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2-Hexanone

CAS 591-78-6 · 100/100 · High conf.

Also registered as 1 other CAS number

30637-87-7

2-Hexanone chemical structure

Concern score

100/100Critical concern driven by cmr.
High confidence

2-Hexanone in plain language

What it is

Also known as Methyl-n-butyl ketone · Methyl butyl ketone · Methylbutylketone · Hexan-2-one (Methyl butyl ketone) · Hexan-2-one · Mbk

Show all 18 names

2-Oxohexane · Butyl methyl ketone · Butylmethyl Ketone · Hexanone · Hexanone-2 · Methyl n-Butyl Ketone · Mnbk · Propylacetone · hexan-2-ona · hexane-2-one · methyl n-butyl ketone (2-hexanone) · n-Butyl methyl ketone

What it does

Used in consumer products as a flavouring.

  • Flavouring
Is it a concern?
Critical concern: classified for carcinogenic, mutagenic or reproductive toxicity (CMR). It is banned in EU cosmetics.

Why it's flagged

  • Cmr

Hexan-2-one (Methyl butyl ketone) 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(when C=>5%)

    banned
    View source →
  • EUCosIngActiveCosmetics Regulation annex II / ref 1074.
    • Cosmetics Regulation annex II / ref 1074.Source →
  • USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 24 composition records across product categories including Vehicle, Laboratory supplies, Home maintenance. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Flavouring and nutrient.
    • EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 24 composition records across product categories including Vehicle, Laboratory supplies, Home maintenance. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Flavouring and nutrient.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-Hexanone. 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-Hexanone 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 2010-10-21

    Open →
  • EPA Chemical and Products Database

    exposure · updated March 8, 2019

    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-Hexanone in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Source records

24

Named organisations

4

VehicleLaboratory suppliesHome maintenanceIndustrial products

Typical roles

Flavouring
See products using 2-Hexanone →