The ester of propanol and benzoic acid, used as a preservative and fragrance ingredient and listed in Annex V.
What it is
Propyl benzoate is the ester of n-propyl alcohol with benzoic acid. CosIng lists it as a fragrance and preservative ingredient. In the EU it is covered by the Annex V entry (allowed preservatives) for salts and esters of benzoic acid.
Where it is used
Appears on the ingredient lists of a small number of 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.
See the EU regulation section for the applicable limits. The label does not show the concentration actually used.
Functions
- Fragrance
- Imparting an odour or taste. Creating a perceivable pleasant smell and/or masking a bad smell.
- Preservative
- 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.
EU regulation
EU · Annex V, entry 1aSalts of benzoic acid other than that listed under reference number 1 and esters of benzoic acid
- Maximum concentration
- 0.5% (acid)
- As of
- 3 November 2026 · (EC) 2009/1223