Coal tar
Coal tar suppliers and sourcing guide
Coal tar is a thick, black, strong-smelling liquid obtained as a byproduct when bituminous coal is heated to make coke. For topical drug products it is used crude or refined into coal tar solution (an alcohol extract with a dispersing agent) or other fractions. Brands buy pharmacopeial coal tar or coal tar solution for medicated shampoos, ointments and bath products where it is the declared OTC active.
- Category
- Cosmetic actives
- Also known as
- Pix carbonis · Crude coal tar · Coal tar solution · Liquor carbonis detergens · CAS 8007-45-2
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of coal tar
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Crude coal tar
Pharmacopeial coal tar, a viscous black liquid that is hard to handle and stains.
Coal tar solution
An alcohol extract with a dispersing agent such as polysorbate, sold at a stated coal tar concentration; labels must state the solution strength.
Refined fractions and extracts
Distilled or extracted fractions with lighter color and odor, used in cosmetically elegant shampoos.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity
- Compendial identity tests and appearance for the tar or solution.
- Coal tar content
- For solutions, the stated coal tar percentage and alcohol content, which set the dose in the finished product.
- Residue on ignition and water
- Ash and water content for crude tar.
- PAH profile
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzo[a]pyrene by GC-MS or HPLC, which many buyers specify for safety and labeling decisions.
- Heavy metals
- Lead and other metals by ICP-MS.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Store coal tar and its solutions in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from ignition sources; solutions contain flammable alcohol. Keep separate from other materials because of odor and staining. Shelf life and retest dates follow the supplier's specification.
Lots and expiry dates
Record the coal tar source, solution strength and PAH results for each lot, since composition varies with the coal and process. Keep lot records tight because the finished label must state the coal tar source and concentration.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
21 CFR 358.710 lists coal tar at 0.5 to 5 percent as an OTC monograph active ingredient, and requires labeling of the identity and concentration of any coal tar solution, derivative or fraction used.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)21 CFR 358.703 defines coal tar as tar obtained as a byproduct of the destructive distillation of bituminous coal at about 900 to 1,100 °C.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)Health Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist lists crude and refined coal tars (CAS 8007-45-2) among ingredients prohibited in cosmetic products.
Source: canada.ca (opens in a new tab)Health Canada's Anti-Dandruff Products Monograph lists coal tar at 0.5 to 5%, expressed from a coal tar solution (USP or equivalent).
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Coal tar suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking coal tar suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell coal tar? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of coal tar can brands buy?
Common forms include crude coal tar, coal tar solution and refined fractions and extracts. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for coal tar include?
Expect identity, coal tar content, residue on ignition and water, pAH profile and heavy metals, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should coal tar be stored?
Store coal tar and its solutions in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from ignition sources; solutions contain flammable alcohol. Keep separate from other materials because of odor and staining. Shelf life and retest dates follow the supplier's specification.
What is the regulatory status of coal tar?
21 CFR 358.710 lists coal tar at 0.5 to 5 percent as an OTC monograph active ingredient, and requires labeling of the identity and concentration of any coal tar solution, derivative or fraction used. 21 CFR 358.703 defines coal tar as tar obtained as a byproduct of the destructive distillation of bituminous coal at about 900 to 1,100 °C. Health Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist lists crude and refined coal tars (CAS 8007-45-2) among ingredients prohibited in cosmetic products. Health Canada's Anti-Dandruff Products Monograph lists coal tar at 0.5 to 5%, expressed from a coal tar solution (USP or equivalent).
More cosmetic actives
- Hyaluronic AcidSodium hyaluronate · Hyaluronan
- NiacinamideNicotinamide · Vitamin B3 amide
- Shea ButterButyrospermum parkii butter · Vitellaria paradoxa butter
- Retinolall-trans-retinol · vitamin A alcohol
- Retinyl palmitatevitamin A palmitate · retinol palmitate
- Salicylic acid2-hydroxybenzoic acid · o-hydroxybenzoic acid
- Glycolic acidhydroxyacetic acid · 2-hydroxyethanoic acid
- Mandelic acid2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetic acid · alpha-hydroxyphenylacetic acid
- Azelaic acidnonanedioic acid · 1,7-heptanedicarboxylic acid
- Benzoyl peroxidedibenzoyl peroxide · hydrous benzoyl peroxide
- Alpha-arbutin4-hydroxyphenyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside · hydroquinone O-alpha-D-glucopyranoside
- Kojic acid5-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4H-pyran-4-one · CAS 501-30-4
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