Cinnamyl alcohol on your skin: a safety profile

What is cinnamyl alcohol?

The IUPAC name is (E)-3-phenylprop-2-en-1-ol.

Also known as: (E)-3-phenylprop-2-en-1-ol, 3-PHENYL-2-PROPEN-1-OL, cinnamic alcohol, (E)-cinnamyl alcohol.

IUPAC name

(E)-3-phenylprop-2-en-1-ol

CAS number

104-54-1

Molecular formula

C9H10O

Molecular weight

134.17 g/mol

SMILES

C1=CC=C(C=C1)C=CCO

PubChem CID

5315892

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Cinnamyl alcohol. 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 cinnamyl alcohol

• Personal Care — perfume, soap, lotion, shampoo
• Consumer Products — cleaning products, air fresheners
• 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 Cinnamyl alcohol:

• Phenylethyl alcohol (rose)
  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×
• Benzyl alcohol
  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×

Frequently asked questions