beauty
cleaning
food
industrial

Alcohol

CAS 42845-45-4 · 60/100 · High conf.

Also registered as 4 other CAS numbers

8000-16-6 · 8024-45-1 · 121182-78-3 · 64-17-5

Concern score

60/100High concern based on regulatory listings.

High confidence

Alcohol in plain language

What it is: On cosmetic ingredient lists it appears as “Alcohol denat.”.
Also known as Alcohol denat. · Dehydrated alcohol · Ethyl alcohol · Ethanol · Denatured alcohol · Anhydrous ethanol
Show all 48 names
Sda alcohol · Ethanol in alcoholic beverages · Sd alcohol · Diluted alcohol · Vodka · Alcohol anhydrous · Alcohol denatured · Alcohol determination--alcohol · Absolute alcohol · Dehydrated ethanol · Edible alcohol · Absolute ethyl alcohol · Dehydrated ethyl alcohol · Grain alcohol · Tecsol · 1-HYDROXYETHANE · Ablysinol · Aethanol · Absolute ethanol · Aethylalkohol · Alcare Hand Degermer · Algrain · Alkohol · Anhydrol · Denatured ethanol · Ethyl alcohol & water · EtOH · Ethanol 200 proof · Ethyl hydrate · Ethyl hydroxide · Hydroxyethane · Jaysol S · Methylcarbinol · NCI-C03134 · PM-6193-200 · Potato alcohol · Proprietary · ethyl alcohol (ethanol) · Avagard component alcohol · Ethylicum · HBN-1 component ethanol · alcoholum / ethanolum
What it does: Used in cosmetics as an antimicrobial, a solvent and an astringent. Alcohol is undenatured ethyl alcohol.
Antimicrobial
Solvent
Astringent
Antifoaming
Viscosity controlling
Fragrance
Is it a concern?: 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 16385 composition records across product categories including Personal care, Construction and building materials, Furniture and furnishings.

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. Alcohol appears in these published regulatory listings.

In marketed US drugs
Inactive ingredient in US drugs

Recorded in these product areas

Found in consumer products
Beauty
Cleaning
Industrial

USFDAinactive ingredient database59 entries — 16 administration routes
- Route: INTRAMUSCULAR; Dosage form: LIQUID; Maximum daily exposure: 400 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAVASCULAR; Dosage form: INJECTION; Potency: 100 %v/vSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION; Potency: 92 %w/vSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, EMULSION; Maximum daily exposure: 520 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, SOLUTION; Maximum daily exposure: 6405 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: LIQUID; Maximum daily exposure: 400 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Maximum daily exposure: 99 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: SOLUTION, CONCENTRATE; Maximum daily exposure: 4000 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAVESICAL; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Maximum daily exposure: 7892 mgSource →
- Route: NASAL; Dosage form: AEROSOL; Potency: 20 mgSource →
- Route: NASAL; Dosage form: AEROSOL, METERED; Potency: 70 mgSource →
- Route: NASAL; Dosage form: DROPS; Potency: 10 mg/1mlSource →
- Route: NASAL; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: 10 mg/1mlSource →
- Route: NASAL; Dosage form: SPRAY; Maximum daily exposure: 20 mgSource →
- Route: OPHTHALMIC; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: 0.5 %w/vSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE; Maximum daily exposure: 882 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE, EXTENDED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 8 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CONCENTRATE; Potency: 198 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: DROPS; Potency: 210 mg/1mlSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: ELIXIR; Maximum daily exposure: 3744 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: LIQUID; Maximum daily exposure: 3563 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Maximum daily exposure: 6624 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SOLUTION, CONCENTRATE; Potency: 150.68 mg/1mlSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SUSPENSION; Maximum daily exposure: 681 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SYRUP; Maximum daily exposure: 21000 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, DELAYED RELEASE; Potency: NASource →
- Route: RECTAL; Dosage form: GEL; Maximum daily exposure: 898 mgSource →
- Route: RECTAL; Dosage form: SUSPENSION; Potency: 0.35 %v/vSource →
- Route: RESPIRATORY (INHALATION); Dosage form: AEROSOL, METERED; Maximum daily exposure: 52 mgSource →
- Route: RESPIRATORY (INHALATION); Dosage form: AEROSOL, SPRAY; Potency: 35.75 %w/wSource →
- Route: RESPIRATORY (INHALATION); Dosage form: LIQUID; Potency: 5 %w/wSource →
- Route: RESPIRATORY (INHALATION); Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: 0.08 %w/vSource →
- Route: SUBCUTANEOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION; Maximum daily exposure: 149 mgSource →
- Route: SUBCUTANEOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, SOLUTION; Potency: 6.1 %v/vSource →
- Route: SUBLINGUAL; Dosage form: SPRAY; Maximum daily exposure: 397 mgSource →
- Route: SUBLINGUAL; Dosage form: SPRAY, METERED; Maximum daily exposure: 29 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: AEROSOL; Maximum daily exposure: 561 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: AEROSOL, FOAM; Maximum daily exposure: 4504 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: AEROSOL, SPRAY; Maximum daily exposure: 561 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: GEL; Maximum daily exposure: 9971 mgSource →
- + 19 more entries not shown
EUCosIngActive2 entries
- Alcohol is undenatured ethyl alcohol that conforms to the formula:Source →
- Alcohol Denat. is ethyl alcohol that is denatured with one or more denaturing agents in accordance with the national legislation of each European Community (EU) country.Source →
EUEFSAEFSA opinion2 entries
- Scientific Opinion on the evaluation of the substances currently on the list in the Annex to Commission Directive 96/3/EC as acceptable previous cargoes for edible fats and oils - Part I of III (EFSA CONTAM)Source →
- Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of straight-chain primary aliphatic alcohols/aldehydes/acids, acetals and esters with esters containing saturated alcohols and acetals containing saturated aldehydes (chemical group 1) when used as flavourings for all animal species (EFSA FEEDAP)Source →
USFDAlisted in openFDA substance2 entries
- openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.Source →
- openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as concept.Source →
EUEFSAConclusion on Pesticides Peer ReviewPeer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance ethanol (EFSA)
- Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance ethanol (EFSA)Source →
GLOBALJECFAEvaluatedJECFA evaluation record.
- JECFA evaluation record.Source →
GLOBALJECFALIMITED BY GMP (use as solvent, 1970)JECFA evaluation lists ADI LIMITED BY GMP (use as solvent, 1970). Functional class: flavouring agent, carrier solvent, extraction solvent.
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI LIMITED BY GMP (use as solvent, 1970). Functional class: flavouring agent, carrier solvent, extraction solvent.Source →
USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 16385 composition records across product categories including Personal care, Construction and building materials, Furniture and furnishings. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Solvent, Biocide, Delivery vehicle.
- EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 16385 composition records across product categories including Personal care, Construction and building materials, Furniture and furnishings. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Solvent, Biocide, Delivery vehicle.Source →
USFDAmarketed drug occurrenceFDA NDC lists this ingredient in 2337 active drug products and 2524 total products.
- FDA NDC lists this ingredient in 2337 active drug products and 2524 total products.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 evaluation of the substances currently on the list in the Annex to Commission Directive 96/3/EC as acceptable previous cargoes for edible fats and oils - Part I of III (EFSA CONTAM)
  2011 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of straight-chain primary aliphatic alcohols/aldehydes/acids, acetals and esters with esters containing saturated alcohols and acetals containing saturated aldehydes (chemical group 1) when used as flavourings for all animal species (EFSA FEEDAP)
  2013 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance ethanol (EFSA)
  2009 · 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 LIMITED BY GMP (use as solvent, 1970). Functional class: flavouring agent, carrier solvent, extraction solvent.
  Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →

Evidence & sources

No graded research studies for Alcohol yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.

10 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 september-22-2016
Open →
EPA DSSTox Identifiers
chemistry · updated 2025-12-29
Open →
FDA Inactive Ingredient Database
regulatory · updated 2026-01-09
Open →
FDA National Drug Code Directory
regulatory · updated 2049-12-31
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 (3)

Openfda substance

ncats.nih.gov

Read →

Openfda substance

en.wikipedia.org

Read →

Openfda substance

hibernaid.com

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

Source records

16,385

Named organisations

Personal careConstruction and building materialsFurniture and furnishingsRaw materialsIndustrial productsSpecialty occupational products

Typical roles

AntimicrobialSolventAstringentAntifoamingViscosity controllingFragrance

See products using Alcohol →

Catalog

Found in these products

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

See all 1000+ →Find products without it →

Co-occurrence

Often appears with

Ingredients that frequently appear alongside Alcohol in the catalog.