Butyl Benzoate
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: N-Butyl benzoate, Benzoic acid, Butyl ester, Anthrapole AZ, Dai Cari XBN, Benzoic acid n-butyl ester, Butylester kyseliny benzoove, HSDB 2089
Synthetic
Preservative
Not Clean
Butyl benzoate is a benzoate ester obtained by condensation of benzoic acid and butanol. It is used as a perfume ingredient and as a solvent for cellulose ether, a dye carrier for textiles. It has a role as a fragrance, an antimicrobial food preservative and a plant metabolite.
Solubility PRACTICALLY INSOL IN WATER
Formula
C11H14O2
Mol. Weight
178.23
CAS #
136-60-7
Form
Liquid
State
Liquid
Functions
Preservative
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Prevents microbial growth
Provides scent
Traditional Use
Synthetic ester developed mid-20th century as a preservative and solvent in cosmetics. Designed to replace less stable natural preservatives and improve formulation stability.
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not Phototoxic
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
0.5%
0%1%
Reg. Limit
EU regulatory limit: 0.5%. Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex V (Preservatives), Entry 1a.
Regulatory Agencies
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed1 review →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR