What it is
In the register’s words: “Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol.”
- EU register name (INCI)
- BENZYL ALCOHOL
- CAS number
- 100-51-6
- EC number
- 202-859-9
What the register lists it for
These are the uses the European Commission’s CosIng register lists for Benzyl Alcohol in any cosmetic, hair roles first. They say why a maker might add it, not what it does in one formula, and they aren’t a safety rating.
- Preservative
-
Stops bacteria, mold and yeast growing in the bottle. EU law allows only the preservatives on its own list for this role.
Register definition: “Exclusively or mainly intended to inhibit the development of micro-organisms in the cosmetic product. All authorised preservatives are substances in the positive list of Annex V to the Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009.”
- Solvent
-
Dissolves other ingredients. Water is the most common; some alcohols and glycols carry this role too.
Register definition: “Dissolving other components of cosmetics. Solvents are usually liquids (aqueous and nonaqueous).”
- Viscosity controlling
-
Makes a product thicker or thinner, so a gel holds its shape or a shampoo pours. Gums, cellulose and some salts carry this role.
Register definition: “Increasing or decreasing the viscosity (thickness) of cosmetics.”
- Perfuming
-
Used as a perfume or scent material. Essential oils and their scent compounds, such as linalool and limonene, carry this role.
Register definition: “Used for perfume and aromatic raw materials.”
Where it sits on each label
US labels list ingredients from most to least, except that those at 1% or less may follow in any order. A name near the top is a large part of the formula. A label doesn’t mark where the 1% point falls, so further down, the order says little about how much is in it.
- Shampoos 5 labels First five names: 0 of 5 Shampoos without it
- Clarifying shampoos 3 labels First five names: 0 of 3 Clarifying shampoos without it
- Rinse-out conditioners 5 labels First five names: 0 of 5 Rinse-out conditioners without it
- Deep conditioners 8 labels First five names: 0 of 8 Deep conditioners without it
- Leave-in conditioners 7 labels First five names: 0 of 7 Leave-in conditioners without it
- Stylers 11 labels First five names: 0 of 11 Stylers without it
- Protein treatments 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Protein treatments without it
- Heat protectants 4 labels First five names: 0 of 4 Heat protectants without it
- Hair oils 2 labels First five names: 0 of 2 Hair oils without it
- Curl refreshers 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Curl refreshers without it
Every label, product by product (47)
- Bouclème Curl Cleanser Shampoo 8th of 35 names
- Bouclème Fragrance Free Curl Cleanser Shampoo 6th of 18 names
- Ouidad Curl Quencher Moisturizing Shampoo Shampoo 31st of 37 names
- OLAPLEX Nº.4CURL Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Shampoo Shampoo 56th of 62 names
- Giovanni Curl Habit Curl Defining Shampoo Shampoo 31st of 31 names
- Jessicurl Clarifying Shampoo Clarifying shampoo 7th of 19 names
- Ouidad Water Works Clarifying Shampoo Clarifying shampoo 19th of 33 names
- Malibu C Un-Do-Goo Shampoo Clarifying shampoo 15th of 16 names
- Bouclème Fragrance Free Curl Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 7th of 17 names
- Aussie Miracle Curls Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 11th of 16 names
- Bouclème Curl Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 29th of 38 names
- Innersense Organic Beauty Hydrating Cream Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 33rd of 38 names
- Kristin Ess Moisture Rich Curl Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 39th of 41 names
- Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Deep Hydration Mask Deep conditioner 20th of 30 names
- Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Curls Deep Conditioner Deep conditioner 9th of 13 names
- Bouclème Intensive Moisture Treatment Deep conditioner 38th of 50 names
- Innersense Organic Beauty Hydrating Hair Mask Deep conditioner 47th of 54 names
- Kristin Ess Strand Strengthening Reconstructive Moisture Mask Deep conditioner 45th of 50 names
- Mielle Babassu & Mint Deep Conditioner Deep conditioner 36th of 38 names
- Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask Deep conditioner 40th of 40 names
- Giovanni Curl Habit Curl Defining Deep Conditioning Hair Mask Deep conditioner 24th of 24 names
- Bouclème Curl Cream Leave-in conditioner 11th of 38 names
- Aussie Miracle Curls Leave-In Detangling Milk Leave-in conditioner 12th of 22 names
- Aunt Jackie's Quench! Moisture Intensive Leave-In Conditioner Leave-in conditioner 21st of 31 names
- Innersense Organic Beauty Sweet Spirit Leave In Conditioner Leave-in conditioner 17th of 24 names
- Bouclème Fragrance Free Curl Cream Leave-in conditioner 16th of 17 names
- Briogeo Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk Leave-In Conditioning Spray Leave-in conditioner 24th of 24 names
- Giovanni Direct Leave-In Weightless Moisture Conditioner Leave-in conditioner 20th of 20 names
- PATTERN Curl Gel Styler 8th of 38 names
- tgin Curl Bomb Moisturizing Styling Gel Styler 18th of 27 names
- Ouidad Curl Quencher Moisturizing Styling Gel Styler 29th of 38 names
- Cécred Moisture Sealing Lotion Styler 38th of 48 names
- TRESemmé Bouncy Curls Defining Cream Styler 20th of 25 names
- Bouclème Curl Defining Gel Styler 25th of 31 names
- Bouclème Super Hold Styler Styler · listed as **Benzyl Alcohol 40th of 48 names
- Bouclème Fragrance Free Curl Defining Gel Styler 10th of 12 names
- Bouclème Super Volumising Foam Styler 31st of 36 names
- Giovanni Curl Habit Curl Shaping Hair Gel Styler 21st of 21 names
- Mielle Honey & Ginger Styling Gel Styler 17th of 17 names
- Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! MegaStrength+ Rice Water Protein + Moisture Strengthening Treatment Protein treatment 27th of 35 names
- Curlsmith Curlshield Cream Heat protectant 16th of 37 names
- TRESemmé Protecting Heat Styling Spray Heat protectant 22nd of 29 names
- Bouclème Curl Defence Spray Heat protectant · listed as †Benzyl Alcohol 30th of 35 names
- Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection & Heat Protectant Crème Heat protectant 30th of 30 names
- Curlsmith Bonding Oil Hair oil 15th of 21 names
- Bouclème Revive 5 Hair Oil Hair oil · listed as †Benzyl Alcohol 27th of 31 names
- Curlsmith Shake & Shine Curl refresher 35th of 51 names
Each line runs from the first name on a label to the last; a dot is where this ingredient sits. Makers change formulas now and then; if the list on your bottle differs, go by your bottle.
Your next step
Other preservative ingredients on these labels
- Dehydroacetic Acid 23 labels
- Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate 10 labels
- Methylchloroisothiazolinone 6 labels
- Methylisothiazolinone 6 labels
- Diazolidinyl Urea 5 labels
- DMDM Hydantoin 3 labels
- Propylparaben 2 labels
Updated · The name, numbers and uses come from the European Commission’s CosIng entry (CC BY 4.0); we write the uses in US spelling and put the hair ones first. The labels are each maker’s own. The order rule is the FDA’s Cosmetics Labeling Guide. All our sources are on the Sources page.