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Phenethyl Alcohol

What Phenethyl Alcohol is & what it does

A rose-scented aromatic alcohol that acts as a gentle preservative and natural fragrance. It supports preservation while adding a soft scent.

What is Phenethyl Alcohol and what does it do in sunscreen?

Phenethyl Alcohol is a rose-scented aromatic alcohol that acts as a gentle preservative and a soft natural fragrance. In a sunscreen it helps protect the formula from microbes while adding a subtle scent, and it is often used to support a lighter, more skin-friendly preservative system. It is found naturally in rose and other flowers and can also be made synthetically.

Is Phenethyl Alcohol drying like alcohol?

No. Despite the name, Phenethyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol used in tiny amounts for scent and preservation, not the drying ethanol or alcohol denat. you might be picturing. It does not strip or dry out the skin at the levels used in cosmetics.

Is Phenethyl Alcohol safe?

Yes, for most people. It is a widely used, well-tolerated preservative and fragrance ingredient at the low levels found in cosmetics. Because it is mildly fragrant, a small number of fragrance-sensitive people can react, but it is generally considered gentle.

Does Phenethyl Alcohol clog pores?

No. Phenethyl Alcohol is a light, volatile aromatic alcohol used in very small amounts, not a heavy oil or wax, so it is not a pore-clogging ingredient. If a product breaks you out, the richer emollients in the formula are the more likely cause.

Is Phenethyl Alcohol a preservative or a fragrance?

It is both. Phenethyl Alcohol helps preserve a formula against microbes and at the same time adds a soft, rose-like scent. This dual role is why you may see it listed without a separate fragrance ingredient nearby.

Sunscreens with Phenethyl Alcohol

We rate 131 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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