Basic Violet 3
AKA “Crystal violet, gentian violet, methylrosanilinium chloride, Aniline Violet, Hexamethyl Violet, Methyl Violet 10B, Gentiaverm, Methylrosaniline chloride”
Synthetic
Ingredient Facts
Basic violet 3
AKA: Crystal violet, Gentian violet, Methylrosanilinium chloride, Aniline Violet, Hexamethyl Violet, Methyl Violet 10B, Gentiaverm, Methylrosaniline chloride
Synthetic · Hair Dyeing · EWG: 7
Synthetic
Colorant
Synthetic
Not Clean
A synthetic colorant that delivers vibrant violet and purple tones to hair. This long-lasting dye provides rich, multidimensional color payoff.
Solubility less than 1 mg/mL at 86 °F (NTP, 1992)
Formula
C25H30ClN3
Mol. Weight
408.00
CAS #
548-62-9
Form
Powder
State
Hexamethyl-p-rosaniline chloride is a green to dark green powder. (NTP, 1992)
See origin →
Functions
Hair Dyeing
Colorant
Gives the product its color. Purely aesthetic — makes the formula look good in the jar but does nothing for your skin.
Colors Hair
Traditional Use
A synthetic dye created in the early 20th century as part of the basic dye family. Developed to provide stable violet coloration in cosmetics, particularly in hair dye formulations.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Basic Violet 1, Basic Violet 3 and Basic Violet 4
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final report on the safety assessment of Basic Violet 1, Basic Violet 3, and Basic Violet 4.
Diamante C, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Final report on the safety assessment of Basic Violet 1, Basic Violet 3, and Basic Violet 4.
Diamante C, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Final report on the safety assessment of Basic Violet 1, Basic Violet 3, and Basic Violet 4.
Diamante C, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Basic Violet 3
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Basic Violet 3
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Verified Feb 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR