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Vanillin

CAS 121-33-5 · 70/100 · High conf.

Also registered as 2 other CAS numbers

8014-42-4 · 52447-63-9

Vanillin chemical structure

Concern score

70/100High concern based on regulatory listings.
High confidence

Vanillin in plain language

What it is

Also known as Natural vanillin · 4-Hydroxy- 3-methoxybenz- aldehyde · 4-Hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde · Vanilla · 4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXY-BENZYLDEHYDE · Methylprotocatechuic aldehyde

Show all 32 names

P-hydroxy-m-methoxybenzaldehyde · Rhovanil · Vanillic aldehyde · Vanillin melting point standard · 2-Methoxy-4-formylphenol · 3-METHOXY-4-HYDROXY-BENZALDEHYDE · 3-Methoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde · 4-Formyl-2-methoxyphenol · 4-Hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzaldehyde · 4-Hydroxy-5-methoxybenzaldehyde · 4-Hydroxy-m-anisaldehyde · H-0264 · Lioxin · NPLC-0145 · Propenylguaethol · Protocatechualdehyde, methyl- · Vanillaldehyde · Zimco · benzaldehdye, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy- · m-Anisaldehyde, 4-hydroxy- · p-Vanillin · vanilla oleoresin · vanillin (fragrance) · vanillin (natural) · vanilline · vanillinum

What it does

Used in cosmetics as a fragrance ingredient.

  • Fragrance
  • Colourant
  • Flavouring
  • Deodorant
Is it a concern?
High concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is restricted in EU cosmetics.

Why it's flagged

4-Hydroxy- 3-methoxybenz- aldehyde is restricted in cosmetic products under Annex III of the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009.

RestrictedEU EC — restricted

The score describes this ingredient's chemical identity — its hazard profile from published classifications and regulatory status — not the safety of any product it appears in.

Regulation

Restrictions first, then routine listings from published regulatory sources.

  • In marketed US drugs
  • EU Annex III — restricted
  • EU restricted in cosmetics
  • Inactive ingredient in US drugs

Recorded in these product areas

  • Found in consumer products
  • Beauty
  • Cleaning
  • Pharma
  • Food
  • Industrial

  • EUEC

    Annex III of EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009: substances which cosmetic products must not contain except subject to the restrictions laid down. Other conditions: The presence of the substance shall be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1), point (g), when its concentration exceeds: — 0,001 % in leave-on products — 0,01 % in rinse-off products.

    restricted
    View source →
  • USFDAinactive ingredient database17 entries — 2 administration routes
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE; Potency: 0.94 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE, EXTENDED RELEASE; Potency: 0.94 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: ELIXIR; Potency: NASource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: LIQUID; Potency: NASource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: POWDER, FOR SUSPENSION; Potency: 2 mg/1mlSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: 2.5 mg/5mlSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SUSPENSION; Maximum daily exposure: 6 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SYRUP; Potency: NASource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Maximum daily exposure: 12 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, CHEWABLE; Potency: 2.5 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, COATED; Potency: 65.5 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, DELAYED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 6 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, EXTENDED RELEASE; Potency: 3.4 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, FILM COATED; Maximum daily exposure: 5 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, FILM COATED, EXTENDED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 1 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, ORALLY DISINTEGRATING; Potency: 0.26 mgSource →
    • Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: OINTMENT; Potency: NASource →
  • EUCosIngActive2 entries
  • USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 1152 composition records across product categories including Cleaning products and household care, Vehicle, Personal care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Fragrance, Deodorizer, Flavouring and nutrient.
    • EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 1152 composition records across product categories including Cleaning products and household care, Vehicle, Personal care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Fragrance, Deodorizer, Flavouring and nutrient.Source →
  • USFDAmarketed drug occurrenceFDA NDC lists this ingredient in 10 active drug products and 10 total products.
    • FDA NDC lists this ingredient in 10 active drug products and 10 total products.Source →
  • USFDAlisted in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.
    • openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.Source →

Expert safety opinions

No expert opinion on file for Vanillin. These are the independent scientific bodies that assess ingredients like this one; we show an opinion only when a record we hold cites it.

  • SCCS

    EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety

    No SCCS opinion on file.

  • CIR

    Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US expert panel)

    No CIR safety assessment on file.

Evidence & sources

No graded research studies for Vanillin yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.

9 data sources

Where this comes from

  • CosIng

    regulatory · updated 2026-09-23

    Open →

  • EU CosIng Cosmetics Regulation Annexes

    regulatory · updated 2023-10-03

    Open →

  • EPA Chemical and Products Database

    exposure · updated october 15, 2019

    Open →

  • EPA DSSTox Identifiers

    chemistry · updated 2025-12-29

    Open →

  • FDA Inactive Ingredient Database

    regulatory · updated 2026-01-09

    Open →

  • FDA National Drug Code Directory

    regulatory · updated 2027-12-31

    Open →

  • FDA GSRS UNII

    registry · updated 2026-02-26

    Open →

  • openFDA Substance

    registry · updated 2026-05-24

    Open →

  • PubChem Live Enrichment

    chemistry · updated 2026-05-17

    Open →
Reference links (1)
Openfda substance

accessdata.fda.gov

Read →

Suitability

Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.

Food use

Food-use source coverage is present in the current record.

Good fit

The ingredient appears in food-oriented source coverage or allowed-use references, which makes food use easier to support than a context with no domain signal at all.

Fragrance avoidance

Not a strong fit for fragrance avoidance because it carries Fragrance.

Avoid

The ingredient itself is a fragrance-linked signal, so it is better treated as an avoid case when fragrance exposure is the main concern.

Where it has been recorded

How often EPA CPDat has listed Vanillin in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Source records

1,152

Named organisations

6

Cleaning products and household careVehiclePersonal careHome maintenanceCleaning and safetyFood and drug

Typical roles

FragranceColourantFlavouringDeodorant
See products using Vanillin →

Catalog

Found in these products

Their ingredient lists include Vanillin; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.

See all 1000+ →Find products without it →