BUTOXYETHANOL (2-butoxyethanol)
Official label name (INCI name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 4096
- Allowed with restrictions (Annex III)
BUTOXYETHANOL (2-butoxyethanol): Allowed with restrictions, with limits depending on the product type (Annex III, entry 188), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
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
- Entry
- Annex III, No 188
- Substance
- Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE)
- Glossary names
- BUTOXYETHANOL
- CAS
- 111-76-2
- EC
- 203-905-0
- Product type
- a) Solvent in oxidative hair dye products b) Solvent in non-oxidative hair dye products
- Maximum concentration
- a) 4.0% b) 2.0%
- Other conditions
- (a) (b) No use in aerosol dispensers (sprays)
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
- 31696
- CAS (according to CosIng)
- 111-76-2
- EC (according to CosIng)
- 203-905-0
- Declared functions
- Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity controlling
- Wikidata
- Q421557
- PubChem
- 8133
- ECHA InfoCard
- 100.003.550
- InChIKey
- POAOYUHQDCAZBD-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Classified hazard (CLP Regulation)
A classification describes an intrinsic hazard, not a risk: the risk depends on the dose, the form and the exposure.
2-butoxyethanol; ethylene glycol monobutyl ether
No harmonised CMR classification
- Hazard classes
- Acute Tox. 3
Acute Tox. 4
Skin Irrit. 2
Eye Irrit. 2 - Hazard statements
- H331 H302 H315 H319
Elsewhere in the world
Information on other jurisdictions. 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: 부톡시에탄올 (BUTOXYETHANOL)
별표 1 (prohibited substances), entry 374, page 20.
Glossary: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175. Page updated on 21 October 2026.