Is BUTYL LACTATE safe to use in EU cosmetics?

BUTYL LACTATE is listed in the EU CosIng ingredient inventory with no direct annex restriction records linked at this time. Always verify against the current official CosIng database before formulating.

What other records share CAS 138-22-7?

CAS 138-22-7 may appear across multiple EU annex records. The CAS lookup page shows all Annex II–VI entries sharing this identifier, useful for identifying cross-annex regulatory status of the same chemical substance.

How do I check if my formula contains BUTYL LACTATE?

Use the INCI Checker to screen a full ingredient list across selected markets, or use the substance market comparison to review this identity across all supported market datasets.

InventoryRef 7474615/10/2010

BUTYL LACTATE

Propanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, butyl ester

BUTYL LACTATE is listed in the EU CosIng inventory, but no direct annex records are linked on this page yet.

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Regulatory evidence by market

No rule for this ingredient has been imported for any of the 13 markets tracked here.

That describes this inventory, not the law. No imported rule is not evidence that an ingredient is permitted: a rule may exist under another name or identifier, or in a dataset not yet imported here.

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Chemical identity and properties

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 138-22-7

CAS 138-22-7PubChem CID 8738

Butyl Lactate

Butyl lactate appears as a clear colorless liquid with a mild odor. Flash point 168 °F. Less dense than water and insoluble in water. Vapors heavier than air. Used as a solvent, and to make other chemicals. — CAMEO Chemicals

IUPAC name: butyl 2-hydroxypropanoate

Molecular formula: C7H14O3
Molecular weight: 146.18 g/mol
Exact mass: 146.094294304 Da
XLogP3: 1.1
Topological polar surface area: 46.5 Å²
Hydrogen-bond donors: 1
Hydrogen-bond acceptors: 3
Covalent units: 1
Defined stereocentres: 0

Also known as

n-Butyl lactatePropanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, butyl esterLactic acid, butyl ester2-Hydroxypropanoic acid butyl esterButylester kyseliny mlecneButyl alpha-hydroxypropionateFEMA No. 22050UI63W814U

16 more reported names

NSC-6533RefChem:122266205-316-4Butyllactate(+/-)-Butyl lactateNSC 6533Butyl L-lactateLactic acid-butyl esterButyl 2-HydroxypropionateLactic acid n-butyl esterButyl .alpha.-hydroxypropionateButyl lactate (natural)Butylester kyseliny mlecne [Czech]EINECS 205-316-4BRN 1721597UNII-0UI63W814U

Open full PubChem record PubChem annotations 3D structure image

External database identifiers

ChEBI:CHEBI:169137
ChEMBL:CHEMBL3183988
EPA DTXSID:DTXSID7042196
PubMed:22171298
PubMed:21720501
PubMed:20851671
PubMed:18785076
PubMed:16599560
PubMed:16233583
PubMed:16054795
PubMed:12711170
PubMed:12623199
PubMed:11532318

Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-08-31 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.

Inventory details for BUTYL LACTATE

INCI name

BUTYL LACTATE

INN name

butyl lactate

Description

Propanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, butyl ester

Record provenance

Inventory reference: 74746
Imported identity: BUTYL LACTATE
Source update: 15/10/2010

European Commission CosIng source notes

Annex records for BUTYL LACTATE

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Key data

CAS

138-22-7

205-316-4

Restriction

—

Function

FRAGRANCE: Imparting an odour or taste. Creating a perceivable pleasant smell and/or masking a bad smell.
SOLVENT: Dissolving other components of cosmetics. Solvents are usually liquids (aqueous and nonaqueous).

Official EU ingredient-name evidence

The ingredient name exactly matches the official 2025 EU glossary of common ingredient names.

#4144 · BUTYL LACTATE

Ingredients with overlapping formulation functions

BUTOXYETHYL ACETATEFRAGRANCE, SOLVENT

BUTYL ACETATEFRAGRANCE, SOLVENT

BUTYL ETHYLPROPANEDIYL ETHYLHEXANOATESOLVENT

BUTYL HYDROXYBUTYRATESOLVENT

BUTYL LEVULINATESKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT; SOLVENT

BUTYL PG-ACETAL LEVULINATESKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT; SOLVENT

BUTYLENE GLYCOLFRAGRANCE, HUMECTANT, SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING

BUTYLENE GLYCOL PROPIONATESOLVENT

Additional official and scientific sources

11 external databases to check this identity in

Each link searches that source for this identity. What each source is, and its legal weight

ECHA CHEM / Information on chemicals PubChem PUG REST EU Safety Gate cosmetic product alerts ECHA CHEM US EPA CompTox Cosmetic Ingredient Review safety assessments FDA Global Substance Registration System ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards Japan NITE-CHRIP NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards OECD eChemPortal

How BUTYL LACTATE appears in the CosIng inventory

The CosIng inventory lists BUTYL LACTATE as a cosmetic ingredient and this page links it to 0 annex records. The inventory entry captures names and identifiers, while the annex records show where the substance is prohibited, restricted or positively listed in EU cosmetics law.

BUTYL LACTATE is also tagged with 2 cosmetic functions in the official data. Function labels describe intended use, but they do not replace regulatory review of linked annex records before formulation or labelling work.

Frequently asked questions

BUTYL LACTATE is listed in the EU CosIng ingredient inventory with no direct annex restriction records linked at this time. Absence of an annex link does not guarantee unrestricted use — always verify against the current official CosIng database before formulating.

According to the EU CosIng inventory, BUTYL LACTATE carries the following function designation(s):

CAS 138-22-7 may appear across multiple EU annex records. Viewing the CAS lookup page shows all Annex II–VI entries sharing this identifier, which is useful for identifying cross-annex regulatory status of the same chemical substance.

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Source note for BUTYL LACTATE

This page reproduces the CosIng inventory entry for BUTYL LACTATE from public European Commission cosmetic ingredient materials and shows linked identifiers even when no direct annex match is currently attached.

Use this inventory page to research BUTYL LACTATE and compare linked records, but verify restrictions and legal status against the current official source text and law before making regulatory decisions.

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