What is CAS 122-99-6 for PHENOXYETHANOL?

CAS 122-99-6 is the unique numerical identifier assigned to PHENOXYETHANOL by the Chemical Abstracts Service. It is used to cross-reference the substance across regulatory databases, raw material specifications and safety assessment reports.

How is the maximum concentration of PHENOXYETHANOL calculated in a finished product?

The maximum concentration of 1.0% applies to the substance in the ready-to-use cosmetic product. When supplied as part of a blend or mixture, the calculation must account for contributions from all sources in the formulation.

Annex V Entry 29 28/07/2020

PHENOXYETHANOL

Q: How do I check if my product formula contains PHENOXYETHANOL?

Use the INCI Checker tool on CosIng Checker to paste your full ingredient list and scan it against all Annex II–VI entries. The tool highlights any ingredients that match restricted, prohibited or allergen-flagged records.

2-Phenoxyethanol

PHENOXYETHANOL appears in Annex V as a positive-list preservative entry for EU cosmetics. Maximum concentration in this record: 1.0%.

Permitted preservative— Annex V, EU Regulation 1223/2009

Max conc.: 1.0%

Entry: 29

Reading this entry

Phenoxyethanol is permitted as a preservative at 1.0%, with no product-type restriction — one of the plainest entries in Annex V, and the reason it is so widely used.

1.0% maximum, in any cosmetic product type.
No warning statement and no product-type condition attach to this entry.
The limit is for preservative use; Annex V governs that purpose.
Its breadth is why it appears in formulas that avoid parabens and isothiazolinones, both of which carry narrower entries.

Most Annex V entries carve out product types, set several tiers or attach a warning. This one does none of that: 1.0%, anywhere. That plainness is the practical reason phenoxyethanol turns up in so many ingredient lists. A formulator moving away from parabens, which are split across three regulatory cases, or from the isothiazolinones, which are rinse-off only at a fraction of a percent, arrives at an entry with no conditions to navigate.

What the entry does not do is guarantee that 1.0% will preserve a given product. Phenoxyethanol is comparatively weak against moulds and yeasts and is usually paired with something else, which is why it is so often seen alongside ethylhexylglycerin or an organic acid. The regulation sets a ceiling; whether a formula is adequately preserved is decided by challenge testing, not by being inside the limit.

Note also that a substance can be present for a purpose other than preservation, and Annex V governs the preservative use. Where phenoxyethanol appears as a solvent or fragrance component, the entry that applies is the one matching the purpose the product presents.

Checked against

Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex V (EUR-Lex)

Chemical identity and properties

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 122-99-6

CAS 122-99-6PubChem CID 31236

Phenoxyethanol

2-phenoxyethanol is an aromatic ether that is phenol substituted on oxygen by a 2-hydroxyethyl group. It has a role as an antiinfective agent and a central nervous system depressant. It is a primary alcohol, a glycol ether and an aromatic ether. It is functionally related to a phenol. — ChEBI

IUPAC name: 2-phenoxyethanol

Molecular formula: C8H10O2
Molecular weight: 138.16 g/mol
Exact mass: 138.068079557 Da
XLogP3: 1.2
Topological polar surface area: 29.5 Å²
Hydrogen-bond donors: 1
Hydrogen-bond acceptors: 2
Covalent units: 1
Defined stereocentres: 0

Also known as

Ethylene glycol monophenyl etherPhenyl cellosolvePhenoxetholPhenoxytolEthanol, 2-phenoxy-2-Phenoxyethan-1-OlPhenoxetolEthylene glycol phenyl ether

16 more reported names

Rose etherPhenoxyethyl alcohol1-Hydroxy-2-phenoxyethaneArosolPhenylmonoglycol ether2-Phenoxyethyl alcoholDowanol EPDowanol EPHGlycol monophenyl ether2-Hydroxyethyl phenyl etherEmeressence 1160Fenyl-cellosolve2-FenoxyethanolFenylcelosolvEmery 6705beta-Hydroxyethyl phenyl ether

Open full PubChem record PubChem annotations 3D structure image

External database identifiers

ChEBI:CHEBI:64275
ChEMBL:CHEMBL1229846
EPA DTXSID:DTXSID9021976
PubMed:29205417
PubMed:26188115
PubMed:22970574
PubMed:22685526
PubMed:22666668
PubMed:22666112
PubMed:22653170
PubMed:22615866
PubMed:22577255
PubMed:22558452
PubMed:22514610
PubMed:22496852

Evidence from additional scientific databases

NIH PubChem PUG-View

Exact identifier match31236

Attributed physical-property, hazard, environmental and use annotations.

Autoignition Temperature: 500 °C Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)

Boiling Point: 473.4 °F at 760 mmHg (NTP, 1992) Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Boiling Point: 245 Source: DrugBank
Boiling Point: boiling point equals 473 °F Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Boiling Point: 245.2 °C Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Boiling Point: Liquid; bp: 243 °C /2-Phenoxyethanol acetate/ Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Boiling Point: 237.00 to 238.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg Source: Human Metabolome Database (HMDB)
Boiling Point: 245 °C Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Boiling Point: 242 °C @760 [mm Hg] Source: PAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy

Color/Form: Oily liquid Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Color/Form: Colorless liquid Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

Density: 1.104 (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water; will sink Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Density: 1.1094 at 20 °C/20 °C Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Density: Bulk density: 9.2 lb/gal Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Density: Relative density (water = 1): 1.1 Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Density: 1.11 @ 20°C Source: PAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy

Dissociation Constants: pKa = 15.10 at 25 °C Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

Flash Point: 250 °F (NTP, 1992) Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Flash Point: Flash point equals 250 °F Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Flash Point: 260 °F (127 °C) (Closed cup) Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Flash Point: 127 °C c.c. Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)

LogP: log Kow = 1.16 Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
LogP: 1.160 Source: Human Metabolome Database (HMDB)
LogP: 1.2 Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)

Melting Point: 57 °F (NTP, 1992) Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Melting Point: 13 Source: DrugBank
Melting Point: 14 °C Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Melting Point: 11-13 °C Source: Human Metabolome Database (HMDB)
Melting Point: 14 °C Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Melting Point: 14 °C Source: PAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy

Odor: Faint aromatic odor Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

Physical Description: Ethylene glycol phenyl ether is a colorless liquid with a pleasant odor. Density 1.02 g / cm3. An irritant. Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Physical Description: CBI; Wet Solid; Liquid; Liquid; Other Solid Source: EPA Chemical Data Reporting (CDR)
Physical Description: Clear liquid with a pleasant odor; [CAMEO] Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Physical Description: Liquid Source: Human Metabolome Database (HMDB)
Physical Description: OILY COLOURLESS LIQUID WITH CHARACTERISTIC ODOUR. Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)

Refractive Index: Index of refraction: 1.534 at 20 °C/D Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

Solubility: 10 to 50 mg/mL at 68 °F (NTP, 1992) Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Solubility: 24g/L at 20°C Source: DrugBank
Solubility: Freely soluble in alcohol, ether, and sodium hydroxide Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Solubility: Soluble in ethanol, alkali, chloroform Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Solubility: 2.67 g/100 mL water Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Solubility: In water, 2.6X10+4 mg/L at 20 °C Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Solubility: 26700 mg/L @ 20 °C (exp) Source: Human Metabolome Database (HMDB)
Solubility: Solubility in water, g/100ml: 2.7 Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)

Vapor Pressure: less than 0.01 mmHg at 68 °F ; 1 mmHg at 172.4 °F (NTP, 1992) Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Vapor Pressure: 0.007 [mmHg] Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Vapor Pressure: 0.007 mm Hg at 25 °C Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Vapor Pressure: Vapor pressure, kPa at 20 °C: 0.0013 Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Vapor Pressure: 0.03 [mm Hg] @25 °C Source: PAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy

Viscosity: 20.5 centistokes at 25 °C Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

Carcinogen Classification: No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC). Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)

Exposure Routes: The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol, through the skin and by ingestion. Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Exposure Routes: Dermal (A15201); ingestion Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)

First Aid: EYES: First check the victim for contact lenses and remove if present. Flush victim's eyes with water or normal saline solution for 20 to 30 minutes while simultaneously calling a hospital or poison control center. Do not put any ointments, oils, or medication in the victim's eyes without specific instructions from a physician. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim after flushing eyes to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop.; SKIN: IMMEDIATELY flood affected skin with water while removing and isolating all contaminated clothing. Gently wash all affected skin areas thoroughly with soap and water. If symptoms such as redness or irritation develop, IMMEDIATELY call a physician and be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital for treatment.; INHALATION: IMMEDIATELY leave the contaminated area; take deep breaths of fresh air. If symptoms (such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, or burning in the mouth, throat, or chest) develop, call a physician and be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital. Provide proper respiratory protection to rescuers entering an unknown atmosphere. Whenever possible, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) shou Source: CAMEO Chemicals

Signal: Danger Source: Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council
GHS Hazard Statements: H302: Harmful if swallowed [Warning Acute toxicity, oral]; H318: Causes serious eye damage [Danger Serious eye damage/eye irritation]; H335: May cause respiratory irritation [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure; Respiratory tract irritation] Source: Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council
Precautionary Statement Codes: P261, P264, P264+P265, P270, P271, P280, P301+P317, P304+P340, P305+P354+P338, P317, P319, P330, P403+P233, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement) Source: Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council
Note: This chemical does not meet GHS hazard criteria for < 0.1% (1 of 4299) of reports. Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
Signal: Danger Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
GHS Hazard Statements: H302 (99.8%): Harmful if swallowed [Warning Acute toxicity, oral]; H318 (13%): Causes serious eye damage [Danger Serious eye damage/eye irritation]; H319 (87%): Causes serious eye irritation [Warning Serious eye damage/eye irritation]; H335 (13%): May cause respiratory irritation [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure; Respiratory tract irritation] Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
Precautionary Statement Codes: P261, P264, P264+P265, P270, P271, P280, P301+P317, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P305+P354+P338, P317, P319, P330, P337+P317, P403+P233, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement) Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
ECHA C&L Notifications Summary: Aggregated GHS information provided per 4299 reports by companies from 38 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.; Reported as not meeting GHS hazard criteria per 1 of 4299 reports by companies.; There are 37 notifications provided by 4298 of 4299 reports by companies with hazard statement code(s).; Information may vary between notifications depending on impurities, additives, and other factors. The percentage value in parenthesis indicates the notified classification ratio from companies that provide hazard codes. Only hazard codes with percentage values above 10% are shown. For more detailed information, please visit ECHA C&L website. Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
Signal: Danger Source: NITE-CMC
GHS Hazard Statements: H302: Harmful if swallowed [Warning Acute toxicity, oral]; H318: Causes serious eye damage [Danger Serious eye damage/eye irritation] Source: NITE-CMC
Precautionary Statement Codes: P264, P264+P265, P270, P280, P301+P317, P305+P354+P338, P317, P330, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement) Source: NITE-CMC
Signal: Warning Source: NITE-CMC

NFPA Health Rating: 3 - Materials that, under emergency conditions, can cause serious or permanent injury. Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
NFPA Fire Rating: 1 - Materials that must be preheated before ignition can occur. Materials require considerable preheating, under all ambient temperature conditions, before ignition and combustion can occur. Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
NFPA Instability Rating: 0 - Materials that in themselves are normally stable, even under fire conditions. Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

Cosmetic Ingredient Review Finding(s): Safe in the present practices of use and concentration. Ingredient, concentration, and use information are available in documents discoverable at https://cir-reports.cir-safety.org Source: Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
Toxicity Summary: 2-Phenoxyethanol is a glycol ether. Glycol ethers can produce toxicity following oxidation to the corresponding aldehyde and alkoxyacetic acid by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH; EC 1.1.1.1) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH; EC 1.2.1.3), respectively. (A15201) 2-Phenoxyethanol causes reduction of NMDA-induced membrane currents, indicating a neurotoxic potential for 2-phenoxyethanol. (A15202) Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)

Environmental Bioconcentration: An estimated BCF of 1.5 was calculated in fish for 2-phenoxyethanol(SRC), using a log Kow of 1.16(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this BCF suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

Environmental Fate: TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 15(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that 2-phenoxyethanol is expected to have very high mobility in soil(SRC). Volatilization of 2-phenoxyethanol from moist soil surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given an estimated Henry's Law constant of 4.9X10-8 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), based upon its vapor pressure, 0.007 mm Hg at 25 °C(3), and water solubility, 2.6X10+4 mg/L(4). One biodegradation study reported theoretical 2-phenoxyethanol BODs of 2% (5-day), 71% (10-day), and 80% (20-day)(3); a theoretical 20-day BOD of 50%(3) indicates biodegrdaation may be an important environmnetal fate process in soil(SRC). Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Environmental Fate: AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 15(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that 2-phenoxyethanol is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is not expected(3) based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 4.9X10-8 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), derived from its vapor pressure, 0.007 mm Hg at 25 °C(4), and water solubility, 2.6X10+4 mg/L(5). According to a classification scheme(6), an estimated BCF of 1.5(SRC), from its log Kow of 1.16(7) and a regression-derived equation(8), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low. One biodegradation study reported theoretical 2-phenoxyethanol BODs of 2% (5-day), 71% (10-day), and 80% (20-day)(4); a theoretical 20-day BOD of 50% indicates a compound will largely be removed during biological waste treatment(4). 2-Phenoxyethanol is not expected to undergo hydrolysis in the environment due to the lack of functional groups that hydrolyze under environmental conditions(3). Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Environmental Fate: ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), 2-phenoxyethanol, which has a estimated vapor pressure of 0.007 mm Hg at 25 °C(2), is expected to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase 2-phenoxyethanol is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals(SRC); the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be about 11.8 hours(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 3.27X10-11 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) that was derived using a structure estimation method(3). Monitoring data have shown that 2-phenoxyethanol can be removed from the atmosphere via precipitation such as snow(4). 2-Phenoxyethanol does not absorb at wavelengths >290 nm(5), and therefore is not expected to be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight(SRC). Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

Consumer Uses: Solvent; Other; Processing aids not otherwise specified; Surfactant (surface active agent); Fragrance; Cleaning agent; Preservative; Not Known or Reasonably Ascertainable; Soil amendments (fertilizers) Source: EPA Chemical Data Reporting (CDR)

Industry Uses: Etching agent; Preservative; Not Known or Reasonably Ascertainable; Waterproofing agent; Fragrance; Fixing agent (mordant); Cleaning agent; Plasticizer; Processing aids not otherwise specified; Surfactant (surface active agent); Other; Solvent Source: EPA Chemical Data Reporting (CDR)

Cosmetic Ingredient Review Link: CIR ingredient: Phenoxyethanol Source: Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
Sources/Uses: Used in perfumes, insect repellants, and antiseptics and to produce other organic chemicals; [Merck Index, 7257] Used as a solvent for inks, dyes, and cleaners; [HSDB] Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Industrial Processes with risk of exposure: Metal Degreasing [Category: Clean]; Using Disinfectants or Biocides [Category: Clean]; Textiles (Printing, Dyeing, or Finishing) [Category: Industry] Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Uses: Fixative for perfumes, in organic synthesis; as a bactericide in conjunction with quaternary ammonium compounds Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Uses: Solvent for cellulose acetate, dyes; inks, resins; perfume fixative; bactericidal agent; organic synthesis of plasticizers, germicides, pharmaceuticals; insect repellents Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Uses: MEDICATION Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Uses: Use (kg; approx.) in Germany (2009): >25000; Consumption (g per capita; approx.) in Germany (2009): 0.305; Calculated removal (%): 92.1 Source: NORMAN Suspect List Exchange
Uses: 2-Phenoxyethanol is used in many applications such as cosmetics, vaccines and pharmaceuticals as a preservative. It is also used as a fixative for perfumes, an insect repellent, a topical antiseptic, a solvent for cellulose acetate, some dyes, inks, and resins, in preservatives, pharmaceuticals, and in organic synthesis. Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)

Mapped by: Existing checksum-valid CAS to unique PubChem CID match. Retrieved: 2026-08-31. Open source record

Scientific classifications and hazard annotations provide context and do not replace the market-specific regulatory decision shown above.

Additional source coverage and match status

Source	Result	Checked
NIH PubChem PUG-View	Exact match	2026-08-31

A recorded no-match is useful evidence that the source was checked; it is not a claim that the substance does not exist elsewhere.

Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-09-02 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.

Record details

Maximum concentration

1.0%

INCI glossary name

PHENOXYETHANOL

Chemical name

2-Phenoxyethanol

Chemical / IUPAC name

2-Phenoxyethanol

Regulatory information

Regulation

(EC) 2009/1223

See every entry this act set

SCCS opinions

Identified ingredients

PHENOXYETHANOL

Key data

CAS

122-99-6

204-589-7

Annex

Entry number

Inventory links for PHENOXYETHANOL

Inventory Restriction reference

Ref 36522

PHENOXYETHANOL

CAS: 122-99-6

EC: 204-589-7

Direct matches are limited for this record, so nearby entries from Annex V are shown as well.

Annex V 28