Benzyl Alcohol

Benzyl alcohol is a component of jasmine, hyacinth, ylang-ylang oil, balsam Peru, balsam Tolu, and styrax. It is a fragrance ingredient used in a variety of products such as flavorings, essential oils and perfumes, and as an additive in some industrial chemicals.

Skin contact with benzyl alcohol is required for it to cause a rash. Discontinuation of exposure to products containing benzyl alcohol

should result in improvement and/or resolution of your dermatitis. By law, all products made in the U.S. for topical use have the ingredients listed either on the product package or the box that contains it, so check the labeling of your skin care products for this ingredient. If there is not enough information, ask your pharmacist or retailer, or contact the company directly. At work, request a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to help identify potential sources of exposure.

The avoidance of fragrances and flavoring agents such as benzyl alcohol can be difficult, since so many everyday products contain these substances. One should use only fragrance-free cosmetic and household products. “Unscented” products may contain low levels of a fragrance to cover up an undesirable odor and also should be avoided. Products labeled as “hypoallergenic” do not

assure that the product is truly free of fragrance.

Since fragrances are complex mixtures of many ingredients, an individual may tolerate one fragrance but not another. A trial-and-error method of avoiding a fragrance allergen in a product can be performed by applying the product to the forearm in the same small area twice a day for a week. If no dermatitis develops, the product may likely be used safely.

Although it is rare, since some fragrances are also flavors, ingesting foods that contain them can sometimes cause flare-ups of dermatitis in fragrance-sensitive individuals. If your health care provider has diagnosed that you have oral or lip allergies to flavorings, it would be best to avoid foods prepared with benzyl alcohol.