- Chemical Name:2-phenylethanol
- CAS Number:60-12-8
Phenyl Ethyl Alcohol USP (2-phenylethanol) is a primary alcohol where ethanol is substituted by a phenyl group at position 2. It is used as an antimicrobial preservative in nasal, ophthalmic, and otic formulations at concentrations of 0.25–0.5% v/v, often in combination with other preservatives. Actylis offers the product complying with IP and USP standards. Phenylethyl alcohol also serves as a fragrance, a metabolite of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus, and plants, and as a plant growth retardant. It is found in the extracts of flowers and plants such as rose, carnation, hyacinth, and ylang-ylang. Additionally, it is produced as an autoantibiotic by the fungus Candida albicans.