Methyl Salicylate

Methyl salicylate is the ester of methanol and salicylic acid, responsible for the characteristic wintergreen scent of many penetrating oils including PB Blaster. It occurs naturally in some plants but is commercially synthesized for use as a fragrance, flavoring, and rubefacient. In penetrating oil formulations it serves primarily as a fragrance component, but methyl salicylate also has mild corrosion-inhibiting properties. At the <1% concentrations used in PB Blaster, the reproductive toxin classification (H360, Repr. 1B) in SDS §2 is product-level — driven by this ingredient's classification — and makes the product's signal word DANGER. At trace concentrations in end-use products, the acute risk from normal application is low, but the H360 classification is what it is. Users who are pregnant or trying to conceive should be aware of this classification and may prefer a product without methyl salicylate.