Is 2-(4-tert-Butylphenyl)ethanol safe?

Critical concern: classified for carcinogenic, mutagenic or reproductive toxicity (CMR). It is banned in EU cosmetics.

beauty
industrial

2-(4-tert-Butylphenyl)ethanol

CAS 5406-86-0 · 100/100 · High conf.

Concern score

100/100Critical concern driven by cmr.

High confidence

2-(4-tert-Butylphenyl)ethanol in plain language

What it is: Also known as P-tert-butylphenethyl alcohol · Phenethyl alcohol, p-(tert-butyl)- · 2-(4-tert-Butylphenyl)ethan-1-ol · Phenethyl alcohol, p-tert-butyl- · 2-(4-(tert-Butyl)phenyl)ethanol · 2-(4-(tert-butyl)phenyl)ethan-1-ol
Show all 14 names
2-(p-t-butylphenyl) ethanol · 4-(1,1-DIMETHYLETHYL)BENZENEETHANOL · 4-06-00-03434 (Beilstein Handbook Reference) · 4-TERT-BUTYLPHENETHANOL · 4-Tert-Butylphenethyl Alcohol · Benzeneethanol, 4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)- · Ec 410-020-5 · UNII-AES74I7NRU
What it does: We don't have a plain-language description for 2-(4-tert-Butylphenyl)ethanol yet.
Is it a concern?: Critical concern: classified for carcinogenic, mutagenic or reproductive toxicity (CMR). It is banned in EU cosmetics.

Why it's flagged

2-(4-tert-Butylphenyl)ethanol is prohibited in cosmetic products under Annex II of the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009.

RestrictedEU EC — banned

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.

EU Annex II — prohibited
EU prohibited in cosmetics

Recorded in these product areas

Found in consumer products
Industrial

EUEC
Annex II of EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009: substances prohibited in cosmetic products. CMR: Reprotoxic Cat. 2()
banned
View source →

EUCosIngActiveCosmetics Regulation annex II / ref 1071.
- Cosmetics Regulation annex II / ref 1071.Source →
USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 0 composition records across product categories including unclassified products.
- EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 0 composition records across product categories including unclassified 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 2-(4-tert-Butylphenyl)ethanol. 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 2-(4-tert-Butylphenyl)ethanol yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.

7 data sources

Where this comes from

CosIng
regulatory · updated 2026-09-23
Open →
EU CosIng Cosmetics Regulation Annexes
regulatory · updated 2010-10-15
Open →
EPA Chemical and Products Database
exposure · updated 2020-02-13
Open →
EPA DSSTox Identifiers
chemistry · updated 2025-12-29
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 →

Suitability

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

Fragrance avoidance

No fragrance-linked caution surfaced in the current profile.

Good fit

This ingredient does not currently read as a fragrance-linked driver in the published evidence and hazard profile.

Where it has been recorded

How often EPA CPDat has listed 2-(4-tert-Butylphenyl)ethanol in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Named organisations

See products using 2-(4-tert-Butylphenyl)ethanol →