Skip to content
CarCareTruthProducts · Ranked

Phenoxyethanol

  • Preservatives
  • CAS 122-99-6
  • IUPAC: 2-Phenoxyethanol

Phenoxyethanol (CAS 122-99-6) appears in 6 of the 1,812 car-care products CarCareTruth tracks (as of June 2026).

Widely used preservative in personal care and cleaning products at concentrations typically <1%. No GHS hazard classification at mixture-use concentrations. Generally recognized as safe at low concentrations in rinse-off applications.

Phenoxyethanol (CAS 122-99-6) is a glycol ether used as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial preservative in cosmetics, personal care products, and industrial cleaning formulas. It inhibits bacterial and fungal growth, extending shelf life.

At typical use concentrations (<1%) in cleaning products, phenoxyethanol does not trigger GHS mixture-level classifications. It is moderately biodegradable and does not carry significant aquatic toxicity at ingredient level compared to pyrithione-based biocides.

Health & environment profile

VOC
no
Prop 65 listed
no
Asthmagen
no
EPA Safer Choice
no
Aquatic toxicity
no
Biodegradable
no
Bioaccumulative
no
Persistent
no
Ozone depleting
no
Microplastic
no
PFAS
no
Env. score
5/5
Purpose: Broad-spectrum antimicrobial preservative

Common questions about Phenoxyethanol

What is Phenoxyethanol used for in car care?
Broad-spectrum antimicrobial preservative
Is Phenoxyethanol a VOC?
No. Phenoxyethanol is not classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC).
Is Phenoxyethanol on California's Proposition 65 list?
No. Phenoxyethanol is not on California's Proposition 65 list.

6 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.