Aroma ingredient, perfume ingredient.

P-anisic acid is a white, crystalline, sweet-aromatic substance As a perfume raw material which is naturally used up to 0.2% in anise oil-derived p-anisic acid, is not listed and therefore plays no role in the perfume industry. This substance is however offered as a raw material for the cosmetic industry, in order to mask unpleasant smells in cosmetic products (e.g. from surfactants), and therefore can positively influence the scent profile of a product. Furthermore, p-anisic acid can also be used to set the pH value and shows antimicrobial characteristics according to the raw material manufacturer. It is not permitted to be used as a preservative according to cosmetics regulations. Therefore one can ask whether p-anisic acid is used as an unapproved preservative material. In 13 of 77 tested cosmetic samples, p-anisic acid contents between 0.1 and 0.2 g/ 100g were found. In the components lists of these products, no preservative materials were given, some were even indicated as "free of preservatives." In the components list in most cases p-anisic acid was listed under 'perfume,' in a few cases it was also given the INCI description which is used for cosmetic materials) "p-anisic acid." In one concrete case after questioning the manufacturer it was made clear that p-anisic acid was used in the products manufactured there solely as a preservative and not due to the influence of the scent. The preferred naming which was connected with this was judged to promote sales. The main use as preservative is not possible according to the regulatory supervisors in accordance with the cosmetic regulations, and to reward it with the term "free of preservatives" is an attempt to confuse consumers. There are no toxicological concerns against its use.