Carvacrol on your skin: a safety profile

What is carvacrol?

The IUPAC name is 2-methyl-5-propan-2-ylphenol.

Also known as: 2-methyl-5-propan-2-ylphenol, 5-Isopropyl-2-methylphenol, Isopropyl-o-cresol, Antioxine.

IUPAC name

2-methyl-5-propan-2-ylphenol

CAS number

499-75-2

Molecular formula

C10H14O

Molecular weight

150.22 g/mol

SMILES

CC1=C(C=C(C=C1)C(C)C)O

PubChem CID

10364

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Carvacrol. The classifications differ — that's the data.

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where you encounter carvacrol

• Personal Care — essential oils, oral care, antiseptics
• Food — spice flavoring (thymol, carvacrol)
• Fragrance — perfume, cologne, scented personal care products, household fragrance products, candles
  Identified in Fragrance Ingredient Safety Priority Research database (2,325 ingredients)

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Carvacrol:

• Thymol (similar)
  Trade-offs: Alternative fragrance ingredient; individual safety profile should be assessed per IFRA standards; sensitization potential varies by compound; patch testing recommended for sensitive individuals.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×
• Tea tree oil
  Trade-offs: Alternative fragrance ingredient; individual safety profile should be assessed per IFRA standards; sensitization potential varies by compound; patch testing recommended for sensitive individuals.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×
• Synthetic antimicrobials
  Trade-offs: Removes 95-99% of dissolved contaminants including metals, PFAS, nitrates; wastes 2-4 gallons per gallon produced (improving with newer systems); removes beneficial minerals; $0.05-0.25/gallon; requires pre-treatment for longevity.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions