BUTYLPHENYL METHYLPROPIONAL

Name / description

Butylphenyl Methylpropional; p-tert-Butyl-alpha-methyldihydrocinnamic Aldehyde; 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl)propionaldehyde (BMHCA); Lilial®

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Function(s) of this ingredient in cosmetic products

FRAGRANCE

Enhances the smell of a product and / or perfumes the skin

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Origin

synthetic

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Occurrence in cosmetics

Perfumes, toilet waters, aftershaves, various perfumed cosmetics Use of BMHCA in cosmetic products has been prohibited as of March 1, 2022.

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Background information on use in cosmetics

Butylphenyl Methylpropional was used in different cosmetic products as a fragrance and has a soft, flowery scent character, which is reminiscent of the scent of lilies of the valley. Declarable fragrance in accordance with Article 19 Para 1g of the EC Cosmetics Regulation.

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Information on safe use

Because of their allergological relevance 26 individual fragrances must be declared in the EU on the packaging of cosmetic products separately. These are alpha-isomethyl ionone, amyl cinnamal, amylcinnamyl alcohol, anise alcohol, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, benzyl cinnamate, benzyl salicylate, butylphenyl methylpropional, cinnamal, cinnamyl alcohol, citral, citronellol, coumarin, eugenol, Evernia furfuracea extract, Evernia prunastri extract, farnesol, geraniol, hexyl cinnamal, hydroxycitronellal, hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde, isoeugenol, limonene, linalool und methyl 2-octynoate. The labelling of these substances helps allergy sufferers who know that they react allergically to one or more of these substances, to avoid the products. According to a large European study approximately 2 % of the population suffer from a contact allergy against at least one fragrance, whereby women are affected twice as often as men. If there is an initial suspicion of a fragrance allergy, the allergist can carry out an epicutaneous test with two standardised fragrance series (the so-called fragrance mixes 1 and 2). In this connection the suspected allergens are fixed for two days in small cavities with a plaster on the skin on the back. It is observed whether a reaction with reddening and inflammation of the skin, ie an eczema develops in the test field. The two test series of allergenic fragrances allow the identification of a general sensitisation to fragrances in 70 to 80 % of the cases. Because of the partly very low concentration of individual fragrances in cosmetics the threshold concentration to trigger a contact allergy reaction of a substance vis a vis which there is a sensitisation is in many cases not reached under the application conditions, in particular for products which are rinsed off again after use (so-called rinse-off products). In the event of a positive test reaction to a fragrance mix it is by all means required to retest the individual components of the mix. Only then is it possible to precisely state the substances to which the person is allergic.

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Links to scientific assessments

Opinion of the SCCS (2019) on the safety as cosmetic ingredient

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Further information

For the clarification of a suspicion of a contact allergy this substance can be routinely tested in the epicutaneous test at the dermatologist.

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Belongs to the following substance groups

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Regulating cosmetics

Cosmetics Ingredients are subject to regulation. Please note, different regulations may apply to cosmetic ingredients outside the EU.