Musk ketone on your skin: a safety profile

What is musk ketone?

The IUPAC name is 1-(4-tert-butyl-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-dinitrophenyl)ethanone.

Also known as: 1-(4-tert-butyl-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-dinitrophenyl)ethanone, 4'-tert-Butyl-2',6'-dimethyl-3',5'-dinitroacetophenone, 2-Acetyl-5-tert-butyl-4,6-dinitroxylene, Acetophenone, 4'-tert-butyl-2',6'-dimethyl-3',5'-dinitro-.

IUPAC name

1-(4-tert-butyl-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-dinitrophenyl)ethanone

CAS number

81-14-1

Molecular formula

C14H18N2O5

Molecular weight

294.30 g/mol

SMILES

CC1=C(C(=C(C(=C1[N+](=O)[O-])C(C)(C)C)[N+](=O)[O-])C)C(=O)C

PubChem CID

6669

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Musk ketone.

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 musk ketone

• Personal Care — perfume, cosmetics, soap
• Consumer Products — detergent, air freshener
• 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 Musk ketone:

• Ethylene brassylate
  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×
• Habanolide
  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×
• Cosmone
  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