Phenol (carbolic acid) was introduced into household use as a potent germicidal agent but today is found in fewer products because less toxic compounds have replaced it. Phenol can be found in topical skin products (eg, Campho-phenique containing 4.7% phenol) and in surface deodorizers and disinfectants (eg, Creolin®). Phenol is used in the production of fertilizers, wood preservatives, paint removers, and other chemicals. Hexachlorophene is a chlorinated biphenol that was used widely as a topical antiseptic and preoperative scrub until its adverse neurologic effects were recognized. Other phenolic compounds include creosote, creosol, cresol, cresylic acid, hydroquinone, eugenol, and chloroxylenol, the active ingredient in Dettol®. Pentachlorophenol and dinitrophenols are discussed