murphyEthyl Benzoate
AKA: 93-89-0, Benzoic ether, Ethyl benzenecarboxylate, Benzoic Acid Ethyl Ester, Benzoyl ethyl ether, Ethylester kyseliny benzoove, FEMA No. 2422, Ethyl benzoate (natural)
Synthetic
Preservative
Clean
Ethyl benzoate is found in alcoholic beverages. Ethyl benzoate is found in various fruits, e.g. apple, banana, sweet cherry. Also present in milk, butter, wines, black tea, bourbon vanilla and fruit brandies. Ethyl benzoate is a flavouring agent As with many volatile esters, ethyl benzoate has a pleasant odor. It is a component of some artificial fruit flavors. Ethyl benzoate is the ester formed by the condensation of benzoic acid and ethanol. It is a colorless liquid that is almost insoluble in water, but miscible with most organic solvents.
Solubility 0.72 mg/mL at 25 °C
Formula
C9H10O2
Mol. Weight
150.17
CAS #
93-89-0
Form
Liquid
State
Liquid
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
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
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
2
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
3 studies / 3 not sensitizing (CIR 578)
Eye Irritant in Testing
1 study / 1 irritating (CIR 578)
Mixed Skin Irritation Results
4 studies / 2 irritating / 2 not irritating (CIR 578)
Concentration Guide
Leave-on0.0008–0.01%
Rinse-offNot reported
0%50%100%
Reg. limit 0.5%
CIR reported use · report published 2012
EU regulatory limit: 0.5%. Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex V (Preservatives), Entry 1a.
Regulatory Agencies
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR