Kojic Acid

Overview IFRA Request a quote

  • Identifiers

    CAS number
    501-30-4

    Molecular formula
    C6H6O4

    SMILES
    C1=C(OC=C(C1=O)O)CO

    Safety labels

    Health Hazard
    Health

  • Odor profile

    Fragrance
    Caramellic 80.43%
    Fruity 72.11%
    Sweet 66.06%
    Burnt 45.37%
    Strawberry 36.48%
    Buttery 32.45%
    Berry 30.15%
    Creamy 30.04%
    Milky 28.03%
    Vanilla 23.78%

     

    Flavor
    Sweet 69.83%
    Caramel 55.78%
    Creamy 40.01%
    Fruity 39.65%
    Bread 39.65%
    Almond 37.95%
    Bitter 35.14%
    Musty 33.76%
    Fatty 30.68%
    Coffee 30.66%

     

    Odor impact est.
    Low

  • Properties

    XLogP3-AA
    -0.9

    pKa est.
    7.62 (neutral)

    Molecular weight
    142.11 g/mol

    Vapor pressure est.

    • hPa @ 20°C
    • hPa @ 25°C

    Evaporation rate
    Ultra slow

    Boiling point est.
    333°C

    Melting point expt.

    • 153.5 °C
    • 161 °C

    Flash point

    • 160.12 ˚C est.

    Solubility expt.

    • Soluble in ethanol, ethyl ether, acetone, DMSO; slightly soluble in benzene
    • Soluble in water, acetone; slightly solluble in ether; insoluble in benzene
    • Sparingly soluble in pyridine

  • Synonyms

    • kojic acid
    • 501-30-4
    • 5-Hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4H-pyran-4-one
    • 5-Hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-pyrone
    • 5-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)pyran-4-one
    • 4H-PYRAN-4-ONE, 5-HYDROXY-2-(HYDROXYMETHYL)-
    • 5-Hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-4-pyrone
    • acido kojico
    • 2-Hydroxymethyl-5-hydroxy-gamma-pyrone
    • 2-(Hydroxymethyl)-5-hydroxy-4H-pyran-4-one
    • DTXSID2040236
    • 6K23F1TT52
    • NSC-1942
    • DTXCID0020236
    • CHEBI:43572
    • Beaute
    • Cleansing Pasds
    • TurmericKojicSoap
    • Surfree Kojic Acid
    • CLEANSING PADS
    • Kojic Acid Dark Spot
    • Kojic Acid 0.6%
    • Kojic Acid 4.4%
    • RefChem:5934
    • RET I NOL
    • Deodorant Underarms Body Skin
    • GZE Lemon Turmeric Kojic ScidSoap
    • Kojic Acid Turmeric Cleansing Pads
    • CVC TURMERIC CLEANSING PASDS
    • GZE Lemon Turmeric Kojic Acid LiquidSoap
    • Kambuta Turmeric Kojic acid Cleansing Pasds
    • 207-922-4
    • MFCD00006580
    • 5-Hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-4H-pyran-4-one
    • Pyran-4-one, 5-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)
    • 123712-78-7
    • 5-Hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-pyran-4-one
    • 5-Hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-4H-4-pyranone
    • CHEMBL287556
    • NSC1942
    • NCGC00017325-03
    • NCGC00017325-06
    • 2-HYDROXYMETHYL-5-HYDROXY-4-PYRONE
    • CAS-501-30-4
    • CCRIS 4131
    • NSC 1942
    • EINECS 207-922-4
    • BRN 0120895
    • kojate
    • Kojisaeure
    • UNII-6K23F1TT52
    • AI3-02549
    • HSDB 7664
    • Kojic acid (Standard)
    • Spectrum_000191
    • KOJIC ACID [MI]
    • Spectrum2_001828
    • Spectrum3_001704
    • Spectrum4_000571
    • Spectrum5_001085
    • Natural Kojic Acid Powder
    • KOJIC ACID [HSDB]
    • KOJIC ACID [IARC]
    • KOJIC ACID [MART.]
    • Oprea1_038773
    • SCHEMBL36895
    • BSPBio_003288
    • KBioGR_001002
    • KBioSS_000671
    • KOJIC ACID [WHO-DD]
    • 5-18-02-00516 (Beilstein Handbook Reference)
    • BIDD:ER0501
    • DivK1c_000923
    • SPBio_001875
    • Kojic acid, analytical standard
    • MEGxm0_000388
    • orb1301405
    • WLN: T6O DVJ B1Q EQ
    • SCHEMBL11610438
    • ACon1_000622
    • BEJNERDRQOWKJM-UHFFFAOYSA-
    • HMS502O05
    • KBio1_000923
    • KBio2_000671
    • KBio2_003239
    • KBio2_005807
    • KBio3_002508
    • NINDS_000923
    • GLXC-08094
    • HMS3604L04
    • HMS5084J11
    • KUC106760N
    • BB_NC-00714
    • HY-W050154R
    • TNP00261
    • 2-Hydroxymethyl-5-hydroxy-?-pyrone
    • Tox21_110814
    • Tox21_113449
    • BBL010645
    • BDBM50031467
    • CCG-38458
    • EBC-03969
    • s5174
    • SBB005397
    • STK801688
    • AKOS000120649
    • Tox21_110814_1
    • 5-Hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-I(3)-pyron
    • DB01759
    • FK01303
    • HY-W050154
    • MSK000547-100W
    • IDI1_000923
    • SMP1_000171
    • MSK000547-1000W
    • NCGC00017325-01
    • NCGC00017325-02
    • NCGC00017325-04
    • NCGC00017325-05
    • NCGC00017325-10
    • NCGC00142361-01
    • NCGC00168903-01
    • NCGC00168903-02
    • NCGC00181145-01
    • AC-11658
    • AS-11648
    • Kojic acid Solution in Water, 100ug/mL
    • 501-30-4

  • Applications

    Kojic Acid (CAS 501-30-4) is primarily used in cosmetics and personal care as a tyrosinase inhibitor, commonly formulated as an active ingredient for skin lightening and pigment control; it is also employed as an intermediate in pharmaceutical synthesis and in topical formulations. Its metal-chelating properties allow it to act as a stabilizer and processing aid in industrial formulations such as coatings, inks, and cleaners, helping to sequester trace metals. Additionally, Kojic Acid is used as an organic synthesis intermediate, enabling downstream production of various specialty chemicals. Use is subject to local regulations and formulation limits.

    gpt-5-nano

  • Solubility @25˚C

    Solvent Solubility (g/L)
    ethanol 18.52
    methanol 44.34
    isopropanol 10.11
    water 35.37
    ethyl acetate 3.38
    n-propanol 10.14
    acetone 10.54
    n-butanol 7.25
    acetonitrile 6.16
    DMF 225.31
    toluene 1.61
    isobutanol 6.61
    1,4-dioxane 18.65
    methyl acetate 6.53
    THF 21.6
    2-butanone 7.9
    n-pentanol 6.5
    sec-butanol 7.8
    n-hexane 0.27
    ethylene glycol 56.73
    NMP 230.12
    cyclohexane 0.92
    DMSO 508.92
    n-butyl acetate 3.68
    n-octanol 7.83
    chloroform 1.05
    n-propyl acetate 3.16
    acetic acid 28.46
    dichloromethane 3.86
    cyclohexanone 12.59
    propylene glycol 21.99
    isopropyl acetate 2.7
    DMAc 247.74
    2-ethoxyethanol 34.79
    isopentanol 6.67
    n-heptane 1.7
    ethyl formate 7.29
    1,2-dichloroethane 5.08
    n-hexanol 6.26
    2-methoxyethanol 59.1
    isobutyl acetate 1.55
    tetrachloromethane 0.53
    n-pentyl acetate 4.16
    transcutol 45.09
    n-heptanol 7.58
    ethylbenzene 1.62
    MIBK 3.74
    2-propoxyethanol 24.25
    tert-butanol 14.35
    MTBE 5.65
    2-butoxyethanol 20.68
    propionic acid 10.78
    o-xylene 3.77
    formic acid 73.09
    diethyl ether 3.21
    m-xylene 2.35
    p-xylene 2.12
    chlorobenzene 1.53
    dimethyl carbonate 9.88
    n-octane 0.72
    formamide 101.16
    cyclopentanone 17.54
    2-pentanone 4.6
    anisole 5.99
    cyclopentyl methyl ether 7.39
    gamma-butyrolactone 27.27
    1-methoxy-2-propanol 31.39
    pyridine 10.54
    3-pentanone 4.54
    furfural 35.11
    n-dodecane 0.71
    diethylene glycol 44.31
    diisopropyl ether 1.59
    tert-amyl alcohol 11.7
    acetylacetone 8.65
    n-hexadecane 0.78
    acetophenone 9.06
    methyl propionate 7.89
    isopentyl acetate 3.53
    trichloroethylene 4.71
    n-nonanol 7.66
    cyclohexanol 7.88
    benzyl alcohol 9.91
    2-ethylhexanol 4.72
    isooctanol 6.11
    dipropyl ether 5.41
    1,2-dichlorobenzene 2.51
    ethyl lactate 8.88
    propylene carbonate 10.68
    n-methylformamide 69.53
    2-pentanol 4.3
    n-pentane 0.45
    1-propoxy-2-propanol 16.72
    1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate 9.33
    2-(2-methoxypropoxy) propanol 25.7
    mesitylene 2.05
    ε-caprolactone 13.77
    p-cymene 3.09
    epichlorohydrin 20.98
    1,1,1-trichloroethane 1.21
    2-aminoethanol 39.77
    morpholine-4-carbaldehyde 103.63
    sulfolane 96.11
    2,2,4-trimethylpentane 0.46
    2-methyltetrahydrofuran 11.13
    n-hexyl acetate 5.97
    isooctane 0.29
    2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol 29.69
    sec-butyl acetate 1.96
    tert-butyl acetate 4.16
    decalin 0.55
    glycerin 54.67
    diglyme 48.51
    acrylic acid 16.93
    isopropyl myristate 3.53
    n-butyric acid 7.8
    acetyl acetate 2.9
    di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 6.75
    ethyl propionate 3.41
    nitromethane 43.19
    1,2-diethoxyethane 8.0
    benzonitrile 6.04
    trioctyl phosphate 5.57
    1-bromopropane 1.83
    gamma-valerolactone 39.5
    n-decanol 6.24
    triethyl phosphate 5.11
    4-methyl-2-pentanol 3.1
    propionitrile 4.48
    vinylene carbonate 10.56
    1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane 34.72
    DMS 6.13
    cumene 1.67
    2-octanol 4.4
    2-hexanone 3.87
    octyl acetate 5.42
    limonene 4.36
    1,2-dimethoxyethane 34.07
    ethyl orthosilicate 4.6
    tributyl phosphate 4.43
    diacetone alcohol 13.71
    N,N-dimethylaniline 9.34
    acrylonitrile 10.22
    aniline 5.51
    1,3-propanediol 28.84
    bromobenzene 1.2
    dibromomethane 1.8
    1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane 5.28
    2-methyl-cyclohexyl acetate 5.3
    tetrabutyl urea 10.85
    diisobutyl methanol 3.9
    2-phenylethanol 8.23
    styrene 1.57
    dioctyl adipate 7.73
    dimethyl sulfate 33.87
    ethyl butyrate 4.57
    methyl lactate 19.56
    butyl lactate 7.23
    diethyl carbonate 3.75
    propanediol butyl ether 19.49
    triethyl orthoformate 5.3
    p-tert-butyltoluene 3.06
    methyl 4-tert-butylbenzoate 16.95
    morpholine 28.77
    tert-butylamine 6.45
    n-dodecanol 5.01
    dimethoxymethane 36.86
    ethylene carbonate 7.23
    cyrene 35.02
    2-ethoxyethyl acetate 7.34
    2-ethylhexyl acetate 2.79
    1,2,4-trichlorobenzene 3.95
    4-methylpyridine 9.37
    dibutyl ether 3.55
    2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanol 3.9
    DEF 28.99
    dimethyl isosorbide 32.79
    tetrachloroethylene 3.69
    eugenol 17.81
    triacetin 9.89
    span 80 16.84
    1,4-butanediol 20.75
    1,1-dichloroethane 1.58
    2-methyl-1-pentanol 5.36
    methyl formate 37.98
    2-methyl-1-butanol 6.78
    n-decane 0.95
    butyronitrile 3.98
    3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol 6.12
    1-chlorooctane 2.35
    1-chlorotetradecane 1.45
    n-nonane 0.85
    undecane 0.81
    tert-butylcyclohexane 0.41
    cyclooctane 0.63
    cyclopentanol 10.44
    tetrahydropyran 6.65
    tert-amyl methyl ether 6.25
    2,5,8-trioxanonane 45.0
    1-hexene 0.77
    2-isopropoxyethanol 17.58
    2,2,2-trifluoroethanol 18.8
    methyl butyrate 5.47

    Scent© AI

1 4

IFRA standard 51

Recommendation
No restriction
Maximum acceptable concentrations in the finished product (%)
Category 1
Products applied to the lips
 No restriction Category 7A
Rinse-off products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 2
Products applied to the axillae
 No restriction Category 7B
Leave-on products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 3
Products applied to the face/body using fingertips
 No restriction Category 8
Products with significant anogenital exposure
 No restriction
Category 4
Products related to fine fragrance
 No restriction Category 9
Products with body and hand exposure, primarily rinse off
 No restriction
Category 5A
Body lotion products applied to the body using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10A
Household care products with mostly hand contact
 No restriction
Category 5B
Face moisturizer products applied to the face using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10B
Household care products with mostly hand contact, including aerosol/spray products (with potential leave-on skin contact)
 No restriction
Category 5C
Hand cream products applied to the hands using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 11A
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate without UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 5D
Baby Creams, baby Oils and baby talc
 No restriction Category 11B
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate with potential UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 6
Products with oral and lip exposure
 No restriction Category 12
Products not intended for direct skin contact, minimal or insignificant transfer to skin
 No restriction