n-Butyl Alcohol
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: 1-butanol, Butan-1-ol, N-butanol, 71-36-3, Propylcarbinol, 1-hydroxybutane, Butyl hydroxide, Methylolpropane
Synthetic
Fragrance
Solvent
Not Clean
Butan-1-ol is a primary alcohol that is butane in which a hydrogen of one of the methyl groups is substituted by a hydroxy group. It it produced in small amounts in humans by the gut microbes. It has a role as a protic solvent, a mouse metabolite and a human metabolite. It is a primary alcohol, a short-chain primary fatty alcohol and an alkyl alcohol.
Solubility 9 % (NIOSH, 2024)
Formula
C4H10O
Mol. Weight
74.12
CAS #
71-36-3
Form
Liquid
State
N-butyl alcohol is a colorless liquid. Used in organic chemical synthesis, plasticizers, detergents, etc.
Functions
Denaturant
Perfuming
Added for scent. Can be natural or synthetic. Common irritant and allergen — one of the top reasons people react to products.
Solvent
Dissolves other ingredients so they distribute evenly in the formula. Often the invisible "base" everything else is mixed into.
Brightening
Antimicrobial
Strengthens Barrier
Adds pleasant scent
Makes alcohol undrinkable
Dissolves other ingredients
Traditional Use
A synthetic solvent derived from petroleum or fermentation processes, developed commercially in the early 20th century. Used in cosmetics to improve product spreadability and act as a preservative booster.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed3 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR