Fragrance allergen

Anise alcohol

Anise alcohol, also called anisyl alcohol or 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol, is a mild, sweet aromatic alcohol. It has been isolated from vanilla, aniseed oil and some flowers. It is used in floral perfumes such as lilac and gardenia. It is listed as an EU fragrance allergen, with few reported cases in the SCCS review.

Formula
C8H10O2
Molar mass
138.17 g/mol
CAS
105-13-5

Where it comes from

The Good Scents Company records anise alcohol as isolated from vanilla, aniseed oil, sweet osmanthus (Osmanthus fragrans) flowers and tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus). PubChem classes the compound, also called 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol, as a benzyl alcohol. The sources I read did not describe how it is made commercially, so no manufacturing route is given here.

Smell and use

A mild, very sweet floral scent. Arctander likened it to lilac and vanilla over a faint, delicate, balsamic background. Other listings call it powdery.

Perfumers use anise alcohol in flower compositions. Arctander found it very useful in lilac, apple blossom, sweet pea, gardenia and jasmine, and gave it good tenacity. It pairs with eugenyl methyl ether for lilac effects. One listing notes its use in flavourings as well as flower perfumes.

On the label

Named on 6% of the 6,851 perfume ingredient lists we hold (386 perfumes).

EU
Annex III, entry 80. Must be named above 0.001% in leave-on products (0.01% rinse-off).
Great Britain
Required, same thresholds. GB Annex III

Anise alcohol is listed in Annex III of the EU Cosmetics Regulation, so it is named above 0.001% in leave-on or 0.01% in rinse-off products. The SCCS placed it in its lowest evidence band (+), meaning up to 10 positive test reactions reported, and its 1999 predecessor called it a less frequently reported allergen.

A list that does not name it does not prove it is absent: brands only have to name it above the threshold.

Frequency by concentration

  • Eau de parfum 6% of 4,889
  • Eau de toilette 3% of 1,227
  • Extrait 9% of 341
  • Parfum 7% of 194
  • Cologne 12% of 114
  • Body spray 7% of 42
  • Other 7% of 27

Share of the perfumes we hold a list for, in each concentration.

Named alongside

Share of the lists naming Anise alcohol that also name each of these.

Perfumes whose box names it

Common questions

What does anise alcohol smell like?

Anise alcohol has a mild, very sweet floral smell. Arctander compared it to lilac and vanilla with a faint, delicate, balsamic background. Other listings call it powdery.

Is anise alcohol natural or synthetic?

It has been isolated from natural sources including vanilla, aniseed oil, sweet osmanthus flowers and tarragon. The sources I read did not say how the perfume ingredient is made commercially, so I cannot say which route is used.

Why is anise alcohol on my perfume label?

EU law requires anise alcohol to be named above 0.001% in leave-on or 0.01% in rinse-off products. The SCCS lists it as an established contact allergen, in its lowest evidence band of up to 10 reported positive reactions.