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Ethyl vanillin

CAS 121-32-4 · 40/100 · High conf.

Ethyl vanillin chemical structure

Concern score

40/100Moderate concern based on regulatory listings.
High confidence

Ethyl vanillin in plain language

What it is

Also known as 3-Ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde · Bourbonal · Ethylvanillin · Arovanillon · Ethyl protocatechuic aldehyde · Protocatechuic aldehyde ethyl ether

Show all 26 names

Rhodiarome · Vanillal · 2-Ethoxy-4-formylphenol · 3-Ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyd · 3-Ethoxyprotocatechualdehyde · 3-etoxi-4-hidroxibenzaldehido · 4-HYDROXY-3-ETHOXYBENZALDEHYDE · Aethylvanillin · Ethavan · Ethovan · Ethyl protal · Ethylprotal · Ethylprotocatechuic aldehyde · J2.006K · Quantrovanil · Vanilal · Vanillin, ethyl- · Vanirom · Vanirome · benzaldehyde, 3-ethoxy-4-hydroxy

What it does

Used in cosmetics as a soothing agent and a fragrance ingredient.

  • Soothing
  • Fragrance
  • Flavouring agent
  • Humectant
  • pH adjuster
  • Flavouring
Is it a concern?
Moderate 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 556 composition records across product categories including Personal care, Construction, 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. Ethyl vanillin appears in these published regulatory listings.

  • Inactive ingredient in US drugs

Recorded in these product areas

  • Found in consumer products
  • Beauty
  • Cleaning
  • Pharma
  • Food
  • Industrial
  • USFDAinactive ingredient database5 entries
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SUSPENSION; Potency: 0.08 mg/5mlSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SYRUP; Potency: NASource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: PASTE; Maximum daily exposure: 7 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE; Potency: 0.64 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE, EXTENDED RELEASE; Potency: NASource →
  • EUCosIngActiveListed in CosIng inventory for cosmetic use.
    • Listed in CosIng inventory for cosmetic use.Source →
  • EUEFSAEFSA opinionFlavouring 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)
    • 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 →
  • GLOBALJECFAEvaluatedJECFA evaluation record.
  • GLOBALJECFA0-3 mg/kg bw (1995)JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-3 mg/kg bw (1995). Functional class: flavouring agent.
    • JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-3 mg/kg bw (1995). Functional class: flavouring agent.Source →
  • USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 556 composition records across product categories including Personal care, Construction, Cleaning products and household care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Fragrance, Deodorizer, Humectant.
    • EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 556 composition records across product categories including Personal care, Construction, Cleaning products and household care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Fragrance, Deodorizer, Humectant.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

    • 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 record.

      Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →

    • JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-3 mg/kg bw (1995). Functional class: flavouring agent.

      Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →

Evidence & sources

No graded research studies for Ethyl 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 →

  • EFSA OpenFoodTox

    regulatory · updated 2026-10-04

    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 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

    Open →
Reference links (1)
Openfda substance

nikkajiweb.jst.go.jp

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

Source records

556

Named organisations

6

Personal careConstructionCleaning products and household careCleaning and safetyVehicleFood and drug

Typical roles

SoothingFragranceFlavouring agentHumectantpH adjusterFlavouring
See products using Ethyl vanillin →

Catalog

Found in these products

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

See all 124 →Find products without it →