Introduction of phenols

A phenol contains -OH group(s) directly attached to an aryl carbon atom(s). The simplest phenol is hydroxybenzene also called phenol with formula C₆H₅OH.

Simple phenol is an antiseptic. A phenolic compound hexachlorophene is a constituent of several mouthwashes, deodorant soaps and medicinal skin cleansers.

It must be noted that the aromatic compounds in which -OH group is not directly attached to benzene ring are not phenols but are called aromatic alcohols. These may be regarded as aryl derivatives of aliphatic alcohols.