BENZOYL CHLORIDE
See the summary at the top of this page. CosIng, Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (prohibited substances), Consulted on 23 October 2026.
Official label name (INCIInternational name of cosmetic ingredients: the one printed on the pack. name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 3234
Who it concerns
What official classifications and rules say for each group. A classification describes the hazard of the pure substance, not the risk of a product that contains it, which depends on the dose and the exposure.
Prohibition or serious classificationThe text prohibits the substance for this use, or ranks it among the most serious hazards (known or presumed carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic, identified endocrine disruptor).Worth watchingThe text sets a condition or flags a hazard worth knowing: allergen, suspected effect, condition for children, hazard to the aquatic environment.For informationOfficial information with no condition on a finished product: warning to read, irritation of the pure substance.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
No classification harmonised by the European Union covers reproduction, the unborn child or breastfeeding for this substance. This does not mean it has been judged to have no effect during pregnancy.
Babies and children
The Cosmetics Regulation sets no age-related condition for this ingredient.
Skin, eyes and allergies
Worth watchingThe text sets a condition or flags a hazard worth knowing: allergen, suspected effect, condition for children, hazard to the aquatic environment.
Worth watching Classified under the CLP Regulation: skin corrosion, category 1B (Skin Corr. 1B); skin sensitisation, category 1 (Skin Sens. 1).
Environment
No harmonised classification as hazardous to the aquatic environment, and no EU act identifies it as an endocrine disruptor for the environment.
Read on the label
The Cosmetics Regulation requires no warning to be printed for this ingredient.
Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), consolidated version, Annex VI table 3, retrieved 21 October 2026.
In plain words
What it is used for
Functions declared by manufacturers:
The functions and their explanations appear in the summary.
Functions declared in the CosIngThe European Commission's database of cosmetic ingredients. inventory. CosIng, inventory of cosmetic ingredients (INCI names, CAS, EC, functions), retrieved 21 October 2026.
CosIng, list of cosmetic functions, retrieved 30 October 2026; source text read on 30 October 2026.
What the rules say
No EU rule targets this ingredient specifically. It remains subject to the general rule: every product must undergo a safety assessment before it is sold (Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009), under the manufacturer's responsibility.
See the summary at the top of this page.
What we know about this ingredient
Uses
Analytical reagent.
Chemical intermediate for benzoyl peroxide, a polymerization initiator; chloramben, an herbicide; dyes; Benzophenone, a perfume fixative; other benzoyl derivatives; fastness improver for dyed fibers or fabrics; cellulosic yarn treatment agent; chemical intermediate for benzoate plasticizers (former use), pharmaceuticals (former use)
For acylation, i.e., introduction of benzoyl group into alcohols, phenols, and amines;. ... in the manufacture of benzoyl peroxide and of dye intermediates. In organic analysis for making benzoyl derivates for identification purposes.
Intermediate for stabilizers and pesticides
The major industrial use of benzoyl chloride is in the production of benzoyl peroxide. Secondary uses include the formulation of herbicides and the production of drugs, plasticizers, and perfumes.
PubChem : Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) · 2026-10-29 · Larranaga, M.D., Lewis, R.J. Sr., Lewis, R.A.; Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary 16th Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ 2016., p. 157; SRI; O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. Cambridge, UK: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013., p. 196; CHEMCYCLOPEDIA 1987 p.54; American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. Documentation of the TLVs and BEIs with Other World Wide Occupational Exposure Values. 7th Ed. CD-ROM Cincinnati, OH 45240-1634 2013., p. 1.
Industry uses
CBI
Intermediate
Polymerization promoter
No natural occurrence recorded in Wikidata (LOTUS database); this does not prove that the ingredient is synthetic.
Basis: one CosIng CAS, with no natural occurrence recorded in this database.
Wikidata: names of substances in six languages and taxa in which they occur (largely from the LOTUS database), retrieved 23 October 2026.
Manufacturing
(1) Interaction of benzoic acid and sulfuryl chloride, (2) benzotrichloride and water in the presence of zinc chloride, (3) phosphorous tri- or pentachloride and benzoic acid.
Benzoyl chloride is produced commercially from benzotrichloride, which is available by the chlorination of toluene. The chlorination reaction proceeds stepwise via benzyl chloride and benzal chloride. The benzotrichloride is then partially hydrolyzed with a limited amount of water. This series of reactions consumes a large quantity of chlorine. An alternative process uses benzoic acid. Phosphorous chlorides or iron chlorides are used as catalysts at the solvolytic stage of both processes. Benzoyl chloride can also be made by the reaction of benzoic acid with phosgene, thionyl chloride, or phosphorous pentachloride; chlorination of benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, or benzyl benzoate; and direct reaction of benzene with phosgene or the combination of carbon monoxide and chlorine. The benzoyl chloride prepared by the conventional processes may contain trace amounts of chlorobenzoyl chloride, but the product obtained by the reaction of molten phthalic anhydride with hydrogen chloride at 200 °C is free of such impurities.
PubChem : Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) · 2026-10-29 · Larranaga, M.D., Lewis, R.J. Sr., Lewis, R.A.; Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary 16th Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ 2016., p. 157; Maki T, Takeda K; Benzoic Acid and Derivatiaves. Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 7th ed. (1999-2017). NY, NY: John Wiley & Sons. Online Posting Date: June 15, 2000.
Appearance
Colorless to slightly yellow liquid
Colorless, fuming liquid
Liquid
Transparent, colorless liquid
Benzoyl chloride appears as a colorless fuming liquid with a pungent odor. Flash point 162 °F. Lachrymator, irritating to skin and eyes. Corrosive to metals and tissue. Density 10.2 lb / gal. Used in medicine and in the manufacture of other chemicals.
CBI; Liquid
A colorless fuming liquid with a pungent odor.
PubChem : Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) · 2026-10-29 · NIOSH. NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2010-168 (2010). Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg; NOAA; CAMEO Chemicals. Database of Hazardous Materials. Benzoyl chloride (98-88-4). Natl Ocean Atmos Admin, Off Resp Rest; NOAA Ocean Serv. Available from, as of Oct 20, 2017: https://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/; O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. Cambridge, UK: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013., p. 196; Larranaga, M.D., Lewis, R.J. Sr., Lewis, R.A.; Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary 16th Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ 2016., p. 157.
PubChem : CAMEO Chemicals · 2026-10-29 · https://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chemical/2594.
PubChem : EPA Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) · 2026-10-29 · https://www.epa.gov/chemical-data-reporting.
PubChem : Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) · 2026-10-29 · https://www.osha.gov/chemicaldata/778.
Odour described
Fuming pungent
Penetrating odor
Pungent, aromatic
PubChem : Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) · 2026-10-29 · Lewis, R.J. Sr. (ed) Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials. 12th Edition. Wiley-Interscience, Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ. 2012., p. V2: 492; O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. Cambridge, UK: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013., p. 196; NIOSH. NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2010-168 (2010). Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg.
Stability
Stable under recommended storage conditions.
Other names: chlorure de benzoyle (French), Benzoylchlorid (German), Cloruro de benzoílo (Spanish), Cloruro di benzoile (Italian), cloreto de benzoíla (Portuguese).
Wikidata: names of substances in six languages and taxa in which they occur (largely from the LOTUS database), retrieved 23 October 2026.
Open Beauty Facts, export of cosmetic products, retrieved 23 October 2026.
Data “Open Beauty Facts and its contributors”, licensed under ODbL 1.0 (opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1-0); derived table distributed under the same licence.
The text of the annexes
No specific rule of the EU Cosmetics Regulation names this ingredient: it is on none of its lists (prohibited, restricted, colorants, preservatives, UV filters). It may be used under the responsibility of the manufacturer, who must ensure the product is safe.
Search in Annexes II to VI. CosIng, Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (prohibited substances), retrieved 23 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
What has changed, and what will change
Dates of the texts that cover this ingredient. A text date may cover several substances: the details of each entry are below.
CLP classification “Acute Tox. 4 * Acute Tox. 4 * Acute Tox. 4 *” applicable at the latest from this date (Regulation (EU) 2018/669)
Identity
- CosIng identifier
- 54654
- CAS (according to CosIng)
- 98-88-4
- EC (according to CosIng)
- 202-710-8
- Declared functions
- Skin conditioning
- Wikidata
- Q412825
- PubChem
- 7412
- ECHA InfoCard
- 100.002.464
- InChIKey
- PASDCCFISLVPSO-UHFFFAOYSA-N
CosIng inventory. CosIng, inventory of cosmetic ingredients (INCI names, CAS, EC, functions), retrieved 21 October 2026.
Wikidata, items with a CosIng identifier (P3073), retrieved 22 October 2026.
Wikidata, PubChem and ECHAEuropean Chemicals Agency. links are published only when verified: same CosIng identifier, a single item, matching CAS number.
Classified hazard (CLP Regulation)
The harmonised classification is the one set by the European Union for the whole Union. H codes refer to the hazard statements of Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008.
benzoyl chloride
Neither carcinogenic, mutagenic nor toxic for reproduction under the harmonised classification
- Hazard classes
- Acute toxicity, category 4 (Acute Tox. 4)
Skin corrosion, category 1B (Skin Corr. 1B)
Skin sensitisation, category 1 (Skin Sens. 1) - Hazard statements
- H332 H312 H302 H314 H317
Annex VI, entry 607-012-00-0, linked by CAS 98-88-4. Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), consolidated version, Annex VI table 3, retrieved 21 October 2026.
Entry introduced or replaced by Regulation (EU) 2018/669, applicable at the latest from 1 December 2019.
Elsewhere in the world
Information on other jurisdictions, with no effect on sale in France. What is covered, and what is not yet.
Comparison between countries
Most restrictive status in each country, and the maximum concentration cited. The details and the source of each rule follow.
| Country | Rule | Maximum concentration cited |
|---|---|---|
| European Union | No specific rule in the Cosmetics Regulation | not cited |
| United Kingdom | No specific rule in the Cosmetics Regulation | not cited |
| Switzerland | EU Regulation applies | not cited |
| United States (federal) | No federal rule recorded | not cited |
| Canada | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| Japan | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| South Korea | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| China | Not on the prohibited lists recorded (lists of allowed substances are not recorded) | not cited |
| Australia | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| ASEAN | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| Taiwan | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| Brazil | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- No specific rule in the Cosmetics Regulation
Annexes II to VI in force. United Kingdom, Annexes II to VI of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as retained and amended, retrieved 21 October 2026.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Northern Ireland applies EU law.
Switzerland
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 applies in Switzerland (Article 54 of the Ordinance on Foodstuffs and Utility Articles).
Switzerland, FDHA Ordinance on Cosmetic Products (OCos, SR 817.023.31), consolidated version, retrieved 22 October 2026.
United States, federal rules
None of the integrated sections of the federal code (21 CFR 700.11 to 700.27 and 250.250) targets this name. The FDA does not publish a list of allowed ingredients.
United States, 21 CFR part 700 and section 250.250 (FDA rules on cosmetic ingredients), eCFR, retrieved 21 October 2026.
The eCFR is not an official legal edition of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Glossary: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175. Page updated on 23 October 2026.