Denatured Alcohol (Alcohol Denat.)
Alcohol Denat. is ethyl alcohol (ethanol) to which bitter or foul-smelling substances have been added to stop people drinking it. In perfumes, toners, sun sprays and gel products it provides fast drying and a fresh feel. It poses no serious health risk; the real issue is that with frequent use at high levels it can dry and irritate the skin.
Risk range
1 is the lowest and 10 the highest risk. The range depends on the amount used, whether the product is rinsed off and how it is used. The Temiz İçerik app uses the same ranges.
The lower end applies to products where it is balanced by moisturisers or appears near the end of the list at a low level; the upper end applies to toners and gels where it is at the top of the list, and to dry or sensitive skin.
What is Alcohol Denat. and what is it used for?
The alcohol used in cosmetics is ethanol, the same molecule as the alcohol in drinks. Because of tax and safety rules, small amounts of very bitter or foul-smelling substances (denaturants) are added to it to stop people drinking it; in this form it is called denatured alcohol.
It does many jobs in products: it dissolves other ingredients, helps the product dry quickly on the skin and leave a non-greasy feel, cools, makes it easier for some actives to penetrate the skin and, at high levels, kills microbes. In perfumes it is the carrier that helps the scent spread.
Which products contain it?
- Perfumes, eau de cologne and body sprays
- Hand sanitisers
- Toners, gels for oily skin and spot treatments
- Spray and gel sunscreens
- Hairsprays, deodorants and aftershave lotions
On the label it appears as Alcohol Denat., Alcohol or SD Alcohol. Fatty alcohols such as cetyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol are completely different substances; they do not dry the skin but soften it.
Is it harmful? The scientific assessment
Ethanol applied to the skin evaporates very quickly and is not absorbed to any significant extent through intact skin. For this reason it poses no serious risk to the body in cosmetic use.
The known downside of alcohol is that it is drying. When used often and at high levels, it can dissolve the lipids in the skin barrier, increase water loss and cause redness, tightness or stinging on sensitive skin. However, this effect depends very much on the formula: a product with a low level of alcohol balanced by humectants such as glycerin causes no problems for most people.
The substances used as denaturants are present in very small amounts and must comply with cosmetics legislation. It is also worth remembering that ethanol is flammable: alcohol-based products should be kept away from flames.
Who should be careful?
- Dry, sensitive, eczema-prone skin or skin with rosacea: Products with alcohol near the top of the list can cause burning and dryness.
- Young children: Products with a high alcohol content, such as perfumes and sanitisers, can cause poisoning if swallowed, so they should be kept out of children's reach.
- People who avoid alcohol for religious or personal reasons: Alcohol Denat. on the label shows that the product contains ethanol.
What to do when you see it on a label
The position of alcohol on the label is a good clue: if it is among the first few ingredients, the product contains a significant amount of alcohol; if it is near the end, it is usually present in a small amount as a solvent. If you have oily skin, light gels containing alcohol may feel refreshing. If you have dry or sensitive skin, you can turn to alcohol-free toners and formulas enriched with moisturisers such as glycerin or panthenol. For sensitivity caused by fragrance, see also the fragrance page.
Frequently asked questions
Does alcohol in cosmetics dry the skin?
It can when used often and at high levels. Products with low levels balanced by moisturisers do not cause noticeable dryness for most people.
Is cetyl alcohol drying too?
No. Cetyl, cetearyl and stearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols; they soften the skin and give creams their texture.
Is denatured alcohol absorbed through the skin into the blood?
Because it evaporates very quickly, the amount absorbed through intact skin is negligible.
Sources
Updated: 2026-10-11 · How we score
This page is for general information and is not personal medical advice. Warnings on the product label and the advice of a health professional always come first.