murphyButoxyethanol
AKA: 2-Butoxyethanol, 111-76-2, Butyl glycol, Butyl cellosolve, ETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOBUTYL ETHER, Ethylene glycol butyl ether, N-Butoxyethanol, Butyl oxitol, Dowanol EB
Synthetic
Solvent
Not Clean
OriginSynthesized from ethylene oxide and butanol, both petroleum-derived organic compounds. Produced through etherification, where butanol reacts with ethylene oxide under catalytic conditions.
2-Butoxyethanol; ethylene glycol monobutyl ether; EGBE
Solubility greater than or equal to 100 mg/mL at 72 °F (NTP, 1992)
Formula
C6H14O2
Mol. Weight
118.17
CAS #
111-76-2
Form
Liquid
State
Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether appears as a colorless liquid with a mild, pleasant odor. Less dense than water. Flash point 160 °F. Irritates skin and eyes and may be toxic by ingestion. Used as a so
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
Functions
Solvent
Dissolves other ingredients so they distribute evenly in the formula. Often the invisible "base" everything else is mixed into.
Viscosity Controlling
Moisturizing
Strengthens Barrier
Provides scent
Dissolves other ingredients
Controls product thickness
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed3 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
EWG
8
CIR
Insufficient data
Pregnancy
Caution
CIR Safety Findings
Not Phototoxic
Human test found no phototoxicity in the CIR safety assessment (CIR 913)
Not a Sensitizer
2 studies / 2 not sensitizing / plus 1 case report (CIR 6 and 913)
Mixed Eye Irritation Results
7 studies / 5 irritating / 2 mixed / reactions moderate to severe (CIR 6 and 913)
Mixed Skin Irritation Results
11 studies / 7 irritating / 1 mixed / 3 not irritating / reactions slight to moderate (CIR 6 and 913)
Dermal Absorption 4–94.3%
14 results from animal / in vitro tests in the CIR safety assessment (CIR 6 and 913)
Concentration Guide
0%50%100%
Reg. limit 4%
CIR's newest survey reports no concentration of use.
CIR · 2025 survey
EU regulatory limit: 4.0%. a) 4.0% b) 2.0% Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex III (Restricted Substances), Entry 188.
Regulatory Agencies
🧂Conflict of interest.
Verified Jun 2026 · 🧪 = conflict
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR