What does Methyl 4-methoxybenzoate do?

Used in cosmetics as a fragrance ingredient.

Is Methyl 4-methoxybenzoate safe?

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

beauty
cleaning

Methyl 4-methoxybenzoate

CAS 121-98-2

Concern score

Not assessed — no hazard data yet.

Methyl 4-methoxybenzoate in plain language

What it is: On cosmetic ingredient lists it appears as “Methyl p-anisate”.
Also known as Methyl p-anisate · Methyl anisate · Anisate · Benzoic acid, 4-METHOXY-, methyl ester · Methyl ester p-anisic acid · 4-Methoxybenzoic acid methyl ester
Show all 11 names
4-methoxy methylbenzoate · Benzoic acid, p-methoxy-, methyl ester · Methyl 4-Anisate · Methyl p-methoxybenzoate · p-Methoxybenzoic acid methyl ester
What it does: Used in cosmetics as a fragrance ingredient.
Perfuming
Fragrance
Flavouring
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. Methyl 4-methoxybenzoate appears in these published regulatory listings.

Recorded in these product areas

Found in consumer products
Cleaning

EUCosIngActiveListed in CosIng inventory for cosmetic use.
- Listed in CosIng inventory for cosmetic use.Source →
USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 4 composition records across product categories including Cleaning products and household care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Fragrance, No specific technical function, Flavouring and nutrient.
- EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 4 composition records across product categories including Cleaning products and household care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Fragrance, No specific technical function, 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 Methyl 4-methoxybenzoate. 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 Methyl 4-methoxybenzoate 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 March 2000
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

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 Methyl 4-methoxybenzoate in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Source records

Named organisations

Cleaning products and household care

Typical roles

PerfumingFragranceFlavouring

See products using Methyl 4-methoxybenzoate →