Benzyl Salicylate

Synthetic Ingredient Overview

• 🔎 Chemical name — Benzyl 2-hydroxybenzoate

• 🧪 Synonyms — Benzyl Salicylate

• 🧬 Chemical Formula** — C₁₄H₁₂O₃

• 📂 CAS N° — 118-58-1

• 📘 FEMA — Not listed

• ⚖️ MW — 228.24 g/mol

• 🔥 Boiling Point — ~320°C

• 🧪 Chemical Class — Salicylate ester

• 📝 Odor type — Balsamic Floral

• 📈 Odor Strength — Low impact, high tenacity

• 👃🏼 Odor Profile — Floral trifle, monoï, frangipani, coconut sunscreen

• ⚗️ Uses — Background floral blender; tropical floral bases; long-lasting fixative for cosmetic and fine fragrance use

• 🧴 Appearance — Almost colorless to pale yellow oily liquid

What is Benzyl Salicylate?

Benzyl Salicylate is a synthetic salicylate ester primarily used in fragrance formulations and personal care products. It occurs naturally in certain plants but is industrially produced to ensure consistency and cost-effectiveness. Structurally, it is the benzyl ester of salicylic acid, and it appears as a nearly odorless liquid to some, while others perceive a soft, sweet-floral and balsamic scent.

Though sometimes described as faint, perfumers note its ability to impart:

• A rounded floral effect

• A sunscreen-like warmth

• A trifle or monoï note useful in tropical florals

Its presence is crucial in floral background construction, especially in white flower accords (jasmine, frangipani, ylang-ylang), and it is also used as a UV absorber and product stabilizer in formulations.

Olfactory Profile and Perfumery Applications

Benzyl Salicylate exhibits:

• Floral softness, suited for background building

• Warm, coconut-tropical impressions, often linked to sunscreen

• Mild muskiness, with a persistent balsamic undertone

Typical uses:

• Tropical florals (monoï, frangipani)

• Sunscreen-type accords

• White flower blends

• Functional fragrance systems (e.g., soaps, haircare, lotions)

While its impact is low, its fixative performance is strong, making it ideal for binding short-lived top notes to longer-lasting heart materials.

Regulatory and Safety Overview

• IFRA — Benzyl Salicylate is regulated under current IFRA standards due to its potential as a skin sensitizer

• EU Cosmetic Regulation (Annex III) — Listed among the 26 regulated fragrance allergens

• FEMA Status — Not registered for food or flavor use

• ECHA Classification — Under investigation for potential endocrine-disrupting properties; classified as Suspected Endocrine Disruptor (2020 evaluation pending updates)

• Natural Origin — Occurs naturally in various essential oils but is primarily used in synthetic form

• Sustainability — Synthetic versions are widely produced and compatible with COSMOS and other organic certification schemes (under controlled concentration)

Perfumers’ Note

According to perfumer Fulvio Ciccolo, perception of Benzyl Salicylate’s scent requires a trained nose. While often dismissed as odorless, it exhibits a distinct olfactory identity, notably in its role as a structural floral enhancer. Debate exists over whether the scent arises from trace impurities or molecular interaction, but its effect in finished formulas is well-documented and olfactively meaningful.

Sources

• PubChem Compound Summary for CID 8363 – Benzyl Salicylate

• ECHA Substance Information – Benzyl Salicylate, CAS 118-58-1

• IFRA Standards Documentation – 51st Amendment (Allergens)

• EU Cosmetic Regulation – Annex III allergen list

• INCI Beauty Ingredient Profile – Benzyl Salicylate

• Arctander, Steffen – Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin

• Personal communication and interpretation by Fulvio Ciccolo (Scentspiracy team)