Salicyl alcohol is used as a local anesthetic and antiinflammatory. A light brown crystalline powder, stable, incompatible with acids, acid chlorides, acid anhydrides, strong oxidizing agents. It was found in bark of willow tree family and aspen Populus tremula. It is a well-known allergen in phenol-formaldehyde resins found to cause allergic contact dermatitis. Antioxidant activity of 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol has been reported.