BUTOXYDIGLYCOL (diethylene glycol monobutyl ether)
Official label name (INCI name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 4095
- Allowed with restrictions (Annex III)
BUTOXYDIGLYCOL (diethylene glycol monobutyl ether): Allowed with restrictions, maximum 9% in the ready-for-use preparation, only in: Solvent in hair dye products (Annex III, entry 187), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Annexes of the Regulation consulted on 21 October 2026.
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.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
No official classification covers reproduction, the unborn child's development or breastfeeding for this substance.
Babies and children
The Cosmetics Regulation sets no age-related condition for this ingredient.
Skin, eyes and allergies
Classified under the CLP Regulation: eye irritation, category 2 (Eye Irrit. 2).
Environment
No official classification as hazardous to the aquatic environment and no assessment as an endocrine disruptor for the environment.
In plain words
What it is used for
Functions declared by manufacturers:
Fragrance.
Solvent: dissolves other substances.
Viscosity controlling: increases or decreases the viscosity of cosmetics.
What the rules say
Allowed, with restrictions: Annex III sets a maximum concentration and the product types allowed. Ingredient lists do not give quantities, so the concentration cannot be checked on the label.
The text of the annexes
Allowed with restrictions
- Product type
- Solvent in hair dye products
- Maximum concentration
- 9%
- Other conditions
- No use in aerosol dispensers (sprays)
- Entry
- Annex III, No 187
- Substance
- Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (DEGBE)
- Glossary names
- BUTOXYDIGLYCOL
- CAS
- 112-34-5
- EC
- 203-961-6
Dates in the act (3)
- Entry into force on 15 May 2013
- Application from 11 July 2013
It shall apply from 11 July 2013.
- Entry into force on 11 July 2013
Excerpts from the English text published in the Official Journal. A date may concern only some substances of the act: the excerpt says so.
Identity
- CosIng identifier
- 31695
- CAS (according to CosIng)
- 112-34-5
- EC (according to CosIng)
- 203-961-6
- Declared functions
- Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity controlling
- Wikidata
- Q1018210
- PubChem
- 8177
- ECHA InfoCard
- 100.003.601
- InChIKey
- OAYXUHPQHDHDDZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
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.
2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol; diethylene glycol monobutyl ether
Neither carcinogenic, mutagenic nor toxic for reproduction under the harmonised classification
- Hazard classes
- Eye irritation, category 2 (Eye Irrit. 2)
- Hazard statements
- H319
Elsewhere in the world
Information on other jurisdictions, with no effect on sale in France. What is covered, and what is not yet.
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Allowed with restrictions (Annex III)
Same entries as in the European Union. Conditions (concentrations, warnings) may differ: they are not compared here.
Switzerland
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 applies in Switzerland (Article 54 of the Ordinance on Foodstuffs and Utility Articles).
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.
South Korea
- Prohibited: 부톡시디글리세롤 (BUTOXYDIGLYCOL)
별표 1 (prohibited substances), entry 373, page 20.
Recorded cosmetics that contain it
1 recorded product list it, according to Open Beauty Facts contributors. Records are dated: the formula may have changed. See the list (in French).
Glossary: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175. Page updated on 21 October 2026.