Home › Ingredients › Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Butylphenyl Methylpropional in skincare
Lilial / BMHCA. BANNED in EU since March 2022 due to reproductive toxicity. Originally one of the EU 26 allergens; now prohibited.
BANNED in the EU since March 2022 due to reproductive toxicity classification. If found in a product, it indicates non-EU-compliant or pre-ban stock. Originally one of the EU 26 mandatory fragrance allergens. Still permitted in some non-EU markets. Avoid all products containing this ingredient.
What it is
Butylphenyl Methylpropional (trade name Lilial, also known as BMHCA, 2-(4-tert-butylbenzyl)propionaldehyde) was an extremely widely used synthetic fragrance with a fresh, floral, lily-of-the-valley, cyclamen-like scent found in countless perfumes, shampoos, soaps, and laundry products. Originally one of the 26 fragrance allergens requiring mandatory declaration under EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009. Classified as a reproductive toxicant category 1B (Repr. 1B) under the EU CLP Regulation, leading to a complete ban in all EU cosmetic products effective March 1, 2022 (Commission Regulation EU 2021/1902). Products containing Lilial are non-compliant in the EU. Still permitted in some non-EU markets (US, parts of Asia). Sensitization rate ~1–2%. Individuals should avoid, especially pregnant women due to the reproductive toxicity classification.
The facts
| Category | Fragrance Allergen (Aldehyde). EU BANNED |
| Typical use | Morning and evening |
| Concentration YARAI treats as a full dose | 0% |
| EU Cosmetics Regulation annex | II |
| EU status | prohibited |
| EU and US differ | No FDA restriction. Still permitted in US cosmetics and fragrances. |
Why the amount matters, not just the presence
Most ingredient checkers tell you whether something is in the bottle. That is a smaller question than it sounds. Butylphenyl Methylpropional at 0% and butylphenyl methylpropional at a trace level are not the same ingredient in any way that affects your skin.
An ingredient list is ordered by quantity, so position carries real information. YARAI reads that position and scores accordingly, which is why the same ingredient can land differently in two different products.
The honest limit: a list gives order, not percentages. Estimating concentration from position is an estimate. It is a better estimate than ignoring position, and it is still an estimate. We would rather tell you that than let a number look more certain than it is.
Regulatory status
Banned in EU cosmetics (Annex II) since March 2022. Classified as CMR2 (suspected reproductive toxicant).
Common questions
What does butylphenyl methylpropional do in a skincare product?
Lilial / BMHCA. BANNED in EU since March 2022 due to reproductive toxicity. Originally one of the EU 26 allergens; now prohibited.
How much butylphenyl methylpropional should a product contain?
YARAI treats 0% as a full dose for this ingredient. Below that, the ingredient is present but is scored as contributing less. An ingredient list gives you the order of ingredients, not their percentages, so this is an estimate read from position rather than a measurement.
When should I use butylphenyl methylpropional?
BANNED in the EU since March 2022 due to reproductive toxicity classification. If found in a product, it indicates non-EU-compliant or pre-ban stock. Originally one of the EU 26 mandatory fragrance allergens. Still permitted in some non-EU markets. Avoid all products containing this ingredient.
Check your own products
Point your camera at a product. YARAI identifies it from the label, finds that product's full ingredient list from published sources, and scores it. No barcode and no box needed, which is how it handles imported and small-brand products.
Concern level, category and thresholds on this page are read directly from the same data the YARAI app scores with, so this page and the app cannot disagree. EU figures cite Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Last built 2026-09-09. Nothing here is medical advice.