Worth a closer look
Evidence key Strong Moderate Weak How we grade
Skin allergen Suspected reproductive toxicant Scent ingredient Restricted in the EU Limited by IFRA
- What it can be used for
- Adds scent (the functions the EU ingredient database, CosIng, lists for it; a product may use it for any of them)
- CAS number
- 6259-76-3
Why it’s flagged
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 suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child.
- EU classification Repr. 2. Source: EU CLP Regulation, Annex VI harmonized classification
EU Repr. 2: suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child.
Used to add scent: its official function is perfuming or fragrance.
- Listed functions: fragrance, perfuming. Source: EU CosIng ingredient database
The EU ingredient database (CosIng) lists this ingredient's function as perfuming or fragrance, so it may be there to add scent, even on a label that never says “fragrance.”
Allowed in EU cosmetics only with limits.
- Annex III entry 380; products: (a) Hydroalcoholic-based fragrances (except hydroalcoholic-based fragrances intended for children below 3 years of age); (b) All rinse-off products (except show; max (a) 2 %; (b) 0,5 %; (c) 0,3 %; (d) 0,001 %; (e) 0,001 %; (f) 0,1 %; Not to be used in preparations for children under 3 years of age, with the exception of (d) “Toothpaste” and (f). Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation, Annex III (restricted)
Annex III (restricted substances) or Annex V (preservatives) of the EU Cosmetics Regulation sets maximum amounts, allowed product types or required warnings.
Use limited by the fragrance industry's own IFRA standard.
- IFRA standard “Hexyl salicylate”: use limited. Source: IFRA Standards Library
IFRA, the fragrance industry's own standards body, sets maximum amounts for this material in different kinds of products.
What the research says
- If you have fragrance allergy, look for benzyl salicylate on the ingredient list (and hexyl salicylate, which cross-reacted with it in human tests); EU rules require named fragrance allergens to be declared above threshold. Moderate evidence. RIFM Expert Panel / Belsito 2007 Industry-funded
About ingredients flagged like this one:
- 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.