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CarCareTruth

Glycerol

  • Humectants
  • CAS 56-81-5
  • IUPAC: Propane-1,2,3-triol

Glycerol (CAS 56-81-5) appears in 12 of the 2,122 car-care products CarCareTruth tracks (as of August 2026). It is on the EPA Safer Choice list.

Not classified as hazardous under GHS. Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by FDA at consumer concentrations. Not a skin or eye irritant; not an inhalation hazard.

Glycerol (also called glycerin) is a clear, viscous, non-toxic polyol widely used in detailing chemicals as a lubricity and humectant agent — it adds slip to wash solutions and helps surfactants encapsulate dirt. It is one of the safer ingredients in the category, with FDA GRAS status and no GHS classification at typical use concentrations.

Glycerol is fully biodegradable, non-bioaccumulative, and does not contribute to aquatic toxicity. It is on the EPA Safer Choice safer chemical ingredients list. Use in waterless and rinseless wash products at 0.1–1% has no health or environmental concern.

Health & environment profile

VOC
no
Prop 65 listed
no
Asthmagen
no
EPA Safer Choice
yes
Aquatic toxicity
no
Biodegradable
yes
Bioaccumulative
no
Persistent
no
Ozone depleting
no
Microplastic
no
PFAS
no
Env. score
5/5
Purpose: Humectant; lubricity aid; surface-wetting agent

Common questions about Glycerol

What is Glycerol used for in car care?
Humectant; lubricity aid; surface-wetting agent
Is Glycerol a VOC?
No. Glycerol is not classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC).
Is Glycerol on California's Proposition 65 list?
No. Glycerol is not on California's Proposition 65 list.
Is Glycerol EPA Safer Choice certified?
Yes. Glycerol is on the EPA Safer Choice list.

12 products contain this

Related

Health and environment notes translate the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, the GHS classification, and authoritative regulatory listings (California Prop 65, EPA). Not medical advice. They describe the ingredient itself; whether a hazard applies to a finished product depends on its concentration and how it's used.