Red flag
Evidence key Strong Moderate Weak How we grade
Banned by the fragrance industry itself Skin allergen Possible carcinogen Chemical of concern Restricted in the EU
- What it can be used for
- Keeps films flexible (the functions the EU ingredient database, CosIng, lists for it; a product may use it for any of them)
- CAS number
- 140-88-5
Why it’s flagged
Prohibited by the fragrance industry's own IFRA standard.
- IFRA standard “Ethyl acrylate”: prohibited. Source: IFRA Standards Library
IFRA is the fragrance industry's own standards body. Its standards are voluntary; a prohibition means the IFRA standard says not to use the substance in fragrance.
Classified as a skin sensitizer (may cause an allergic skin reaction).
- Skin Sens. 1 (H317). Source: EU CLP Regulation, Annex VI harmonized classification
EU hazard statement H317: may cause an allergic skin reaction.
Classified as a possible or suspected human carcinogen.
- IARC Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans). Source: IARC Monographs list of classifications
IARC Group 2B means possibly carcinogenic to humans. EU Carc. 2 means suspected human carcinogen. These describe a hazard, not the risk at the amount in one product.
Listed as a chemical of concern by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.
- “Acrylates”. Source: Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is an advocacy group. Its profiles explain why it considers these ingredients a concern.
Allowed in EU cosmetics only with limits.
- Annex II entry 435 bans only this form: “Ethyl acrylate, when used as a fragrance ingredient”. Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation, Annex II (prohibited)
Annex III (restricted substances) or Annex V (preservatives) of the EU Cosmetics Regulation sets maximum amounts, allowed product types or required warnings.
What the research says
We have no graded research on Ethyl Acrylate by name yet. About ingredients flagged like this one:
- The fragrance industry's safety system is self-run: by its own 2003 description, companies fund the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials through dues, its expert panel reviews ingredient safety, and conclusions go to the industry's trade body IFRA, which sets voluntary standards for those same companies. No regulator appears in the loop. Strong evidence. Bickers 2003 (RIFM Expert Panel) Industry-funded
- In a survey of 187 US pediatric personal-care products, preservatives (57.8% of products) were a more common source of contact allergens than fragrance (29.4%), even though the products were being screened specifically for hypoallergenic/fragrance-related marketing claims. Moderate evidence. Hamann 2015
Each finding shows its evidence grade. See every graded fact or how we grade.
Don’t want it on you or in your air? Look for “fragrance-free,” not “unscented.” An unscented product can still contain a masking fragrance. Why the words matter.
What this page can’t tell you
These lists describe what a substance can do, its hazard. The risk from one product depends on how much is in it and how you use it, and the label doesn’t say how much.
Not being on a list doesn’t make an ingredient safe. It may never have been assessed.
“Fragrance” or “parfum” on a label can hide this ingredient and many others. In the US, the individual chemicals in a fragrance are rarely named on the label.
Check your products
Check a whole labelProducts that list itEWG Skin DeepShop fragrance-free
“Products that list it” opens Open Beauty Facts, a free database anyone can edit.
Flagged the same way
Official lists checked September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.