有石炭酸气味。其折光性几乎与玻璃相同。能与乙醇、氯仿和乙醚任意混溶，溶于冰乙酸，几乎不溶于水。低毒，半数致死量(大鼠，经口)1630mg/kg。有刺激性。 Phenyl acetate is an aromatic ester. Phenyl acetate levels in urine are marker for the diagnosis of some forms of unipolar major depressive disorders. It undergoes Fries rearrangement to form a mixture of o- and p-hydroxyacetophenones which are useful intermediates in manufacture of pharmaceuticals.