If you’ve ever scanned the back of a beauty or oral-care product and felt a flicker of concern at the word alcohol, you’re not alone. And when that ingredient happens to be benzyl alcohol, the questions start rolling:
“Isn’t this supposed to be alcohol-free?”
“Will it dry my mouth out?”
“Is this the same as the alcohol in wine or hand sanitiser?”
Let’s clear up the confusion - because benzyl alcohol is one of those brilliantly misunderstood ingredients that sounds scarier than it is.
1. The Word “Alcohol” Is the Real Problem (Not the Ingredient)
We associate “alcohol” with ethanol - the stingy, drying type found in disinfectants, spirits, and many mainstream mouthwashes. But in chemistry, alcohol is a broad umbrella, and many ingredients under that umbrella behave nothing like ethanol.
Benzyl alcohol belongs to a completely different part of that family tree.
It doesn’t intoxicate.
It doesn’t dry the mouth.
And it doesn’t behave like a solvent that strips moisture or causes irritation.
Think of it as the gentle cousin who happens to share a surname, nothing more.
2. Where You’ve Already Met Benzyl Alcohol Before
Even if the name feels unfamiliar, your skin and senses probably know it well. Benzyl alcohol appears in:
-
Natural essential oils
-
Floral fragrances
-
Sensitive-skin cosmetics
-
Baby products
-
Dermatologist-led skincare formulas
It’s been used safely in consumer products for decades, with extremely low irritation risk at the micro-doses used in oral care.
So when it shows up in your mouth rinse, it’s not bringing drama—it’s bringing stability and safety.
3. Why Laro Uses Benzyl Alcohol (and Why It Matters)
Our Active Mouth Rinse is proudly alcohol-free - meaning ethanol-free.
But mouth rinses contain water, and water needs a preservative or it becomes a home for bacteria and mould (definitely not something you want swishing around your mouth).
Benzyl alcohol is one of the safest, gentlest options available.
It’s there to:
-
Keep the formula fresh and protected (so every bottle stays safe until the last drop)
-
Support our essential oil blend without destabilising it
-
Avoid the dryness and microbiome disruption associated with ethanol
The amount used is tiny - but it plays a huge role in product stability.
4. Safety First: What the Science Says
Benzyl alcohol has been independently reviewed and approved by:
-
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) panel
-
The FDA
-
The EU’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
All confirm it’s safe even for leave-on products - and ours is rinse-off.
Its safety margin in oral care is exceptionally high.
5. The Real Oral Health Question: Does It Affect the Microbiome?
Short answer: No.
Long answer:
It’s used at micro-levels specifically chosen not to disrupt oral flora, unlike ethanol which can contribute to dryness, irritation, and imbalances when used long term.
This aligns with our wider formulation philosophy: protect the microbiome first, everything else second.
6. Why Transparency Matters to Us
We know ingredient lists can feel intimidating. But hiding behind trendy “free-from” language isn’t our style.
If something is in our formula, we’ll explain why—and make sure it earns its place.
Benzyl alcohol earns its place.
It keeps your rinse safe.
It supports gentle preservation.
And it allows us to stay true to our alcohol-free, microbiome-supportive principles.
In short:
Benzyl alcohol is not “that kind of alcohol.”
It’s a safe, non-drying, non-intoxicating helper ingredient that keeps your mouth rinse protected without disrupting the delicate balance of your oral microbiome.
This is why Laro’s Active Mouth Rinse remains both ethanol-free and exceptionally gentle, even for sensitive mouths.