4-vinylphenol is a white solid with a special smell, which is medicinal, meaty and musty. If diluted, 4-vinylphenol can produce the aroma of vanilla bean extract, which smells sweet. 4-vinylphenol widely exists in the strawberry, apple, tomato, corn, peanuts, soybeans, black tea, coffee, eggs, fruit, rice, mushrooms, such as food, can also be used by lactic acid bacteria in wine on coumaric acid, ferulic acid metabolites, it can happen to dissolve in water, partially soluble in ethanol, slightly soluble in oils and fats.

4-vinylphenol can not only be used as a food additive in the field of food and beverage, but also as a pharmaceutical raw material in the medical field. It plays an inhibitory role in the process of vascular formation and invasive breast tumor growth.