© 2026 Nanjing Finechem Holdings Co., Ltd,
All Right Reserved
Name: Carvacrol
Chemical Formula: C10H14O
Common Appearance: This compound typically looks like a colorless to pale yellow liquid with a strong, warm, spicy odor, often reminding me of oregano or thyme in the kitchen.
CAS Number: 499-75-2
Odor Threshold: Detectable at low concentrations due to its potent fragrance.
Sourcing: Most of it appears in nature within essential oils of oregano, thyme, and pepperwort.
Signal Word: Warning
Hazard Statements: Exposure can irritate skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. Some may feel burning or redness on the skin, especially with prolonged handling. Individuals inhaling high amounts, say through accidental spills or vapor, might notice coughing, headaches, or nausea. I've seen folks underestimate essential oils, but concentrated carvacrol acts aggressively at the biological level.
Precautionary Statements: Those working with it should keep it out of the reach of children, and anyone who's ever spilled aromatic compounds on their hands knows the importance of thoroughly washing exposed skin.
GHS Classification: Carvacrol fits the criteria for skin and eye irritant, and calls for care with inhalation, ingestion, or contact.
Component: Carvacrol
Concentration: Typically used in high purity, above 98%, though some natural extracts have other terpenes spelling out the nuanced character of the parent herb's aroma. It matters for users to gauge what else rides along in each batch, especially those sensitive to impurities like thymol or cymene.
Additives/Impurities: Generally no intentional additives; however, trace byproducts from steam distillation or solvent extraction could present potential allergic triggers for a small pool of sensitive users.
Inhalation: Move outside to breathe fresh air. Many underestimate vapors produced by volatile oils, yet they can cause dizziness or a scratchy throat. If symptoms persist, medical assessment is important.
Skin Contact: Wash skin with plenty of soap and water for several minutes. Don't attempt to wipe with a dry cloth, since that just spreads the oil.
Eye Contact: Flush the eyes with running water for many minutes, keeping eyelids open and moving. Rushing this step means possible extended irritation.
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting. Rinse mouth well and seek medical help if a large amount has been consumed or discomfort continues.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use dry chemical, carbon dioxide, or alcohol-resistant foam. Water jets risk spreading rather than extinguishing due to the oily nature.
Hazards During Fire: Vapors may ignite easily and can flow along surfaces to distant ignition sources.
Special Firefighting Precautions: Firefighters benefit from wearing self-contained breathing apparatus. Tiny spills on hot surfaces ignite, filling an enclosed area with pungent smoke.
Decomposition Products: Burning can spin off hazardous fumes, including carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, which are both invisible and dangerous in confined environments.
Personal Precautions: Avoid direct skin contact. Open windows or use fans in the event of a large spill indoors to clear out vapors that rapidly accumulate. Safety goggles and gloves are standard, given how a single droplet can cause burns or rashes.
Containment: Absorb small spills with sand, earth, or inert material. Never sweep or shovel into drains—contamination of water sources remains a huge concern.
Clean-Up: Collect spill into containers for disposal. Wash spill area with detergent and water, as oily residues linger far longer than expected, sometimes marking a surface with stubborn aromas for weeks.
Handling: Always wear gloves and avoid breathing in vapors. People moving bottles around should keep them tightly closed, and only handle them in well-ventilated spaces. Anyone who's cleaned up after a home essential oil spill can understand why a single lapse in judgment leads to accidents.
Storage: Store in cool, dry, and well-ventilated areas. Direct sunlight degrades carvacrol, so dark glass or opaque containers help. Always keep away from ignition sources, including overheated appliances and open flames.
Incompatible Materials: Reactive with strong acids and oxidizing agents, so keep away from bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or similar chemicals.
Engineering Controls: Local exhaust or fume hoods should be used for large-scale operations.
Personal Protection: Anyone working with carvacrol regularly should put on chemical-resistant gloves, safety goggles, and organic vapor respirators when ventilation is poor. Regular hand-washing and changing contaminated clothes are basic standards in any workplace with essential oil processing.
Exposure Limit Values: No established occupational exposure limits, but evidence points to irritation at low vapor concentrations—keeping time spent near the substance minimal makes a difference.
Hygiene Measures: Avoid eating, drinking, or smoking in the area of use, and always wash thoroughly after handling.
Physical State: Liquid at room temperature
Color: Colorless to light yellow
Odor: Strong, spicy, reminiscent of oregano
Boiling Point: Around 237°C
Melting Point: Typically close to 0°C
Flash Point: Reports suggest roughly 100°C, which puts it into a moderate fire risk category for oily substances
Solubility: Not soluble in water, but mixes well with alcohol and many organic solvents. This can surprise those expecting it to rinse off easily.
Vapor Pressure: Low, but enough to create noticeable fumes in warm or poorly ventilated spaces
Chemical Stability: Stable in sealed containers, under normal temperature and dry conditions.
Conditions to Avoid: High temperatures, exposure to light, and open air accelerate degradation and risk.
Incompatible Materials: Strong acids or oxidizers could lead to dangerous reactions.
Hazardous Decomposition: Heating or burning generates smoke, carbon monoxide, and other irritating fumes, making it risky to dispose of by incineration without controls.
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, ingestion, skin, and eye contact.
Potential Effects: Causes skin irritation, burns, and prolonged contact may sensitize or worsen pre-existing allergies. Eyes react strongly, with pronounced redness or excessive tearing. Ingestion brings stomach upset, and high doses have triggered vomiting.
Chronic Toxicity: No strong evidence ties it to cancer or birth defects in humans, but regular users may suffer cumulative dermatitis or irritation.
Acute Toxicity: Animal studies registered low acute toxicity yet still indicate trouble with larger doses or repeated handling.
Aquatic Toxicity: Carvacrol spills in water can harm fish and aquatic invertebrates, disrupting natural microbial ecosystems. It doesn’t break down instantly, which means outdoor accidents would persist, driving home the lesson that environmental diligence is not just red tape.
Persistence and Degradability: Moderately persistent in soil and water, so contaminated runoff requires careful management.
Bioaccumulation: These compounds don’t build up much in the food chain, but their strong biological activity raises extra eyebrows in fragile watersheds.
Mobility: Not expected to volatilize quickly, yet oil residues can bind to soil or wash into groundwater streams after rain or overzealous washing.
Waste Treatment: Any material, including wipes and absorbents, should go to a licensed chemical waste facility, not the local landfill.
Container Disposal: Empty containers need thorough cleaning—more than a quick rinse—or, even better, must be managed as hazardous waste.
Special Precautions: Never pour carvacrol down drains, sewers, or into natural water sources. Instead of simple disposal, labelling, documentation, and controlled incineration safeguard neighborhoods and communities.
Hazard Class: Not classed as a hazardous material for most overland transportation, but bulk shipments can trip safety triggers for flammable liquids and should follow set guidelines.
Packing Group: Materials with moderate fire risk should travel in clearly marked, leak-proof, shatter-resistant containers.
Environmental Precautions: Moving carvacrol across borders means more than just paperwork; any spill en route risks local ecosystems, so vehicles need absorbent and clean-up gear on board.
Labeling Requirements: Safety symbols with “irritant” or “flammable” mark containers.
Chemical Inventories: Entries on major chemical regulatory lists such as REACH and TSCA underline its broad use and known risks. All handlers—pro or newcomer—should check for local or regional restrictions, since status can shift as new data emerges.
Worker Protection: Health authorities lay out clear expectations for handling, personal protection, and disposal. For any user in busy or industrial settings, following safety directives has direct implications for both workplace health and environmental protection. Reports of mishandling, even by well-meaning hobbyists, have prompted added scrutiny and safer modern guidance.
