Database/Antimicrobial/Chloroxylenol
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Chloroxylenol natural?

No. Chloroxylenol (PCMX) is manufactured by chlorinating petrochemical xylenol; no natural-origin production route exists.

INCI nameChloroxylenol
CAS88-04-0
FormulaC8H9ClO · 156.61 Da
FunctionAntimicrobial · Deodorant
FeedstockProduced by chlorination of xylenol, itself derived from…

How we scored it

Chlorinated xylenol (chlorinated dimethylphenol); wholly synthetic phenol chemistry, no natural fragment = 0.0.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

How it’s made

Electrophilic aromatic chlorination of 3,5-xylenol (para to OH). Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Produced by chlorination of xylenol, itself derived from petrochemical cresols/xylenols. No natural route exists.

In plain English

A synthetic antimicrobial preservative (PCMX) used in soaps and cleansers. It's made by chlorinating a petrochemical phenol compound, with no natural source.

CosIng definition: Chloroxylenol is the organic compound that conforms to the formula:

Natural alternatives with the same function

Agastache Rugosa Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of the whole Korean mint plant (Agastache rugosa), made by soaking the plant in a solvent…

 Ajuga Reptans Leaf Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of the leaves of bugle (Ajuga reptans), a low-growing plant of the mint family, made by…

 Alcohol Denat. 100% natural origin

Plain alcohol (ethanol) with an additive so it can't be drunk. Used as a solvent and to help…

 Alpinia Zerumbet Leaf Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of shell ginger leaves, used to help control oiliness and support skin's natural defences.

 Aluminum Hydroxide Oxide 100% natural origin

A white mineral powder (boehmite) made from bauxite ore. It is listed in cosmetic ingredient databases for astringent,…

 Antrodia Cinnamomea Extract 100% natural origin

An extract from a Taiwanese medicinal fungus, used in skincare for its antioxidant and skin-protecting properties. Produced by…

Structure

2D structure of Chloroxylenol

4-chloro-3,5-dimethylphenol

PubChem CID 2723 ↗

References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 2Chloroxylenol. PubChem CID 2723. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3CHLOROXYLENOL. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4CHLOROXYLENOL. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=CHLOROXYLENOL