BMHCA (Butylphenyl Methylpropional) Analysis

On an individual product basis, the compound butylphenyl methylpropional (BMHCA, butylphenyl methylpropional) containing 200 ppm alpha-tocopherol is used as a fragrance ingredient in different cosmetic products. Commonly known as Lilial, this compound is a synthetic fragrance used in cosmetics and personal care products such as lotions, deodorants, hair products, perfumes and more.

Butylphenyl methylpropional (BMHCA) is generally considered safe at concentrations above 10 ppm in rinse products and above 100 ppm in shake products. However, from 2022, the ingredient lilial/butylphenyl methylpropional is banned throughout the European Union.

According to the decision of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety of the EU Commission, all cosmetics or liquids and mixtures containing lilial/butylphenyl methylpropional are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction.

Lilial (butylphenyl methylpropional) is a synthetic aromatic aldehyde. It is available in liquid form, colorless to pale yellow. It has an intense floral scent and is often associated with lily of the valley. It is used for its fragrance in many cosmetics, such as bath products, hair care products, cleansing products, aftershave lotions, skin care products, and shampoos. The International Fragrance Association and Fragrance Materials Research Institute expert panel on safety in cosmetic products has established guidelines for usage and labeling instructions.

Its safety is still controversial, as it can be a sensitizer, skin irritant and potential allergen. Another disadvantage of this compound is that it is considered an endocrine disruptor and possibly even a carcinogen.

The opinions of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety of the European Commission have raised concerns about this ingredient, such as the risk of skin sensitization and mass exposure. As a net compound, butylphenyl methylpropional has been shown to cause skin and eye irritation in rabbits. Furthermore, this ingredient carries a risk of causing skin sensitization in humans. In its opinion published in 2019, the Committee concluded that, on an individual product basis, butylphenyl methylpropional containing 200 ppm alpha-tocopherol can be considered safe when used as a fragrance ingredient in different cosmetic rinse-and-shake type products.

However, it considered the total exposure from combined use of different product types and concluded that this compound cannot be considered safe at the recommended concentrations. The Committee also expressed concern about the presence of this ingredient in non-cosmetic products, e.g. household cleaners and detergents, and the resulting higher exposure scenario. Following these developments, the Committee on Risk Assessment of the European Chemicals Agency classified this fragrance ingredient as toxic for reproduction.

The use of substances classified as essentially carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction is prohibited by the European Cosmetics Regulation. As a result, butylphenyl methylpropional has been banned from cosmetic products as of March 1, 2022 and the ingredient has been included in the list of prohibited substances in cosmetic products of the European Cosmetics Regulation.

All products containing butylphenyl methylpropional must be removed from shelves by this date. Cosmetic products containing this ingredient may be reformulated, meaning new product safety assessments may need to be conducted and labels may need to be adjusted.

Our organization, which has been trying to support businesses from every sector with its wide range of testing, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies for years, has a strong staff that closely follows the developments in the world in the field of science and technology and constantly improves itself. In this context, BMHCA (butylphenyl methylpropional) analysis services are also provided to businesses.