Benzyl salicylate is an organic compound with the formula . it is the benzyl ester of salicylic acid. A colorless oil, it is used in cosmetics as a fragrance additive or UV light absorber.
Odor It has a mild odor described as "very faint, sweet-floral, slightly balsamic" by some, while others smell nothing at all. There is debate whether the odour is caused solely by impurities or a genetic predisposition.Steffen Arctander: Perfume and Flavor Chemicals. It occurs naturally in a variety of plants and plant extracts and is widely used in blends of fragrance materials. Nina Ricci L'Air du Temps (1948) was the first fragrance to use benzyl salicylate in large quantities; other perfumes that have it include Elizabeth Arden Blue Grass (1934), Prince Matchabelli Wind Song (1953), Estée Lauder Youth-Dew (1953), Norell Norell (1968), Estée Lauder Estée (1968), and Revlon Charlie (1973).
There is some evidence that people may become sensitized to this material and as a result, there is a restriction standard concerning the use of this material in fragrances by the International Fragrance Association.
It is used as a solvent for crystalline synthetic musks and as a component and fixative in floral perfumes such as carnation, jasmine, lilac, and wallflower.An Introduction to Perfumery by Curtis & Williams 2nd Edition, 2009, ,
See also Oil of wintergreen References
External links