electronics mech appliances and machinery; detected; emissions; Europe
detected; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - fabric treatment and dye; detected
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
CHEMBL3183262
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Butyloctanol allowed in the EU?
Butyloctanol EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Butyloctanol do in cosmetics?
Butyloctanol functions as: Humectant, Solvent. Synthetic branched-chain primary alcohol (2-butyl-1-octanol, C12H26O); used in rinse-off and leave-on formulations as a light-texture solvent and moisture-retaining agent; also serves as an intermediate for emollient ester synthesis. Found in hair colourants, shower gels, conditioners and shampoos at low use levels (~0.19% of products).. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 3913-02-8.
What is the NOAEL for Butyloctanol?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Butyloctanol is =1000 mg/kg bw/day based on a reproduction developmental study via oral route in Rat. Source: ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID.
Is Butyloctanol used outside cosmetics?
Butyloctanol 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.
Compliance Tools
Check Butyloctanol compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
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
Related Ingredients
Decylene/Butylene Glycol
Excellent
Same category
Skin Conditioning, Humectant, Solvent...
Diglycerin
Excellent
Same category
Humectant
Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate
Excellent
Same category
Skin conditioning
Fructose Bisphosphate
Excellent
Same category
Skin Conditioning, Cellular Energy Su...
Glucono Delta-Lactone
Excellent
Same category
pH adjuster, chelating agent, humecta...
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Excellent
Same category
Humectant, Moisturizing, Skin Conditi...
(AGARICUS BLAZEI FERMENT + GANODERMA LUCIDUM FERMENT + GANODERMA MULTIPILEUM FERMENT) EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
Anti-sebum, Antioxidant, Skin Protecting
(ANGELICA ACUTILOBA/PAEONIA LACTIFLORA/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA) ROOT/CNIDIUM OFFICINALE RHIZOME EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning ...
(ANGELICA ACUTILOBA/PAEONIA LACTIFLORA/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA/SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS) ROOT/(CNIDIUM OFFICINALE/COPTIS CHINENSIS) RHIZOME/GARDENIA JASMINOIDES FRUIT/PHELLODENDRON CHINENSE BARK EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
(ANGELICA KEISKEI/CHRYSANTHEMUM ZAWADSKII) LEAF/STEM/CINNAMOMUM CASSIA BARK/TRICHOSANTES KIRILOWII FRUIT/ULMUS DAVIDIANA BARK/ROOT/(PAEONIA JAPONICA/BUPLEURUM FALCATUM/POLYGALA TENUIFOLIA ROOT)/VISCUS ALBUM STEM EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
Anti-seborrheic, Anti-sebum, Antioxid...
(APPLE/CITRUS JUNOS/LENTIL/PEAR/PUMPKIN/STRAWBERRY/TOMATO FRUIT)/CORN KERNEL/(ARCTIUM LAPPA/BRASSICA OLERACEA ACEPHALA/CABBAGE/CAMELLIA SINENSIS/MORINGA OLEIFERA/RADISH/SPINACH LEAF)/(SORGHUM BICOLOR LEAF/STEM)/OAT MEAL/POTATO PULP/(CARROT/NELUMBO NUCIFERA/RADISH/WILD YAM ROOT)/(AMARANTHUS HYPOCHONDRIACUS/CASHEW/CICER ARIETINUM/COIX LACRYMA-JOBI MA-YUEN /MACADAMIA TERNIFOLIA/PHASEOLUS ANGULARIS/PISTACIA VERA/RHYNCHOSIA NULUBILIS/RICE/SESAME/SETARIA ITALICA/SOYBEAN/SWEET ALMOND/WHEAT SEED)/HORDEUM VULGARE SPROUT/CYPERUS ESCULENTUS TUBER/ARTEMISIA PRINCEPS/BROCCOLI/CHENOPODIUM QUINOA/ENTEROMORPHA COMPRESSA/HORDEUM VULGARE/IPOMOEA BATATAS/LAMINARIA JAPONICA/LENTINUS EDODES/PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS/PORPHYRA TENERA/UNDARIA PINNATIFIDA EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
Antioxidant
(ASPERGILLUS/SACCHAROMYCES)/RICE FERMENT/BARLEY GRAIN MEAL/NELUMBO NUCIFERA FLOWER EXTRACT FERMENT EXTRACT FILTRATE
Good
Similar safety
Bleaching
2-Decenal
Moderate
Chemical family
Fragrance
Decenal
Moderate
Chemical family
Fragrance ingredient (aldehyde)
Trans-2-Decenal
Moderate
Chemical family
Fragrance
Is Butyloctanol in Your Products?
Scan any product label with Piro — our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.
Try Piro Free →Analyze Your Full Ingredient List
Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Butyloctanol in your formulation.