N/A — synthetic molecule (nature-identical; trace occurrence in green tea, chicory)
Appearance
Colorless, slightly viscous liquid with a faint pleasant aromatic odor
Odor Strength
Medium
Producing Countries
China, Germany, India, United States
Pyramid
Heart
Faintly sweet, rose-like with a clean, slightly medicinal edge. 2-Phenoxyethanol is more preservative than perfume — a functional molecule with a whisper of scent.
Barely perceptible at normal use levels. When concentrated, a faint sweet-floral quality emerges — vaguely rose-like, slightly ether-ish. A mild clinical-clean character underneath. Far less aromatic than most glycols. Not unpleasant, simply quiet. On blotter, it is nearly undetectable after a few minutes.
Evolution over time
Immediately
Immediately
Barely perceptible. Faint sweet-clinical quality if concentrated.
After a few hours
After a few hours
Essentially odorless at normal concentrations.
After a few days
After a few days
No olfactory evolution. Functional ingredient only.
The Full Story
CAS 122-99-6. A glycol ether used primarily as a preservative in cosmetics, though it has a faint aromatic character. The scent is mild — slightly sweet, faintly rose-like, with a clean, almost clinical quality. At typical cosmetic use levels (0.5-1%), it is essentially odorless.
In perfumery terms, 2-phenoxyethanol is a functional ingredient rather than a fragrance component. Its mild, inoffensive odor makes it compatible with most fragrance compositions — unlike parabens or other preservatives that can interfere with scent profiles. It is included in glossaries because perfumers encounter it constantly as a formulation ingredient.
The molecule's antimicrobial activity is broad-spectrum, effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and it has become the most common paraben alternative in the cosmetics industry since the mid-2010s.
2-Phenoxyethanol became the dominant cosmetic preservative after a 2004 study raised concerns about parabens mimicking estrogen. By 2020, it had replaced parabens in an estimated 60% of European skincare products — a massive reformulation wave driven by consumer perception rather than clear scientific consensus on paraben risk.
Extraction & Chemistry
Extraction method: Produced synthetically by the reaction of phenol with ethylene oxide. Entirely industrial. No natural source is commercially relevant. Production is large-scale and cost-effective.
Molecular Formula
C8H10O2
CAS Number
122-99-6
Botanical Name
N/A — synthetic molecule (nature-identical; trace occurrence in green tea, chicory)
IFRA Status
No known restrictions
Synonyms
phenoxyethanol, ethylene glycol monophenyl ether
Physical Properties
Odor Strength
Medium
Lasting Power
84 hours at 100%
Appearance
Colorless, slightly viscous liquid with a faint pleasant aromatic odor
Boiling Point
237.00 to 238.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg
Flash Point
250.00 °F. TCC ( 121.11 °C. )
Specific Gravity
1.10500 to 1.10800 @ 25.00 °C.
Refractive Index
1.53700 to 1.54000 @ 20.00 °C.
Melting Point
12.00 to 14.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg
In Perfumery
Functional preservative rather than a fragrance ingredient. 2-Phenoxyethanol is included in perfumed products as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial, not for its scent. Its mild odor profile makes it preferred over more pungent preservatives. Perfumers account for its presence in formulation but do not use it as a scent element. It appears on ingredient lists of virtually all water-containing cosmetics.
