2-ethyl hexanol appears as a dark brown liquid with an aromatic odor. Insoluble in water and less dense than water. Flash point between 140 - 175°F. Contact may irritate skin, eyes and mucous membranes. May be toxic by ingestion, inhalation and skin absorption. is a primary alcohol that is hexan-1-ol substituted by an ethyl group at position 2. It has a role as a volatile oil component and a plant metabolite.

It is mainly used as a raw material for plasticizers of polyvinyl chloride. It also serves as a solvent and a preservative.Octanol is mainly used in the production of phthalate and aliphatic dibasic ester plasticizers, such as dioctyl phthalate, dioctyl azelate, dioctyl sebacate, etc. These are used respectively as primary plasticizers and cold-resistant auxiliary plasticizers for plastics, as well as defoamers, dispersants, mineral processing agents and petroleum additives. It is also used in printing and dyeing, paints, films and other fields.