The potential of
benzyl salicylate, an important fragrance and flavour ingredient, to induce
hypersensitivity or to elicit reactions to pre-existing
hypersensitivity in the general population was evaluated by analysing patch-test data. Results obtained from fragrance and formulator companies for a total of 10,538 patch tests on
benzyl salicylate alone, on a variety of household and personal care consumer products and on fragrance blends containing
benzyl salicylate were analysed as part of this survey. No induced or elicited responses directly attributable to
benzyl salicylate were observed in the 35 patch tests on
benzyl salicylate alone, or in the 10,503 patch tests on consumer products or fragrance blends containing
benzyl salicylate. The highest concentration of
benzyl salicylate tested in the consumer-product tests was 2 X 10(-1)%, and
benzyl salicylate alone was tested
at 10% in
ethanol. This study indicates that
benzyl salicylate has a very low potential to induce
hypersensitivity ('induced' reactions) or to elicit reactions presumably attributable to pre-existing sensitization ('elicited' reactions) and thus supports the safe use of
benzyl salicylate in consumer products and fragrance blends.