Is Ethyl salicylate safe for babies and kids?
Elevated risk for kidsInfants are more vulnerable to Ethyl salicylate than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.
What is ethyl salicylate?
The IUPAC name is ethyl 2-hydroxybenzoate.
Also known as: ethyl 2-hydroxybenzoate, Sal ethyl, Mesotol, Salicylic ether.
- IUPAC name
- ethyl 2-hydroxybenzoate
- CAS number
- 118-61-6
- Molecular formula
- C9H10O3
- Molecular weight
- 166.17 g/mol
- SMILES
- CCOC(=O)C1=CC=CC=C1O
- PubChem CID
- 8365
Risk for babies
Elevated riskInfants are more vulnerable to Ethyl salicylate than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.
Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.
Risk for pregnant and nursing people
Context-dependentPrenatal exposure to Ethyl salicylate through personal care products may affect fetal development. Some fragrance chemicals are sensitizers or endocrine-active compounds with transplacental transfer.
No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.
Regulatory consensus
2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Ethyl salicylate. The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDC Assessment | 2024 | Suspected endocrine disruptor | |
| IFRA | 2020 | restriction | IFRA restriction — salicylate class |
Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.
Where kids encounter ethyl salicylate
- Personal Care — perfume, sunscreen, lotion
-
Fragrance
— perfume, cologne, scented personal care products, household fragrance products, candles
Identified in Fragrance Ingredient Safety Priority Research database (2,325 ingredients)
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Ethyl salicylate:
-
Methyl salicylate (with limits)
Trade-offs: Alternative fragrance ingredient; individual safety profile should be assessed per IFRA standards; sensitization potential varies by compound; patch testing recommended for sensitive individuals.Relative cost: 1.2-2×
-
Isoamyl salicylate
Trade-offs: Alternative fragrance ingredient; individual safety profile should be assessed per IFRA standards; sensitization potential varies by compound; patch testing recommended for sensitive individuals.Relative cost: 1.2-2×
Frequently asked questions
Is ethyl salicylate safe for kids?
Infants are more vulnerable to Ethyl salicylate than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.
What products contain ethyl salicylate?
Ethyl salicylate appears in: perfume (Personal care); sunscreen (Personal care); perfume (Fragrance); cologne (Fragrance).
What should I do if my child is exposed to ethyl salicylate?
Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.
See Ethyl salicylate in the baby app
Look up products containing ethyl salicylate, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in baby View raw API dataSources (1)
- PubChem Compound Database (2026) — database
Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →