Food use
Food-use source coverage is present in the current record.
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.
- beauty
- cleaning
- food
- industrial
4-Methoxybenzaldehyde
CAS 50984-52-6 · 60/100 · High conf.
Also registered as 5 other CAS numbers
26249-15-0 · 68894-36-0 · 721942-53-6 · 2409679-18-9 · 123-11-5
Concern score
60/100High concern based on regulatory listings.
High confidence
4-Methoxybenzaldehyde in plain language
On cosmetic ingredient lists it appears as “Anisaldehyde”.
Also known as Anisaldehyde · P-anisaldehyde · P-methoxybenzaldehyde · Anisic aldehyde · Aubepine · Crategine
Show all 18 names
Obepin · P-formylanisole · 4-Anisaldehyde · 4-Methoxy-benzaldehyde · Anisaldehyd · Para- methoxybenzaldehyde · anisaldehido · benzaldehyde, 4-methoxy- · p-Anisic aldehyde · p-Methoxybenzaldehyde; anise aldehyde; auberine liquid · p-anisaldehyd · para-anisaldehyde
Used in cosmetics as a fragrance ingredient.
- Perfuming
- Fragrance
- Flavouring agent
- Preservative
- Flavouring
- Deodorant
- High concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.
Why it's flagged
EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 411 composition records across product categories including Laboratory supplies, Personal care, Cleaning products and household care.
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
No restrictions found. 4-Methoxybenzaldehyde appears in these published regulatory listings.
- Found in consumer products
- Beauty
- Cleaning
- Industrial
EUEFSAEFSA opinion2 entries
- Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of benzyl alcohols, aldehydes, acids, esters and acetals (chemical group 23) when used as flavourings for all animal species (EFSA FEEDAP)Source →
- Flavouring Group Evaluation 52 (FGE.52): Consideration of hydroxy- and alkoxy substituted benzyl derivatives evaluated by JECFA (57th meeting) structurally related to benzyl alcohols, benzaldehydes, a related acetal, benzoic acids, and related esters evaluated by EFSA in FGE.20 (2005) (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1565/2000 of 18 July 2000) (EFSA AFC)Source →
EUCosIngActiveListed in CosIng inventory for cosmetic use.
- Listed in CosIng inventory for cosmetic use.Source →
GLOBALJECFANo safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agentJECFA evaluation lists ADI No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. Functional class: flavouring agent.
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. Functional class: flavouring agent.Source →
GLOBALJECFAEvaluatedJECFA evaluation record.
- JECFA evaluation record.Source →
USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 411 composition records across product categories including Laboratory supplies, Personal care, Cleaning products and household care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Preservative, Fragrance, Deodorizer.
- EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 411 composition records across product categories including Laboratory supplies, Personal care, Cleaning products and household care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Preservative, Fragrance, Deodorizer.Source →
USFDAlisted in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.
- openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.Source →
Expert safety opinions
Independent scientific assessments cited by the records we hold, with the year and link where the record gives one.
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.
EFSA
European Food Safety Authority
Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of benzyl alcohols, aldehydes, acids, esters and acetals (chemical group 23) when used as flavourings for all animal species (EFSA FEEDAP)
2012 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
Flavouring Group Evaluation 52 (FGE.52): Consideration of hydroxy- and alkoxy substituted benzyl derivatives evaluated by JECFA (57th meeting) structurally related to benzyl alcohols, benzaldehydes, a related acetal, benzoic acids, and related esters evaluated by EFSA in FGE.20 (2005) (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1565/2000 of 18 July 2000) (EFSA AFC)
2008 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
JECFA
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
JECFA evaluation lists ADI No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. Functional class: flavouring agent.
Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →
JECFA evaluation record.
Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →
Evidence & sources
No graded research studies for 4-Methoxybenzaldehyde yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.
Where this comes from
- Open →
CosIng
regulatory · updated 2026-09-23
- Open →
EFSA OpenFoodTox
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
- Open →
EPA Chemical and Products Database
exposure · updated September 2017
- Open →
EPA DSSTox Identifiers
chemistry · updated 2025-12-29
- Open →
FDA GSRS UNII
registry · updated 2026-02-26
- Open →
WHO JECFA Database
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
- Open →
openFDA Substance
registry · updated 2026-05-24
- Open →
PubChem Live Enrichment
chemistry · updated 2026-05-17
Suitability
Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.
Good fit
Fragrance avoidance
Not a strong fit for fragrance avoidance because it carries Fragrance.
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 4-Methoxybenzaldehyde in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.
Source records
411
Named organisations
6
Laboratory suppliesPersonal careCleaning products and household careVehicleCleaning and safety
Typical roles
PerfumingFragranceFlavouring agentPreservativeFlavouringDeodorant
Found in these products
Their ingredient lists include 4-Methoxybenzaldehyde; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.
