PLDEFRESITJęzyk: polski
INCI name

METHYL SALICYLATE

Methyl salicylate (wintergreen)

DenaturantOral careSoothingPerfumingFlavouringreviewed

An aromatic ester known for its wintergreen scent.

What it is

Methyl salicylate is the ester of methanol and salicylic acid. It occurs naturally in wintergreen oil and is also produced synthetically. CosIng lists it as denaturant, oral care, soothing, perfuming and flavouring. It is regulated in Annex III of the EU Cosmetics Regulation.

Where it is used

Found in toothpastes, mouthwashes, fragranced products and some body care products.

Limits of interpretation

The INCI list shows which ingredients are present, not how much of each. Above 1%, ingredients are listed in descending order of weight; below 1% the order is free.

Annex III sets different limits for many product types, including oral care and fragrances; see the EU regulation section for the applicable limits.

Functions

Denaturant
Rendering cosmetics unpalatable. Mostly added to cosmetics containing ethyl alcohol to make it unsuitable for ingestion.
Oral care
Providing cosmetic effects to the oral cavity, e.g. cleansing, deodorising, protecting.
Soothing
Lightening discomfort of the skin or of the scalp.
Perfuming
Used for perfume and aromatic raw materials.
Flavouring
Imparting taste and/or flavour to a cosmetic product.

EU regulation

EU · Annex III, entry 324Methyl 2-hydroxybenzoate
Product type
(a) Leave-on skin products (except face makeup, spray/aerosol body lotion, spray/aerosol deodorant and hydroalcoholic-based fragrances) and leave on hair products (except spray/aerosol products) (b) Face makeup (except lip products, eye makeup and makeup remover) (c) Eye makeup and makeup remover (d) Leave-on hair products (spray/aerosol) (e) Deodorant spray/aerosol (f) Body lotion spray/aerosol (g) Rinse-off skin products (except hand wash) and rinse-off hair products (h) Hand wash (i) Hydroalcoholic-based fragrances (j) Lip products (k) Toothpaste (l) Mouthwash intended for children aged 6–10 years (m) Mouthwash intended for children above 10 years of age and adults (n) Mouth spray
Maximum concentration
(a) 0,06 % (b) 0,05 % (c) 0,002 % (d) 0,009 % (e) 0,003 % (f) 0,04 % (g) 0,06 % (h) 0,6 % (i) 0,6 % (j) 0,03 % (k) 2,52 % (l) 0,1 % (m) 0,6 % (n) 0,65 %
As of
3 November 2026 · (EU) 2023/1545

Scientific opinions (SCCS)

Opinions of the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety that mention this ingredient. They assess specific uses and concentrations; read the opinion for its scope.

Products with this ingredient (51)

Check a full ingredient list