Butyl Acetate
AKA “123-86-4, N-BUTYL ACETATE, Acetic acid, butyl ester, Butyl ethanoate, 1-Butyl acetate, Acetic Acid Butyl Ester, n-Butyl ethanoate, Butylacetat, Acetate de butyle”
Ingredient
Ingredient Facts
Butyl acetate
AKA: 123-86-4, N-BUTYL ACETATE, Acetic acid, Butyl ester, Butyl ethanoate, 1-Butyl acetate, Acetic Acid Butyl Ester, N-Butyl ethanoate, Butylacetat, Acetate de butyle
Ingredient · Solvent · EWG: 1
Synthetic
Solvent
Clean
Butyl acetate appears as a clear colorless liquid with a fruity odor. Flash point 72 - 88 °F. Density 7.4 lb / gal (less than water). Hence floats on water. Vapors heavier than air.
Solubility 1 to 5 mg/mL at 68 °F (NTP, 1992)
Formula
C6H12O2
Mol. Weight
116.16
CAS #
123-86-4
Form
Liquid
State
Butyl acetate appears as a clear colorless liquid with a fruity odor. Flash point 72 - 88 °F. Density 7.4 lb / gal (less than water). Hence floats on water. Vapors heavier than air.
See origin →
Functions
Solvent
Dissolves other ingredients so they distribute evenly in the formula. Often the invisible "base" everything else is mixed into.
Antimicrobial
Provides scent
Dissolves other ingredients
Traditional Use
A synthetic ester first produced industrially in the early 20th century, later adopted as a solvent in cosmetics and nail products. It has no traditional use history.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types, gentle
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
Safety Assessment of Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate and Beta-Alanine Diacetic Acid as Used in Cosmetics.
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2025
Safety Assessment of Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate and Beta-Alanine Diacetic Acid as Used in Cosmetics.
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2025
Sodium Dehydroacetate and Dehydroacetic Acid.
Cherian P, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2024
Sodium Dehydroacetate and Dehydroacetic Acid.
Cherian P, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2024
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Ethyl Acetate and Butyl Acetate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Ethyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer and Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Sodium Dehydroacetate and Dehydroacetic Acid
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Safety Assessment of Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate and Beta-Alanine Diacetic Acid as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Sodium Dehydroacetate and Dehydroacetic Acid
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Acetic Acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Beta-Alanine Diacetic Acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Butyl Acetate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
dehydroacetic acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Isobutyl Acetate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Potassium Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
t-Butyl Acetate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Acetic acid and the skin: a review of vinegar in dermatology.
Elhage KG, St Claire K, Daveluy S
International journal of dermatology, 2022
Acetic acid and the skin: a review of vinegar in dermatology.
Elhage KG, St Claire K, Daveluy S
International journal of dermatology, 2022
Acetic Acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Butyl Acetate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
dehydroacetic acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Isobutyl Acetate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
t-Butyl Acetate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Potential application of novel liquid crystal nanoparticles of isostearyl glyceryl ether for transdermal delivery of 4-biphenyl acetic acid.
Fujii MY, Asakawa Y, Fukami T
International journal of pharmaceutics, 2020
Preparation of (13)C-labeled ceramide by acetic acid bacteria and its incorporation in mice.
Fukami H, Tachimoto H, Kishi M, Kaga T, Waki H et al.
Journal of lipid research, 2010
Trichloroacetic acid
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Antimicrobial activity of Butyl acetate, Ethyl acetate and Isopropyl alcohol on undesirable microorganisms in cosmetic products.
Lens C, Malet G, Cupferman S
International journal of cosmetic science, 2016
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR