Benzyl alcohol appears as a clear colorless liquid with a pleasant odor. Slightly denser than water. Flash point 194°F. Boiling point 401°F. Contact may irritate skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. May be slightly toxic by ingestion. Used to make other chemicals.Benzyl alcohol is an aromatic alcohol that consists of benzene bearing a single hydroxymethyl substituent. It has a role as a solvent, a metabolite, an antioxidant and a fragrance.Benzyl alcohol is a Pediculicide.

Benzyl alcohol is a highly useful fixative and an indispensable fragrance component in the formulation of jasmine, tuberose, ylang-ylang and other essences.It is widely used in industrial chemical production: as a coating solvent, photographic developer, polyvinyl chloride stabilizer, in pharmaceuticals, as a solvent for synthetic resins and vitamin B injections, and as a preservative in ointments or medical solutions.It can be used as a drying agent for nylon filaments, fibers and plastic films; as a solvent for dyes, cellulose esters and casein; and as an intermediate for the preparation of benzyl esters or ethers.It is also widely used in pen manufacturing (ballpoint pen ink), paint solvents, and other applications.