2-Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethanol · C₈H₁₀O₂ · CAS 122-99-6
The broad-spectrum preservative that replaced parabens across US personal care — and a phenol ether that doubles as a solvent, fixative and dye carrier when the formulation calls for it.
Chelora Chemicals is a 2-phenoxyethanol supplier and sourcing partner serving personal care formulators, ink makers and specialty blenders across the United States, with a batch COA and SDS on every consignment.
- CAS Number
- 122-99-6
- EC Number
- 204-589-7
- Molecular formula
- C₈H₁₀O₂
- Molecular weight
- 138.16 g/mol
- Assay
- 99.0% min
- Grades supplied
- Cosmetic · USP/NF · technical
- Appearance
- Clear colorless oily liquid
- Transport
- Not DG regulated
- HS Code
- 2909 49
Note: grade is the whole question on this line. Cosmetic grade and USP/NF grade differ in the impurity profile and the documentation that comes with them, not the headline assay. If the material is going into a leave-on personal care product or a pharmaceutical preparation, specify the grade and the pharmacopoeia before quoting — retrofitting documentation after delivery is not possible.
From phenol to preservative
2-Phenoxyethanol is made by ethoxylating phenol — one of the shortest routes in the glycol ether family.
Why it matters: phenol and ethylene oxide are both commodity-priced, so 2-PE moves with the aromatics and olefins complex rather than with specialty preservative pricing
What 2-phenoxyethanol is used for
2-Phenoxyethanol is a clear, colorless, slightly oily liquid with a faint rose-like odor, made by reacting phenol with ethylene oxide. Chemically it is the simplest phenyl glycol ether, which is why it behaves both as a solvent and as a preservative depending on where it lands.
Its commercial importance is preservation. It is active against bacteria, yeast and mold, works across a wide pH range, and is stable — which is what moved US personal care formulators onto it as paraben use fell away. It is typically used at 1% or below, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin or caprylyl glycol to broaden the spectrum further.
Grades we quote against
- Cosmetic grade, 99% min. The standard for personal care preservation, with the impurity profile and documentation formulators expect.
- USP/NF grade. For pharmaceutical and parenteral preservative service, supplied against the pharmacopoeial monograph.
- Technical grade. For inks, coatings, dye carriers and industrial solvent use where cosmetic documentation is not required.
- Related products from the same desk: mono ethylene glycol and guaiacol.
Handling character
2-Phenoxyethanol is a combustible liquid, not a flammable one — the flash point sits above 120 °C. The classification that matters is oral toxicity and eye irritation. Full detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear, colorless, slightly viscous liquid |
| Assay (GC) | 99.0% min |
| Water content | 0.2% max |
| Acidity (as acetic acid) | 0.01% max |
| Color (APHA) | 20 max |
| Phenol content | Per grade specification |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Clear colorless oily liquid |
| Molecular weight | 138.16 g/mol |
| Melting point | ≈ 14 °C |
| Boiling point | ≈ 247 °C |
| Density | ≈ 1.102 g/cm³ at 20 °C |
| Flash point | ≈ 121 °C (closed cup) |
| Water solubility | ≈ 2.7 g/100 mL at 20 °C |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 122-99-6 and rounded for readability. Note the melting point near 14 °C — the material can solidify in a cold warehouse or an unheated trailer. Treat the table as orientation, not as a specification.
Where US industry uses 2-phenoxyethanol
Personal care preservation first, then pharmaceuticals, inks and perfumery.
Cosmetic & personal care preservative
The dominant use. Broad-spectrum activity against bacteria, yeast and mold across a wide pH range, typically at 1% or below.
- Cosmetic grade, 99% min
- Low phenol specification
- Drum and IBC supply
Pharmaceutical preservative
Used as a preservative in pharmaceutical preparations and in some vaccine formulations, supplied against the USP/NF monograph.
- USP/NF grade available
- Pharmacopoeial documentation
- Retained sample held per lot
Inks, coatings & cleaners
A high-boiling, slow-evaporating solvent and coalescent for water-based inks, coatings and industrial cleaners.
- Technical grade
- Bulk and IBC supply
- Price-competitive sourcing
Perfumery & fixatives
A fixative and diluent in fragrance compounding, carrying a faint rose note of its own.
- Low color specification
- Odor profile confirmed per lot
- Small packs available
Textile dye carriers
A carrier and leveling agent in textile dyeing, where its solvency on disperse dyes is useful.
- Technical grade
- Drum and IBC supply
- Read the dye intermediates guide
Contract & scheduled supply
Personal care production runs to tight launch calendars, so contracted volume with call-off scheduling matters on this line.
- Annual contracts with call-off
- Price held across the contract
- Second source held in reserve
Delivered to US plants and ports
We ship 2-phenoxyethanol to nominated delivery points across the United States. The regions below are destinations we serve — Chelora Chemicals is a sourcing and supply partner, not a US manufacturer, and does not hold US stock.
Gulf Coast
The largest US chemical cluster, and the usual entry point for bulk consignments.
- Houston & Galveston, TX
- New Orleans & Baton Rouge, LA
- Mobile, AL
Northeast
Container and bulk delivery into the mid-Atlantic and New England manufacturing belt.
- Newark & Elizabeth, NJ
- Philadelphia, PA
- Boston, MA
Southeast
Port-side delivery for the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida processing plants.
- Savannah, GA
- Charleston, SC
- Jacksonville, FL & Norfolk, VA
Midwest & Great Lakes
Inland rail and truck forwarding from the nearest coastal port to the industrial Midwest.
- Chicago, IL
- Detroit, MI
- Cleveland & Columbus, OH
West Coast
Pacific routing for West Coast processors and formulators.
- Los Angeles & Long Beach, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Seattle & Tacoma, WA
Southwest & Mountain
Inland delivery to interior states, forwarded from the Gulf or Pacific gateway.
- Dallas–Fort Worth, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- Denver, CO
Importing into the United States
2-Phenoxyethanol is a TSCA-regulated chemical substance. Under TSCA section 13 the importer of record, or its authorized agent, must certify to US Customs and Border Protection that each shipment either complies with TSCA or is not subject to it. We confirm the substance's TSCA Inventory status and agree in writing who files that certification before the first consignment moves.
Which party carries that duty follows the Incoterm. On FOB, CFR or CIF terms it is usually the US buyer; on DDP terms it can be the seller or its agent. Safety data sheets and labels are supplied to OSHA's updated Hazard Communication Standard, and the non-hazardous transport documentation is prepared before booking.
| Item | How it works |
|---|---|
| Delivery points | Any nominated US plant, terminal or port of discharge |
| Incoterms quoted | FOB · CFR · CIF · DDP |
| Importer of record | Agreed in writing before the first shipment |
| TSCA certification | Section 13 positive certification filed at entry |
| Documentation | Batch COA, SDS, packing list, certificate of origin |
| Pack formats | 220 kg drums or IBC |
Note: regional coverage describes where we deliver, not where we hold inventory. Lead time depends on producer scheduling and ocean transit to your nominated US port — we confirm both in the quotation.
How we supply 2-phenoxyethanol
Chelora Chemicals is a 2-phenoxyethanol supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. On a preservative the thing that decides whether a shipment is usable is not the headline assay — it is the grade, the residual phenol and the documentation, and we settle all three before quoting.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your required grade, your price point and your delivery window, and confirm US import requirements before booking.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, so a single-plant disruption never becomes your launch-calendar problem.
- Grade confirmed before we quote. Cosmetic grade and USP/NF grade are not interchangeable, and the documentation cannot be retrofitted after delivery.
- Residual phenol specified. For leave-on personal care and pharmaceutical use this is the impurity your QA team will ask about, so we agree the limit up front.
- Color and odor checked per lot. A fragrance or a clear-gel formulation shows color and off-notes that an industrial cleaner would never notice.
- Cold-weather handling planned. The melting point sits near 14 °C, so winter shipments into the Midwest and Northeast need the handling arrangement agreed in advance.
- TSCA status and import certification settled first. We confirm Inventory status and agree who files the section 13 certification before the first shipment.
- Batch traceability to the producing plant. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
Drummed, IBC or bulk
220 kg drums, 1,000 kg IBCs or isotank — tell us your handling arrangement and we will quote to it.
220 kg HDPE or steel drums
Lined drums on stretch-wrapped pallets, the standard unit for personal care and fragrance blending.
1,000 kg IBC totes
Returnable or single-trip totes for continuous formulation lines with pump transfer.
Isotank / bulk liquid
Bulk liquid shipment for high-volume ink, coating and cleaner operations with tank storage.
25 kg jerricans
Smaller sealed units for laboratory, pilot and small-batch work.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small packs dispatched for preservative efficacy and compatibility trials before a commercial order.
Combustible, not flammable — watch the oral toxicity
2-Phenoxyethanol has a flash point above 120 °C, so it is not a flammable liquid and is not classed as dangerous goods for transport. The classifications that matter are acute oral toxicity and eye irritation. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H302Harmful if swallowed.H319Causes serious eye irritation.
Use level is a regulatory question, not just a formulation one. 2-Phenoxyethanol is permitted as a cosmetic preservative in the United States, and industry practice caps it at 1% in cosmetic formulations. The acceptable level in a given product depends on the product type, the exposure route and the market, so confirm your use level with your regulatory team and against the relevant monograph or guideline rather than against a supplier statement.
Storage
Store in sealed, lined drums or totes in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from oxidizers and strong acids. Note the melting point near 14 °C — the material can solidify in cold storage and needs gentle warming, not direct heat, to restore it.
Handling
Handle with chemical-resistant gloves and eye protection; the liquid causes serious eye irritation and is harmful if swallowed. Use adequate ventilation where the material is warmed. Avoid prolonged skin contact. Follow the exposure controls set out in the batch SDS.
Transport
2-Phenoxyethanol is normally not regulated as dangerous goods for road, rail, sea or air transport, so no UN number applies. We confirm and document the position for your specific shipment, packaging and destination before booking.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Grade, assay, water content, color, acidity and residual phenol limit confirmed against your requirement before order placement.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS, pharmacopoeial documentation where applicable and TSCA certification data checked by our desk before the shipment is booked.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing batch, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
How 2-phenoxyethanol is made
2-Phenoxyethanol is made by the ethoxylation of phenol — reacting phenol with ethylene oxide under base catalysis. One mole of ethylene oxide opens onto the phenolic oxygen and the reaction stops there if the ratio and the conditions are controlled.
The commercial challenge is selectivity. Push the ethylene oxide and you get the di- and tri-ethoxylated homologues — phenoxyethoxyethanol and beyond — which are useful products in their own right but contaminants here. Leave the reaction short and you carry residual phenol, which is the impurity cosmetic and pharmaceutical buyers scrutinize most closely. Distillation cleans both ends.
That is why grade rather than assay is the real specification on this line. Two lots can both assay 99% and differ materially in residual phenol, color and odor — and those three are exactly what a leave-on personal care formulation or a fragrance compound will expose.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Chemical family | Aromatic glycol ether (phenol ether) |
|---|---|
| Made from | Phenol ethoxylated with ethylene oxide |
| Key impurity | Residual phenol and higher ethoxylates |
| Primary market | Cosmetic and personal care preservation |
| Typical use level | 1% or below in cosmetics |
| Also used in | Pharmaceuticals, inks, fragrance, dye carriers |
Related phenolics & aromatics
Other phenol ethers, phenolics, glycols and aromatic solvents supplied from the same desk.
2-Phenoxyethanol, answered
What is 2-phenoxyethanol used for?
Is 2-phenoxyethanol safe in cosmetics?
What is the difference between cosmetic grade and USP/NF grade?
Why does residual phenol matter?
Is 2-phenoxyethanol flammable?
Does it solidify in cold weather?
What is it usually paired with?
What packing do you offer?
Do you supply 2-phenoxyethanol in the United States?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Get a quote on 2-phenoxyethanol
Send us your required grade, assay, residual phenol limit, pack size and US delivery point. We will come back with a firm quote, lead time and full documentation — including pharmacopoeial paperwork where the grade calls for it.