Used in cosmetics as an antimicrobial and a fragrance ingredient.

We haven't assessed a concern score for this ingredient yet. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.

beauty
cleaning
industrial
pharma

Cresol

CAS 8003-33-6

Also registered as 6 other CAS numbers

8006-62-0 · 8026-94-6 · 8027-16-5 · 52037-47-5 · 116804-25-2 · 1319-77-3

Concern score

Not assessed — no hazard data yet.

Cresol in plain language

What it is: On cosmetic ingredient lists it appears as “Mixed cresols”.
Also known as Mixed cresols · Cresol (mixed isomers) · Cresols (o-, m-, and p-cresol) · Cresylic acid · Methylphenol · Phenol, methyl-
Show all 14 names
Tricresol · mixed Cresol · Cresylol · Fenol, metil- · Kresol · puro cresol · cresols · Cresolum
What it does: Used in cosmetics as an antimicrobial and a fragrance ingredient.
Antimicrobial
Perfuming
Fragrance
Is it a concern?: We haven't assessed a concern score for this ingredient yet. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.

Regulation

No restrictions found. Cresol appears in these published regulatory listings.

In marketed US drugs

Recorded in these product areas

Found in consumer products
Cleaning
Industrial

EUCosIngActiveListed in CosIng inventory for cosmetic use.
- Listed in CosIng inventory for cosmetic use.Source →
USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 223 composition records across product categories including Vehicle, Arts and crafts/office supplies, Unknown or Indeterminate. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Biocide, Fragrance.
- EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 223 composition records across product categories including Vehicle, Arts and crafts/office supplies, Unknown or Indeterminate. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Biocide, Fragrance.Source →
USFDAmarketed drug occurrenceFDA NDC lists this ingredient in 7 active drug products and 7 total products.
- FDA NDC lists this ingredient in 7 active drug products and 7 total products.Source →
USFDAlisted in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as mixture.
- openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as mixture.Source →

Expert safety opinions

No expert opinion on file for Cresol. 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 Cresol yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.

6 data sources

Where this comes from

CosIng
regulatory · updated 2026-09-23
Open →
EPA Chemical and Products Database
exposure · updated July 2006
Open →
EPA DSSTox Identifiers
chemistry · updated 2025-12-29
Open →
FDA National Drug Code Directory
regulatory · updated 2026-12-31
Open →
FDA GSRS UNII
registry · updated 2026-02-26
Open →
openFDA Substance
registry · updated 2026-05-24
Open →

Suitability

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

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

Source records

223

Named organisations

VehicleArts and crafts/office suppliesUnknown or IndeterminateCleaning and safetySpecialty occupational productsElectronics/small appliances

Typical roles

AntimicrobialPerfumingFragrance

See products using Cresol →