murphyChloroxylenol
AKA: 4-Chloro-3, 5-dimethylphenol, 88-04-0, 5-xylenol, Benzytol, P-Chloro-m-xylenol, Ottasept, Parachlorometaxylenol, 2-Chloro-m-xylenol
Synthetic
Preservative
Not Clean
OriginSynthesized from xylenol, a methylated phenol compound derived from petroleum or coal tar sources. Produced through chlorination of xylenol using chlorine gas or hypochlorite reagents.
Phenol, 4-chloro-3,5-dimethyl-
Solubility 0.03
Formula
C8H9ClO
Mol. Weight
156.61
CAS #
88-04-0, 1321-23-9
Form
Liquid
State
Liquid
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
Functions
Antimicrobial
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Deodorant
Preservative
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Fights Bacteria
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed2 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
EWG
3
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Caution
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
3 studies / 3 not sensitizing / plus 2 case reports (CIR 190)
Eye Irritant in Testing
3 studies / 3 irritating / reactions mild to moderate (CIR 190)
Mixed Skin Irritation Results
7 studies / 3 irritating / 4 not irritating / reactions minimal to moderate (CIR 190)
Concentration Guide
0%50%100%
Reg. limit 0.5%
EU regulatory limit: 0.5%. Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex V (Preservatives), Entry 26.
Regulatory Agencies
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR