Phenylacetate is the ester of a phenol and acetic acid. It is a metabolite of anticancer drug phenylbutyrate (PB), natural neurotransmitter phenylethylamine. Naturally, it is an odorant found in strawberries, passion fruit, and black tea. Phenylacetate level in urine was used as a marker for the diagnosis of some forms of unipolar major depressive disorders. Phenylacetate is used as a tool substrate to study esterase activity in the blood of patients in clinical studies of the effect of nutritional supplements on paraoxonase-1 levels.

Phenyl benzoate is a white powdery organic compound that falls into the broad category of chemicals known as esters. The compound is formed in a reaction between phenol, sodium hydroxide and benzonyl chloride. The compound is solid at room temperature, but can form an oily liquid at a relatively low temperature. Phenyl benzoate can be used in a variety of polyesters, which have applications in products from clothing to heavy industry. One use that takes advantage of the electrical properties of phenyl benzoate is the development of liquid crystal displays. Phenyl benzoate based liquid crystals have excellent compatibility characteristics with other materials used in liquid crystal displays, such as biphenyl, phenylcyclohexane, bicyclohexane and fluorine types, especially at low temperatures. Phenyl benzoate is considered an excellent starting material for the production of optical components, particularly high quality lenses for still and motion picture cameras.