Alcohol
What is it?
Alcohol, also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol, is the alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. When used in products that are not food, beverages or oral drugs, many countries, including the United States, require that alcohol be denatured. This means that a small amount of a denaturant is added to the alcohol to make it taste bad. Alcohol Denat. is the general name used for denatured alcohol.
In the United States, Alcohol and Alcohol Denat. are regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) of the Department of Treasury. They specify how alcohol is denatured and the types of products in which the specific denatured alcohols are permitted for use. Specific denatured alcohols as defined by the TTB that are permitted for use in cosmetics and personal care products include Specially Denatured (SD) Alcohol3 -A, SD Alcohol 30, SD Alcohol 39, SD Alcohol 39-B, SD Alcohol 39-C, SD Alcohol 40, SD Alcohol 40-B and SD Alcohol 40-C. Denatonium Benzoate, Quassin, Brucine and Brucine Sulfate are examples of denaturants permitted for use by the TTB.
In cosmetics and personal care products Alcohol and Alcohol Denat. are used in many product types including makeup, lotions, fragrance, shaving, oral care, skin care and hair care products.
In the United States, Alcohol and Alcohol Denat. are regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) of the Department of Treasury. They specify how alcohol is denatured and the types of products in which the specific denatured alcohols are permitted for use. Specific denatured alcohols as defined by the TTB that are permitted for use in cosmetics and personal care products include Specially Denatured (SD) Alcohol
In cosmetics and personal care products Alcohol and Alcohol Denat. are used in many product types including makeup, lotions, fragrance, shaving, oral care, skin care and hair care products.
Safety Information
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes Alcohol (ethanol) on its list of direct food substances considered Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). Alcohol may also be used as an indirect food additive. For example, it may be used as a component of adhesives in contact with food. The FDA has also approved Alcohol for use in Over-the-Counter (OTC) antimicrobial drug products.
The safety of Alcohol Denat., Alcohol3 -A, SD Alcohol 30, SD Alcohol 39, SD Alcohol 39-B, SD Alcohol 39-C, SD Alcohol 40, SD Alcohol 40-B, SD Alcohol 40-C, as well as the denaturants Denatonium Benzoate, Quassin, Brucine and Brucine Sulfate has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The safety of other denaturants such as t-Butyl Alcohol, Diethyl Phthalate and Methyl Alcohol were reviewed by the CIR Expert Panel in other reports and found safe for use. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that Alcohol Denat., SD Alcohol 3 -A, SD Alcohol 30, SD Alcohol 39-B, SD Alcohol 39-C, SD Alcohol 40-B, and SD Alcohol 40-C denatured with t-Butyl Alcohol, Denatonium Benzoate, Diethyl Phthalate, or Methyl Alcohol were safe for use in cosmetic products. The data were also considered sufficient to support the safety of Denatonium Benzoate when used as a denaturant. The CIR Expert Panel also concluded that the data were insufficient to support the safety Quassin, Brucine and Brucine Sulfate as denaturants, and Alcohol denatured with these denaturants.
The safety of Alcohol Denat., Alcohol
Why is it used in cosmetics and personal care products?
Alcohol and Alcohol Denat. function as antifoaming agents, cosmetic astringents, solvents and viscosity decreasing agents. In OTC antimicrobial drug products, Alcohol also functions as an antimicrobial agent.
Scientific facts:
Alcohol, also called ethanol, is a strong-smelling, colorless, volatile liquid. It is formed by the fermentation of sugars or can be synthetically produced.
To prevent Alcohol intended to be used for purposes other than oral ingestion, many countries, including the United States, require that denaturants be added to Alcohol. The denaturant makes the alcohol taste bad. When a denaturant is added to alcohol it is called denatured alcohol or Alcohol Denat.
Denatonium Benzoate is a common denaturant. It a quaternary ammonium compound that is considered the bitterest compound known.
Quassin, Brucine and Brucine Sulfate are bitter alkaloid compounds obtained from plants.
To prevent Alcohol intended to be used for purposes other than oral ingestion, many countries, including the United States, require that denaturants be added to Alcohol. The denaturant makes the alcohol taste bad. When a denaturant is added to alcohol it is called denatured alcohol or Alcohol Denat.
Denatonium Benzoate is a common denaturant. It a quaternary ammonium compound that is considered the bitterest compound known.
Quassin, Brucine and Brucine Sulfate are bitter alkaloid compounds obtained from plants.
