Benzyl alcohol

Uses

Benzyl alcohol is widely used in the production of industrial chemicals. It serves as a solvent for coatings, a photographic developer, a stabilizer for polyvinyl chloride, in pharmaceuticals, as a solvent for synthetic resins, a solvent for vitamin B injections, and a preservative for ointments or medicinal liquids. It can be used as a drying agent for nylon threads, fibers, and plastic films, a solvent for dyes, cellulose esters, and casein, and as an intermediate in the production of benzyl esters or ethers. Additionally, it is widely used in pen manufacturing (ballpoint pen ink), paint solvents, and more. Benzyl alcohol is an extremely useful fragrance fixative and is an indispensable ingredient in the formulation of fragrances such as jasmine, tuberose, and ylang-ylang. It is used in the preparation of perfumes for soaps and daily cosmetic fragrances. However, benzyl alcohol can slowly undergo natural oxidation, partially converting into benzaldehyde and benzyl ether, which imparts an almond-like aroma to commercially available products. Therefore, it is not suitable for long-term storage.