The uses of Vanillyl butyl ether

Overview

Vanillyl butyl ether (VBE, 4-(butoxymethyl)-2-methoxy-phenol) was identified from supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.). VBE is a capsaicin agonist that activates human TRPV1. This compound is a thermal-sense compound affecting mammals' transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) 1 channel and was investigated for control of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Vanillyl alcohol ether derivatives, specifically vanillyl butyl ether, have been proposed as an alternative, milder warming agent for personal care applications[1-2].

Used for skin

Vanillyl Butyl Ether is a unique sensory agent that provides a warming effect to the skin. The impact of Vanillyl Butyl Ether can be felt immediately upon application, building rapidly within the first five minutes and lasting up to two hours. Structurally similar to natural warming agents, it is less irritating than capsaicin or capsicum extract. Soluble in most solvents typically used in personal care formulations, this stable sensate ingredient is a colorless to pale yellow liquid with a slightly pleasant vanilla odor.

Used for hair

Known as vanillyl butyl ether, HotFlux® is an anti-inflammatory ingredient that enhances microcirculation to the scalp, which improves the delivery of nutrients to the hair follicle and supports the hair's growth phase.

References

[1] Francisco Ríos. “A Validated HPLC Method for the Determination of Vanillyl Butyl Ether in Cosmetic Preparations.” Cosmetics 4 1 (2017): 9.

[2] Kenji Shimomura . “Repellency activity of vanillyl butyl ether is mediated by transient receptor potential vanilloid channels in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst).” Journal of Asia-pacific Entomology 22 3 (2019): Pages 916-920.