Benzyl benzoate

Benzyl benzoate is a major constituent of Peru balsam and tolu balsam. Widely used to treat scabies at concentrations up to 25 percent, its safety has been confirmed across thousands of clinical cases.

Skin. A 30 percent patch test on 25 volunteers gave no sensitization. In 980 patients treated for scabies with a 20 percent emulsion applied from neck to feet, no dermatitis occurred. Positive reactions among Peru balsam sensitive patients were about 4 of 102.

Oral. Acute oral LD50 is 1.9–2.8 g/kg in rats, 1.68–2.0 g/kg in rabbits, 1.57 g/kg in mice.

Reproductive. In a retrospective study of 444 pregnant women treated for scabies with a 25 percent lotion, there were no significant differences in abortion, birth defects, neonatal death, stillbirth or prematurity. Dietary 24 or 595 mg/kg/day from day 0 to 21 post-parturition produced no fetotoxic effects.

Estrogenic activity has been reported in some in vitro assays but is not expressed in vivo, possibly due to metabolic inactivation.

Benzyl benzoate is a widely used topical treatment for scabies. It also functions as a fixative in fine perfumery.

Acaricidal activity is among the principal biological properties of Peru balsam.