Is Denatonium Benzoate safe in cosmetics?
Denatonium Benzoate has a safety rating of "EXCELLENT" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 4 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Denatonium Benzoate
Also known as: Benzyl diethyl ((2,6-xylylcarbamoyl)methyl) ammonium benzoate, Benzyldiethyl((2,6-xylylcarbamoyl)methyl)ammonium benzoate, Caswell No. 083BB, EINECS 223-095-2, EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 009106 (+7 more)
INCI: DENATONIUM BENZOATE
Denatonium Benzoate (CAS 3734-33-6) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Denaturant — makes cosmetic products unpalatable to prevent accidental ingestion. NOAEL 15 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 data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 3734-33-6 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Denatonium Benzoate is classified GHS Danger (H302, H332, H318, H412) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Function
Denaturant — makes cosmetic products unpalatable to prevent accidental ingestion
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
benzyl-[2-(2,6-dimethylanilino)-2-oxoethyl]-diethylazanium benzoate
InChIKey
VWTINHYPRWEBQY-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted — CIR Expert Panel reviewed and found safe as used (2008); TTB-approved denaturant
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Denatonium Benzoate.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
4 study endpoints found for Denatonium Benzoate. 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 | =15 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | reproduction developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =16 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | chronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =60 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | reproduction developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =535.896 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Mouse | short-term | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Denatonium Benzoate 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; GROUP
SVHC Candidate
No
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Deodorizer
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
No specific technical function
Viscosity modifier
Regulatory List Membership (5)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
Consumer Product Chemical
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Denatonium Benzoate.
Regulatory Flags
eu_children_restricted
epa_safer_alternative
ifra_fragrance
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Denatonium Benzoate by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
4
Lowest NOAEL
15 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
535.896 mg/kg bw/day
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
Known Synonyms
Benzyl diethyl ((2,6-xylylcarbamoyl)methyl) ammonium benzoate
Benzyldiethyl((2,6-xylylcarbamoyl)methyl)ammonium benzoate
Caswell No. 083BB
EINECS 223-095-2
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 009106
Lidocaine benzyl benzoate
Aversion
Denatonii benzoas
UNII-M5BA6GAF1O
Bitterant-b
Bitterant+Plus
Bitrex
Chemical Function
Flavouring and nutrient
Regulatory Lists
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; 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
pharmaceutical
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Denatonium Benzoate allowed in the EU?
Denatonium Benzoate EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Denatonium Benzoate do in cosmetics?
Denatonium Benzoate functions as: Denaturant — makes cosmetic products unpalatable to prevent accidental ingestion. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 3734-33-6.
What is the NOAEL for Denatonium Benzoate?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Denatonium Benzoate is =15 mg/kg bw/day based on a reproduction developmental study via oral route in Rat. A total of 4 study endpoints are available. Source: ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID.
Is Denatonium Benzoate used outside cosmetics?
Denatonium Benzoate also appears in industrial chemical safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Does Denatonium Benzoate have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Denatonium Benzoate is classified GHS Danger (H302, H332, H318, H412) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Compliance Tools
Check Denatonium Benzoate 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
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