ABSTRACT
Methyl 2-octynoate is a colorless to pale yellow clear liquid; its odor type is green and its odor described as ‘green, vegetative, fruity, fatty, waxy, cucumber, melon and violet leaf-like with floral nuances’. The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, in a 2012 Opinion on Fragrance allergens in cosmetic products, has marked methyl 2-octynoate as ‘established contact allergen in humans’. Animal and human studies have shown methyl 2-octynoate to be a strong sensitizer. A woman had severe dermatitis of the face and neck which was caused by methyl 2-octynoate in a face cream as shown by open application of ‘the essential ingredients’ of the product to the face. A barber developed contact dermatitis localized to the dorsa of the fingers. All reactions to routine patch tests were negative. In 2007, in The Netherlands, twenty-three cosmetic products for children were analyzed for the presence of fragrances that need to be labelled.
