Phenoxyethanol
Decode Label flags Phenoxyethanol as a low concern in cosmetics and personal care (skin irritant). It appears in 38 of the 912 published products we have analysed (4.2%).
The concern
Common preservative - capped at 1%; French regulator advises caution for under-3s
Phenoxyethanol is the most widely used paraben-free preservative. The EU limits it to 1% in cosmetics (SCCS has confirmed this is safe for adults), and the French regulator ANSM advised in 2012 against leave-on products containing it for the nappy area of children under three and recommended a lower concentration for them. It can irritate sensitive skin.
Most relevant to
Cited authority
EU Regulation 1223/2009 Annex V (max 1.0%); SCCS opinion SCCS/1575/16; ANSM recommendation (2012)
Linked sources: EU-CosIng →
How common it is in this catalogue
Measured across every product Decode Label has analysed — not estimated, and not taken from anyone else's dataset.
By category
Regulatory position
From the published regulation itself. Each row links to its source.
| Authority | Status | Reference | Scope / limit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU-CosIng | Permitted | Annex V 29 | — max 1.0% | View → |
Identity
- Canonical name
- 2-Phenoxyethanol
- INCI name
- PHENOXYETHANOL
- CAS number
- 122-99-6
- EC number
- 204-589-7
Also appears on labels as
Questions
Is Phenoxyethanol safe?
The concern is cited to EU Regulation 1223/2009 Annex V (max 1.0%); SCCS opinion SCCS/1575/16; ANSM recommendation (2012). Why it is flagged: Common preservative - capped at 1%; French regulator advises caution for under-3s. Decode Label treats it as a low concern in cosmetics and personal care. It appears in 38 of the 912 published products we have analysed (4.2%).
How common is Phenoxyethanol in Indian packaged products?
Decode Label found Phenoxyethanol in 38 of 912 published products (4.2%), most often in Baby & Kids, Skincare, Haircare.
Is Phenoxyethanol restricted or banned anywhere?
Under the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (CosIng), Phenoxyethanol has 1 permitted entry. Each is shown with its annex reference and a link to the source in the Regulatory position table.
Who should be most careful with Phenoxyethanol?
Children; People with sensitive skin; People who are pregnant.
Products containing Phenoxyethanol
38 published products, each with its own full analysis.
Related ingredients
Other entries in the register with the same kind of concern.
Method and limits
- Prevalence counts published products whose decoded ingredient list matches this substance or one of its label synonyms, using the same matching the score itself uses. It describes our catalogue of 912 products, not the Indian market as a whole.
- Presence is not dose. An ingredient list gives order, not quantity, unless the pack declares a percentage. Nothing here estimates how much of this substance any product contains.
- A classification is not a verdict on a product. An agency classifies a substance under defined conditions of exposure; whether that matters in a given food or cosmetic depends on route, concentration and use.
- Last updated. This register entry was last changed on 3 November 2026.
- Corrections. Every figure here is reproducible from the sources named. If something is wrong, tell us and we will correct it and say what changed.