Benzyl Glycol

INCI: BENZYL GLYCOL
Type: Solvent
Origin: A synthetic aromatic alcohol produced via chemical synthesis. It belongs to the glycol family but is chemically distinct from common glycols like propylene glycol.

What it does:

Benzyl Glycol is a multifunctional ingredient primarily valued for its ability to enhance preservative systems while offering secondary formulation benefits. Primary functions:

1. Solvent and coupling agent: Its primary function is to dissolve and stabilize other ingredients in the formula, particularly challenging components like certain preservatives, actives, or fragrance materials. It helps create homogeneous, clear solutions and prevents separation or crystallization.
2. Preservative booster: Works synergistically with primary preservatives (like Phenoxyethanol) to broaden and strengthen antimicrobial efficacy, particularly against fungi and Gram-negative bacteria, allowing for lower overall preservative concentrations.
3. Mild antimicrobial: Exhibits inherent antimicrobial activity, contributing directly to formula preservation and safety.

Why we use it:

We include Benzyl Glycol as a precision formulation tool. Its primary job is to ensure our carefully selected preservatives and other ingredients remain fully solubilized, stable, and uniformly distributed throughout the product’s entire shelf life. The preservation-boosting benefit is a valuable secondary advantage, allowing us to achieve uncompromising product safety with minimal total preservative load.