BENZYL SALICYLATE
what is BENZYL SALICYLATE?
Synthetic Ingredient For Perfumery Overview
Benzyl salicylate is a salicylic acid benzyl ester, a chemical compound most frequently used in cosmetics as a fragrance additive or UV light absorber.
It is a classified Allergen, Suspected endocrine disruptor, Regulated Organic Compatible (COSKOS Reference).
It appears as an almost colorless liquid with a mild odor described as "very faint, sweet-floral, slightly balsamic" by some, while others smell nothing at all.
I (Fulvio Ciccolo) think that to better understand its odor, one should have a trained sense of smell, therefore stating that benzyl salicylate is practically odorless or have a very poor scent is technically wrong. It has a very distinct smell.
There is debate whether the odor is caused solely by impurities or a genetic predisposition.
It occurs naturally in a variety of plants and plant extracts and is widely used in blends of fragrance materials.
PROFILE
📂 CAS N° — 118-58-1
⚖️ MW — 228.24
Boiling point: 320°C
Chemical Class: Salicylate
📝 Odor Type — Balsamic, Floral
📈 Odor Strength — Low Impact, very high tenacity
👃🏼 Odor Profile — Floral trifle mono frangipane, coconut sunscreen
⚗️ Uses — Widely used as a blender or even better, as a floral background with that particular round sunscreen smell reminiscent of tropical flowers.
Benzyl Salicylate is one of the 26 allergens regulated by Europe. It is produced naturally by many plants and is used as an odorous molecule in scented products: it is known for its light and balsamic, even musky scents. It is also a UV absorbent that stabilizes products. The first sunscreens were also produced from this ingredient, but it was abandoned not being very effective in this area.
This allergen raises many questions and an evaluation by ECHA is scheduled for 2020 to assess a potential endocrine disruption effect.
Sources and Information:
National Center for Biotechnology Information (2022). PubChem Compound Summary for CID 8363, Benzyl salicylate. Retrieved July 8, 2022 from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Benzyl-salicylate.