murphyp-Cresol
AKA: 4-Methylphenol, 106-44-5, 4-Cresol, 4-Hydroxytoluene, P-Methylphenol, P-Hydroxytoluene, P-Tolyl alcohol, Phenol, Para-Cresol
Synthetic
Preservative
Fragrance
Not Clean
OriginP-cresol is a methylphenol derived from coal tar or produced synthetically from benzene and methane. It is synthesized through methylation of phenol or toluene oxidation followed by separation and purification processes.
p-Cresol (4-methylphenol), a 108.1 Da volatile low-molecular-weight compound, is a phenol. It is a partially lipophilic moiety which strongly binds to plasma protein (close to 100%) under normal conditions. p-Cresol is metabolized through conjugation, mainly sulphation and glucuronization, but removal of the unconjugated p-cresol is, at least in part, via the urine. Therefore it is not surprising that this compound, together with several other phenoles, is retained when the kidneys fail. P-Cresol is an end-product of protein breakdown, and an increase of the nutritional protein load in healthy individuals results in enhanced generation and urinary excretion. The serum p-cresol concentration in uremic patients can be decreased by changing to a low-protein diet. p-Cresol is one of the metabolites of the amino acid tyrosine, and to a certain extent also of phenylalanine, which are converted to 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid by intestinal bacteria, before being decarboxylated to p-cresol (putr
Solubility less than 1 mg/mL at 70 °F (NTP, 1992)
Formula
C7H8O
Mol. Weight
108.14
CAS #
106-44-5
Form
Powder
State
P-cresol is a colorless solid with a tar like odor. Sinks and mixes slowly with water. (USCG, 1999)
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.
Perfuming
Added for scent. Can be natural or synthetic. Common irritant and allergen — one of the top reasons people react to products.
Fights Bacteria
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.
EWG
3
CIR
Insufficient data
Pregnancy
Caution
CIR Safety Findings
Not Phototoxic
Human test found no phototoxicity in the CIR safety assessment (CIR 277)
Not a Skin Irritant
1 study / 1 not irritating (CIR 277)
Eye Irritant in Testing
1 study / 1 irritating (CIR 277)
Mixed Sensitization Results
2 studies / 1 sensitizing / 1 not sensitizing / plus 1 case report (CIR 277)
Dermal Absorption 6–77%
hairless mouse skin (female mice aged 6 to 23 weeks used immediately after euthanasia) / in vitro / dose 4 ug/cm2 / 6 12 and 24 h (CIR 277)
Regulatory Agencies
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR