Isoamyl salicylate on your skin: a safety profile

What is isoamyl salicylate?

The IUPAC name is 3-methylbutyl 2-hydroxybenzoate.

Also known as: 3-methylbutyl 2-hydroxybenzoate, Isopentyl salicylate, 3-Methylbutyl salicylate, Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, 3-methylbutyl ester.

IUPAC name

3-methylbutyl 2-hydroxybenzoate

CAS number

87-20-7

Molecular formula

C12H16O3

Molecular weight

208.25 g/mol

SMILES

CC(C)CCOC(=O)C1=CC=CC=C1O

PubChem CID

6874

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Isoamyl salicylate. 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 isoamyl salicylate

• Personal Care — perfume, sunscreen, lotion
• 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 Isoamyl salicylate:

• Hexyl salicylate
  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×
• Benzyl salicylate (with limits)
  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