Phenoxyethanol
Phenoxyethanol suppliers and sourcing guide
Phenoxyethanol is a glycol ether used as a preservative in cosmetics, personal care products and some topical products, usually at about 1 percent or less and often paired with ethylhexylglycerin, caprylyl glycol or organic acids. It is made by reacting phenol with ethylene oxide under alkaline conditions and purifying the product by distillation. Brands buy it as a clear, slightly oily liquid with a faint rose-like odor, either neat or in ready-made preservative blends.
- Also known as
- 2-Phenoxyethanol · Ethylene glycol monophenyl ether · Phenoxetol
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of phenoxyethanol
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Neat
High-purity phenoxyethanol, usually specified at 99 percent or more.
Blend with ethylhexylglycerin
Ready-made blends, commonly mostly phenoxyethanol with a smaller share of ethylhexylglycerin.
Multi-component blends
Phenoxyethanol with caprylyl glycol, sorbic acid, benzoic acid or other preservatives in set ratios.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Purity (GC)
- Phenoxyethanol content by gas chromatography, with related impurities reported.
- Free phenol
- Residual phenol by GC or HPLC, a key specification limit.
- Water (Karl Fischer)
- Water content, usually a low maximum.
- Color and appearance
- APHA (Pt-Co) color and clarity, which flag degradation or contamination.
- Identity
- IR spectrum, refractive index or density matched to the reference.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Store in closed, original containers at room temperature, away from strong oxidizers and direct sunlight. It can solidify in cold warehouses because it melts in the low teens Celsius; warm gently and mix before sampling. Shelf life follows the supplier specification, with a retest of purity and color for older stock.
Lots and expiry dates
Record purity, free phenol and color for each lot, and for blends the ratio of each component, which drives the use level in the formula. Rotate stock FEFO.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists phenoxyethanol as a non-medicinal ingredient with purposes including biocide and antimicrobial preservative.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)The same entry sets an upper limit of 1.0 percent and restricts it to topical use.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists ethylene glycol monophenyl ether (2-phenoxyethanol) with the technical effect "flavoring agent or adjuvant" and FEMA No. 4620.
Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Phenoxyethanol suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking phenoxyethanol suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell phenoxyethanol? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of phenoxyethanol can brands buy?
Common forms include neat, blend with ethylhexylglycerin and multi-component blends. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for phenoxyethanol include?
Expect purity (GC), free phenol, water (Karl Fischer), color and appearance and identity, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should phenoxyethanol be stored?
Store in closed, original containers at room temperature, away from strong oxidizers and direct sunlight. It can solidify in cold warehouses because it melts in the low teens Celsius; warm gently and mix before sampling. Shelf life follows the supplier specification, with a retest of purity and color for older stock.
What is the regulatory status of phenoxyethanol?
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists phenoxyethanol as a non-medicinal ingredient with purposes including biocide and antimicrobial preservative. The same entry sets an upper limit of 1.0 percent and restricts it to topical use. FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists ethylene glycol monophenyl ether (2-phenoxyethanol) with the technical effect "flavoring agent or adjuvant" and FEMA No. 4620.
More acids, preservatives and leavening
- Citric acid2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid · E330
- Malic acidDL-malic acid · L-malic acid
- Lactic acid2-hydroxypropanoic acid · L(+)-lactic acid
- Tartaric acidL-(+)-tartaric acid · 2,3-dihydroxybutanedioic acid
- Fumaric acidtrans-butenedioic acid · E297
- Acetic acidethanoic acid · glacial acetic acid
- Phosphoric acidorthophosphoric acid · E338
- Glucono-delta-lactoneGDL · glucono delta-lactone
- Adipic acidhexanedioic acid · 1,4-butanedicarboxylic acid
- Sodium citratetrisodium citrate · trisodium citrate dihydrate
- Sodium lactatesodium 2-hydroxypropanoate · E325
- Sodium acetatesodium ethanoate · E262
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