Baby Safety / Compounds / Musk ketone

Is Musk ketone safe for babies and kids?

Context-dependent for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Musk ketone 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 musk ketone?

The IUPAC name is 1-(4-tert-butyl-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-dinitrophenyl)ethanone.

Also known as: 1-(4-tert-butyl-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-dinitrophenyl)ethanone, 4'-tert-Butyl-2',6'-dimethyl-3',5'-dinitroacetophenone, 2-Acetyl-5-tert-butyl-4,6-dinitroxylene, Acetophenone, 4'-tert-butyl-2',6'-dimethyl-3',5'-dinitro-.

IUPAC name: 1-(4-tert-butyl-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-dinitrophenyl)ethanone
CAS number: 81-14-1
Molecular formula: C14H18N2O5
Molecular weight: 294.30 g/mol
SMILES: CC1=C(C(=C(C(=C1[N+](=O)[O-])C(C)(C)C)[N+](=O)[O-])C)C(=O)C
PubChem CID: 6669

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

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.

What to do: 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.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Musk ketone.

Agency	Year	Classification	Notes
EDC Assessment	2024	Suspected endocrine disruptor

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 musk ketone

Personal Care — perfume, cosmetics, soap
Consumer Products — detergent, air freshener
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 Musk ketone:

Ethylene brassylate
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×
Habanolide
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×
Cosmone
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 musk ketone safe for kids?

What products contain musk ketone?

Musk ketone appears in: perfume (Personal care); cosmetics (Personal care); detergent (Consumer products); air freshener (Consumer products); perfume (Fragrance).

What should I do if my child is exposed to musk ketone?

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 Musk ketone in the baby app

Look up products containing musk ketone, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (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 →