It is a white, crystalline solid with a sweet, floral scent at room temperature.

Phenylpropanoic acid has a wide variety of uses including cosmetics, food additives, and pharmaceuticals.

When the side chain is homologated by the Arndt–Eistert reaction, subsequent cyclization affords 2-tetralone, derivatives.

[5] Phenylpropanoic acid is widely used for flavoring, food additives, spices, fragrance, and medicines as it acts as a fixative agent, or a preservative.

Phenylpropanoic acid is also added to food for technological purposes in a wide variety including manufacturing, processing, preparation, treatment, packaging, transportation or storage, and food additives.