Is Heptanoic Acid safe in cosmetics?
Heptanoic Acid has a safety rating of "MODERATE" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 1 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Heptanoic Acid
Also known as: n-Heptanoic acid, 4-02-00-00958, BRN 1744723, EINECS 203-838-7, FEMA No. 3348 (+14 more)
INCI: HEPTANOIC ACID
Heptanoic Acid (CAS 111-14-8) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Emulsifying / Surfactant / Fragrance. NOAEL 1000 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted; GHS signal word DANGER. 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 111-14-8 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Heptanoic Acid is classified GHS Danger (H314, H318, H335, H336) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Function
Emulsifying / Surfactant / Fragrance
Safety Rating
MODERATE
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
heptanoic acid
InChIKey
MNWFXJYAOYHMED-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted — GRAS for food use (21 CFR 172.515); not restricted 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 Heptanoic Acid.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
1 study endpoint found for Heptanoic Acid. 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 | =300 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rabbit | reproduction developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Signal Word
DANGER
Pictograms
CorrExcl markWarn
Hazard Statements
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage Harmful if inhaled May cause respiratory irritation
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is corrosive to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Inhalation of high concentrations may cause lung oedema, but only after initial corrosive effects on the eyes and the upper respiratory tract have become manifest. See Notes. The effects may be delayed. Medical observation is indicated.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Heptanoic Acid across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
EU CLP Annex VI Harmonized Classification
Legally binding harmonized classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI.
Signal Word
Danger
Pictograms
Corrosive
Hazard Class and Category
Skin Corr. 1B
Hazard Statements
- H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
Inserted via ATP: CLP00
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
1,000 - 10,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Hazard classification: Restricted (Annex XVII)
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (3)
Carcinogen Classification
No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).
Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
ICSC Safety Card
1179
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Skin Eye Respiratory Irritation
ACUTE HAZARDS / SYMPTOMS: Inhalation-Burning sensation. Cough. Headache. Nausea. Shortness of breath. Vomiting. Wheezing. Symptoms may be delayed; Skin-Skin burns. Pain. Blisters; Eyes-Redness. Pain. Severe deep burns ... The symptoms of lung oedema often do not become manifest until a few hours have passed and they are aggravated by physical effort. Rest and medical observation is therefore essen
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Regulatory (3)
JECFA Number
96
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
JECFA Evaluation
ENANTHIC ACID | 1997 | No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent | TRS 884-JECFA 49/29 | FAS 40-JECFA 49/147
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
JECFA Evaluation
HEPTANOIC ACID | 1997 | No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent | TRS 884-JECFA 49/29 | FAS 40-JECFA 49/147
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
No specific technical function
pH regulating agent
Regulatory List Membership (4)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Consumer Product Chemical
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Heptanoic Acid.
Regulatory Flags
fragrance-component
epa_safer_alternative
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
jecfa_safe
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Heptanoic Acid by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
10
Lowest NOAEL
300 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
1750 mg/kg bw/day
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
ECHA_REACH_reach_study_results_dossiers_23-05-2023.zip
Known Synonyms
n-Heptanoic acid
4-02-00-00958
BRN 1744723
EINECS 203-838-7
FEMA No. 3348
Hexacid C-7
UNII-THE3YNP39D
Artec ultra conditioning teat dip
1-Hexanecarboxylate
Enanthate
Enanthylate
Heptanoate
Heptoate
Heptylate
N-Heptanoate
N-Heptoate
N-Heptylate
Oenanthate
Oenanthylate
Chemical Function
Fragrance
pH regulating agent
Flavouring and nutrient
No specific technical function
Regulatory Lists
pharmaceutical
artificial_saliva; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
Australia; Food and drug - smoking-related products
IFRA Transparency
Europe
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
SCIL (9/2019)
Canada; pharmaceutical
Canada; pharmaceutical
consumer_product
air; Cons electronics mech appliances and machinery; detected; emissions; Europe
pharmaceutical
drinking_water; Europe; manufacturing; plastic_additive
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.
Compound
HEPTANOATE
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL320358
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Heptanoic Acid allowed in the EU?
Heptanoic Acid EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Heptanoic Acid do in cosmetics?
Heptanoic Acid functions as: Emulsifying / Surfactant / Fragrance. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 111-14-8.
What is the NOAEL for Heptanoic Acid?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Heptanoic Acid is =300 mg/kg bw/day based on a reproduction developmental study via oral route in Rabbit. Source: ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID.
Is Heptanoic Acid classified as hazardous under GHS?
Heptanoic Acid carries a GHS signal word of "DANGER". Hazard statements: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage Harmful if inhaled May cause respiratory irritation. This classification is based on the ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Card and ECHA C&L inventory data. Note: GHS classification applies to the pure substance — at cosmetic use concentrations, hazard thresholds may not be met.
Is Heptanoic Acid used outside cosmetics?
Heptanoic Acid 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 Heptanoic Acid have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Heptanoic Acid is classified GHS Danger (H314, H318, H335, H336) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Compliance Tools
Check Heptanoic Acid 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
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide-1
Excellent
Same category
Skin conditioning, cleansing, smoothi...
Ammonium Acryloyl Dimethyltaurate/Carboxyethyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Excellent
Same category
Dispersing agent (nonsurfactant), vis...
Ammonium Cocoyl Isethionate
Excellent
Same category
Surfactant – cleansing, foaming
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
Excellent
Same category
Cleansing, foaming, surfactant
Ammonium Stearate
Excellent
Same category
Cleansing, surfactant, emulsifying
Apricot Kernel Oil Polyglyceryl-10 Esters
Excellent
Same category
Skin conditioning, emollient, surfact...
(20S)-Protopanaxadiol
Moderate
Similar safety
(Cnidium Officinale/Coptis Chinensis/Glycyrrhiza Uralensis) Root Extract
Moderate
Similar safety
Skin conditioning
(Cryptomeria Japonica/Chamaecyparis Obtusa) Stem Ferment Extract
Moderate
Similar safety
Antimicrobial, antioxidant, humectant
(Eclipta Prostrata/Houttuynia Cordata) Leaf Extract
Moderate
Similar safety
Skin conditioning
(Lepidium Meyenii/Sarcodon Aspratus) Root Water
Moderate
Similar safety
Skin conditioning
(Licorice/Reynoutria Japonica) Root/Stem Extract
Moderate
Similar safety
Skin conditioning, antioxidant
1,5-Pentanediol
Good
Chemical family
Solvent
2,4-Hexadienol
Good
Chemical family
Fragrance
Aminoethylethanolamine
Moderate
Chemical family
Buffering
Is Heptanoic Acid 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 Heptanoic Acid in your formulation.