2,3,3-Trimethylindanone (CAS 54440-17-4) — Woody Base Note Fragrance Ingredient

Woody · Balsamic

2,3,3-Trimethylindanone

CAS 54440-17-4

Origin
synthetic
Note
Base
IFRA
Generally safe
Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is 2,3,3-Trimethylindanone?

2,3,3-Trimethylindanone is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used to add woody, amber-like nuances to perfumes. It’s found in luxury fragrances and personal care products. This molecule enhances longevity and warmth in compositions, making it valuable for creating rich, complex scents.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
Safe in regulated products
Check IFRA restrictions
CAS
54440-17-4
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Woody · Balsamic
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does 2,3,3-Trimethylindanone Smell Like?

2,3,3-Trimethylindanone offers a warm, woody-amber scent with subtle leathery undertones. It evolves from a slightly sharp opening to a smooth, velvety dry-down, reminiscent of aged parchment and antique wood. The scent profile is long-lasting, making it ideal for base notes.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Sauvage(Dior, 2015)

Used to enhance the woody-amber base, adding depth and longevity.

Baccarat Rouge 540(Maison Francis Kurkdjian, 2015)

Contributes to the warm, amber-woody accord, complementing the saffron and jasmine.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

2,3-Dihydro-2,3,3-trimethyl-1H-inden-1-one

SMILES: CC1C(=O)C2=C(C=CC=C2)C1(C)C

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

2,3,3-Trimethylindanone is a synthetic ketone with a bicyclic structure. It is synthesized through Friedel-Crafts acylation or other aromatic substitution reactions. Its stability and low volatility make it ideal for perfumery.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Boiling PointN/A
DensityN/A

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Base
Volatility
Low (hours)
Blending
Excellent
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance1-5%Up to 10%Adds warmth and longevity
Personal Care0.5-2%Up to 5%Used in small amounts for stability

Classic Accords

Tip: Use in small amounts to avoid overpowering other notes.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Iso E Super CAS 54464-57-2

A more widely used woody-amber alternative with similar properties.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.

IFRA Status

No specific IFRA restrictions.

EU Allergen Declaration

Not listed as an EU allergen.

RIFM Assessment

No significant safety concerns reported by RIFM.

Sustainability

Synthetic production ensures consistent quality and reduces environmental impact compared to natural extraction. Sourcing is controlled and scalable.

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References

  1. PubChem: 2,3,3-Trimethylindanone PubChem

Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.

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Ingredient Data Sheet

CAS 54440-17-4

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight174.24 g/mol🔬 PubChem
LogP (Octanol-Water)3.1🔬 PubChem
Boiling Point263 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Vapor Pressure0.0148 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
Flash Point104.3 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Involatility Index0.0012💻 Calculated
log Kp (skin permeability)-1.562💻 Calculated
SMILESCC1C(=O)C2=CC=CC=C2C1(C)C🔬 PubChem

Volatility & Performance

Fragrance NoteHeart💻 Calculated
Volatility ClassVery slow💻 Calculated
Persistence Score3.3 / 5💻 Calculated

Odor & Flavor

Primary Descriptorsbalsamicwoody• leffingwell
Functional Groupsketonearomatic💻 RDKit
Data Sources & Attribution
Physical data: PubChem (NIH/NLM), U.S. EPA CompTox Dashboard, EPA OPERA models, RDKit. Odor & flavor: Arctander (Perfume & Flavor Chemicals), Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, Leffingwell. Thresholds: van Gemert (Compilations of Odour Threshold Values). Regulatory: IFRA Standards 51st, FEMA GRAS. Trade names: Surburg (Common Fragrance & Flavor Materials). All data compiled and cross-referenced for perfumertools.com.

Physicochemical Properties

DTXSID: DTXSID20886101

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 174.243 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 1.031 g/cm^3📊 OPERA
Boiling Point 264.072 °C📊 OPERA
Melting Point 34.238 °C📊 OPERA
Flash Point 113.194 °C📊 OPERA
Refractive Index 1.518 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 173.428 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 3.097 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 5.5) 3.097 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 3.097 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 5.8 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0.002 mol/L📊 OPERA
Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 0.012 mmHg📊 OPERA
Viscosity 1.094 cP📊 OPERA
Surface Tension 31.891 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
Thermal Conductivity 122.959 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA

Molecular Descriptors

Topological Polar Surface Area 17.07 Ų💻 Computed
H-Bond Donors 0 count💻 Computed
H-Bond Acceptors 1 count💻 Computed
Rotatable Bonds 0 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 1 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 52.587 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 20.847 Å^3📊 OPERA

Data Sources:

🔬 EPA Experimental data from U.S. EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard & CTX APIs. 📊 OPERA Predicted using EPA's OPERA QSAR models. 💻 Computed Calculated from SMILES using RDKit.

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