Benzyl salicylate is an essential oils component; it occurs in jasmine and other plants extracts. Its flower fragrance contributes to make many detergents and cosmetics smell good.
As we said before (see this article), we believe that it is not appropriate to make consumers be exposed to allergens (see Directive CE/15/2003), as essential oils components usually are.
As well as this property, some essential oils components show to be… less-desirable. Benzyl salicylate is suspected to be an endocrine disruptor: in particular, it carries out oestrogen-like activity towards human breast cells (in vitro studies, Pubmed 2009) and mammals uterine cells (in vivo studies, Pubmed 2012). This means that this molecule may interfere with controls inside our organism, carried through our body by hormons like electric commands: if a command is given at the wrong time, by molecules that are different from those currently used for it, some endocrine problems can occur to our organism. Endocrine disruptors are generally suspected to be involved in endocrine tumors.
Benzyl salicylate is also bioaccumulative (see this article) that is, once it has been absorbed, it tends to remain inside our body instead to leave it quickly.
Bensos chose to avoid this ingredient at all, either for detergents, or body cleansers or creams.
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