Is Methyl Alcohol safe in cosmetics?
Methyl Alcohol has a safety rating of "MODERATE" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: prohibited. 6 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Methyl Alcohol
Also known as: Alcohol, methyl, Caswell No. 552, X-Cide 402 Industrial Bactericide, Colonial spirits, EINECS 200-659-6 (+15 more)
INCI: METHYL ALCOHOL
Methyl Alcohol (CAS 67-56-1) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Denaturant, Fragrance, Solvent. NOAEL 13.3 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted, max 5%; 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 67-56-1 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Methyl Alcohol is classified GHS Danger (H225, H301, H311, H331, H370, H302, H319, H336) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics at max 5%.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status/eu_max; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Function
Denaturant, Fragrance, Solvent
Safety Rating
MODERATE
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
methanol
InChIKey
OKKJLVBELUTLKV-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
EU Max Conc.
5%
US US Status
prohibited
US Notes
Prohibited. Under 21 CFR § 700.18, methyl alcohol (methanol) is a poisonous substance and is not permitted as a cosmetic ingredient. FDA has issued multiple warnings about methanol contamination, particularly in hand sanitizers
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Methyl Alcohol.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
6 study endpoints found for Methyl Alcohol. 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 | 1584 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Special Toxicology Study | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 1600 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Developmental | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 2500 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Developmental | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 3250 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Neurotoxicity | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | =2000 mg/kg bw/day | injection | Rabbit | reproduction developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =5000 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Mouse | 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
FlamFlameSkullToxicCancerHealth haz
Hazard Statements
Highly flammable liquid and vapour Toxic if swallowed Harmful if inhaled Causes damage to central nervous system
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. The substance may cause effects on the central nervous system. This may result in loss of consciousness. Exposure could cause blindness and death. The effects may be delayed. Medical observation is indicated.
Long-term Exposure Effects
Repeated or prolonged contact with skin may cause dermatitis. The substance may have effects on the central nervous system. This may result in persistent or recurring headaches and impaired vision.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation, through the skin and by ingestion.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Methyl Alcohol across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
10 toxicity values from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEL | =72078.5 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | - | DOE Protective Action Criteria |
| LOAEL | =601.528 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | chronic | TX TCEQ |
| NOAEL | =266.69 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | acute | TX TCEQ |
| NOAEL | =500 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | subchronic | EFSA |
| NOAEL | =251.619 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | acute | Cal OEHHA REL derivations |
| LOEL | =8 mg/mL | Mouse | environmental | acute | ECOTOX |
| LOEL | =10 mg/mL | Mouse | environmental | acute | ECOTOX |
| LOEL | =4 mg/mL | Mouse | environmental | acute | ECOTOX |
| LOEL | =12 mg/mL | Rat | environmental | acute | ECOTOX |
| LOEL | =8 mg/mL | Rat | environmental | acute | ECOTOX |
EU CLP Annex VI Harmonized Classification
Legally binding harmonized classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI.
Signal Word
Danger
Pictograms
FlammableAcute ToxicityHealth Hazard
Hazard Class and Category
Flam. Liq. 2; Acute Tox. 3 *; Acute Tox. 3 *; Acute Tox. 3 *; STOT SE 1
Hazard Statements
- H225 Highly flammable liquid and vapour
- H331 Toxic if inhaled
- H311 Toxic in contact with skin
- H301 Toxic if swallowed
- H370 **
Specific Concentration Limits / M-factors
*; STOT SE 1; H370: C ≥ 10.0%; STOT SE 2; H371: 3.0% ≤ C < 10.0%
Inserted via ATP: CLP00
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
10,000,000 - 100,000,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Hazard classification: Restricted (Annex XVII)
Expanded Jurisdictional Detail
Additional regulatory detail beyond the 7-jurisdiction summary: Saudi SFDA, Korea MFDS, ASEAN ACD, Japan/Korea, Brazil/India, and cross-jurisdictional restriction entries.
SA Saudi SFDA (III - Restricted)
Product type: Denaturant for ethanol and isopropyl alcohol. Max: 5% (as a % of ethanol and isopropyl alcohol).
JPKR Japan/Korea Cosmetics
Japan (Prohibited): Must not be used
Korea (Prohibited): Must not be used
Japan (Prohibited): ; Category: General
BRIN Brazil/India Cosmetics
India: Restricted · max 5% (as a % of ethanol and isopropyl alcohol)
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (6)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP | banned | - | All cosmetics |
| CN | banned | - | - |
| IN | restricted | 5.0 | products containing ethanol/isopropanol as denaturant only |
| BR | restricted | 5 | Denaturant in ethanol/isopropanol only; 5% calculated as % of ethanol/isopropanol |
| CA | restricted | 5 mL trigger for labelling (no use concentration limit per se) | All cosmetics |
| ASEAN | restricted | 5% of total ethanol or isopropanol content (denaturant) | Denaturant in hand sanitisers / ethanol-based products |
Expanded Dermal Absorption Data
Cross-database dermal penetration: EPA Dryad physics-based, Roberts Mendeley permeation, and SCCS-aggregated measured values.
EPA Dryad Skin Absorption (physics-based)
MW: 32.042
LogP: -0.768744
Kp epidermis: 0.99591 cm/h
Source: EPA_Dryad_Skin_Absorption_2024
Roberts Skin Permeation (Mendeley 2022)
MW: 32
Log Kow: -0.72
Log Kp: -3.3010299956639813
Log Jmax: -4.81
Source: Roberts_Cheruvu_Mendeley_2022
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (4)
Carcinogen Classification
No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).
Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
Endocrine Disruptors
Potential endocrine disrupting compound
Source: NORMAN Suspect List Exchange
ICSC Safety Card
0057
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Skin Eye Respiratory Irritation
Irritates the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. | /Methanol/ is an eye and skin irritant. | Methanol is irritating to the eye and causes conjunctivitis, chemosis, iritis, and corneal opacity. Methanol was reported to be a mild eye irritant. However, in another study, undiluted methanol caused moderate corneal opacity in three of six rabbits and conjunctival redness in all six rabbits. A 50% aqueo
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Regulatory (1)
JECFA Evaluation
CARBINOL | 1970 | LIMITED BY GMP | NMRS 48/TRS 462-JECFA 14/20,36 | FAS 70.39/NMRS 48A-JECFA 14/105
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Adhesion/cohesion promoter
Anti-slip agent
Chemical reaction regulator
Cleaning agent
Corrosion inhibitor
Degradant/impurity
Fragrance
No specific technical function
Processing aids not otherwise specified
Solubility enhancer
Regulatory List Membership (4)
California Proposition 65 (OEHHA)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Consumer Product Chemical
EU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Methyl Alcohol.
Regulatory Flags
fragrance-component
prop65
fda_food_additive
eu_cosing_listed
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Methyl Alcohol by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
6
Lowest NOAEL
1584 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
5000 mg/kg bw/day
COSMOS_DB
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
Known Synonyms
Alcohol, methyl
Caswell No. 552
X-Cide 402 Industrial Bactericide
Colonial spirits
EINECS 200-659-6
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 053801
Eureka Products, Criosine
Eureka Products Criosine Disinfectant
Freers Elm Arrester
Ideal Concentrated Wood Preservative
Methyl hydrate
Pyroxylic spirits
RCRA waste number U154
Wilbur-Ellis Smut-Guard
Alcool methylique
Metylowy alkohol
UNII-Y4S76JWI15
Alcool metilico
CH3OH
Colonial spirit
Chemical Function
Solvent
Fragrance
Surfactant (surface active agent)
Corrosion inhibitor
Thickening agent
Anti-slip agent
Chemical reaction regulator
Regulatory Lists
drinking_water; Europe; manufacturing; plastic_additive
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
consumer_product; detected
consumer_product; Europe
consumer_product; Europe
air; detected; emissions; Personal care
air; Cleaning products and household care - air freshener; detected; emissions
OEHHA Proposition 65 (3/2019)
Europe; Home maintenance - caulk/sealant
Europe; Home maintenance - caulk/sealant
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Home maintenance - caulk/sealant
detected; Europe; Home maintenance - caulk/sealant
Europe; Personal care; restricted
fracking
consumer_product
fracking; water
OEHHA Proposition 65 (1/2023)
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
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
METHYL ALCOHOL
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL14688
Max Phase
-1
Adverse Event Associations
48
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Methyl Alcohol allowed in the EU?
Methyl Alcohol EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: 5%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Methyl Alcohol do in cosmetics?
Methyl Alcohol functions as: Denaturant, Fragrance, Solvent. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 67-56-1.
What is the NOAEL for Methyl Alcohol?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Methyl Alcohol is 1584 mg/kg bw/day based on a Special Toxicology Study study via oral route in rat. A total of 6 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.
Is Methyl Alcohol classified as hazardous under GHS?
Methyl Alcohol carries a GHS signal word of "DANGER". Hazard statements: Highly flammable liquid and vapour Toxic if swallowed Harmful if inhaled Causes damage to central nervous system. 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 Methyl Alcohol used outside cosmetics?
Methyl Alcohol 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 Methyl Alcohol have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Methyl Alcohol is classified GHS Danger (H225, H301, H311, H331, H370, H302, H319, H336) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics at max 5%.
Compliance Tools
Check Methyl Alcohol 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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