Dettol is chemically a phenol derivative known as parachlorometaxylenol (PCMX) or simply chloroxylenol. Dettol is an antiseptic and disinfectant which can be applied wounds whereas phenol is corrosive and cannot be used for human application. Phenol being corrosive is limited for use as disinfectant on inanimate objects. Dettol is non-corrosive.
We can use the same chemical as a disinfectant and an antiseptic by varying its concentration. For example, phenol can be used as an antiseptic if its concentration is 0.2 per cent but to use it as a disinfectant the concentration should be 1 per cent. ... Lysol is a disinfectant whereas Dettol is an antiseptic.
