Benzyl alcohol is a colourless liquid with a slight sweet fragrance. It is a useful solvent due to its polarity, low toxicity, and low vapor pressure. As an aromatic alcohol it is used in a variety of cosmetic formulations as a fragrance component and preservative. Though synthesised for industry, benzyl alcohol is also produced naturally by many plants and can be found in jasmine and ylang-ylang essential oils. We use this ingredient with care at a very low concentration to help stop the growth of microbes on our products once they are exposed to air, keeping them stable and working at their best. Benzyl alcohol is a synthetic chemical (no plant-based preservatives that meet our efficacy standards currently exist) that is considered to be a low hazard for health, although a small percentage of people can be sensitive to this ingredient on their skin.