2,3-Diethylpyrazine (CAS 15707-24-1) — Sweet Top to Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient

Sweet · Woody

2,3-Diethylpyrazine

CAS 15707-24-1

Origin
synthetic
Note
Top to Middle
IFRA
Use with awareness
Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is 2,3-Diethylpyrazine?

2,3-Diethylpyrazine is a synthetic aroma compound that creates nutty, roasted, and earthy scents. You’ll find it in fragrances that aim to evoke coffee, chocolate, or toasted nuts. This ingredient matters because it adds depth and gourmand character to perfumes, making them smell deliciously edible without being overly sweet.

Safety Profile

USE WITH AWARENESS
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
Safe at typical usage levels
May cause skin sensitization in some individuals
CAS
15707-24-1
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Sweet · Woody
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does 2,3-Diethylpyrazine Smell Like?

2,3-Diethylpyrazine bursts with an intense roasted nut character – imagine freshly ground coffee beans and hazelnuts toasted in a cast iron pan. The initial aroma is powerfully savory, with a slightly smoky edge that recalls charred oak barrels. As it evolves, it reveals a softer, more biscuit-like quality, like the crust of freshly baked bread. The dry-down lingers with a subtle cocoa powder dustiness that blends beautifully with vanilla and woody notes.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Black Orchid(Tom Ford, 2006)

Used to create the deep, truffle-like gourmand heart that makes this fragrance so distinctive. It amplifies the chocolate and dark fruit accords while adding an addictive roasted quality.

A*Men(Mugler, 1996)

Provides the coffee shop vibe that balances the sweet caramel and patchouli. The pyrazine adds a photorealistic espresso bean crunch to the opening.

New Haarlem(Bond No. 9, 2003)

Works with maple syrup and lavender to create a breakfast-in-bed effect. The roasted edge prevents the sweetness from becoming cloying.

Intense Café(Montale, 2014)

Forms the core coffee accord, blended with rose to create a Middle Eastern coffee house atmosphere. The pyrazine’s dryness mimics coffee’s natural bitterness.

Black Phantom(By Kilian, 2017)

Adds depth to the rum and chocolate accord, creating a dark chocolate-covered espresso bean effect. The nuttiness bridges the gap between sweet and boozy notes.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

2,3-Diethylpyrazine

SMILES: CCC1=NC=CN=C1CC

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

2,3-Diethylpyrazine belongs to the alkylpyrazine family, a class of heterocyclic compounds containing nitrogen atoms in their ring structure. These molecules are found naturally in roasted foods through Maillard reactions but are typically synthesized for perfumery via condensation reactions of α-diketones with diamines. The diethyl substitution pattern gives this molecule its characteristic nutty-roasted odor profile, distinct from the more vegetal smell of simpler pyrazines. Its relatively low molecular weight contributes to good volatility, making it useful as a modifier in top notes.

Physical & Chemical Properties

AppearanceColorless to pale yellow liquid
Boiling Point~200-220 °C (estimated)
Density~0.95 g/cm³ (estimated)

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Top to Middle
Volatility
Medium (1-4 hours)
Blending
Good
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance0.1-0.5%Up to 1%Adds gourmand complexity
Functional Fragrance0.01-0.1%Up to 0.3%Used sparingly in air fresheners
Flavor1-10 ppmUp to 50 ppmEnhances roasted notes

Classic Accords

+ Vanilla + Tonka = Coffee Shop + Patchouli + Cocoa = Dark Chocolate + Maple + Bacon AC = Breakfast

Tip: Use with vanillin to create a mocha effect or with ionones to suggest praline.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
2-Ethyl-3-methylpyrazine CAS 15707-23-0

More potent with a sharper roasted peanut character. Better for creating photorealistic peanut butter effects.

2
2-Acetylpyrazine CAS 22047-25-2

Less nutty, more popcorn-like. Useful when you want a lighter, more ethereal roasted effect.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

Not currently restricted by IFRA. Generally recognized as safe at typical usage levels.

RIFM Assessment

RIFM has evaluated similar alkylpyrazines as safe at current usage levels, with no significant skin sensitization concerns.

Sustainability

As a synthetic material, 2,3-diethylpyrazine has minimal environmental impact in production. Its high potency means very small quantities are needed, reducing overall resource consumption. Unlike natural coffee or cocoa absolutes, it doesn’t require agricultural land use. Modern synthesis methods have high atom efficiency, generating little waste.

Explore 2,3-Diethylpyrazine

Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.

Browse on iHerb →

Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

References

  1. Burdock, G.A. (2010). Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. CRC Press. ISBN 9781439847503

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

Report a data error

Physicochemical Properties

DTXSID: DTXSID6047101

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 136.198 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 0.968 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX
Boiling Point 181 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Melting Point 29.558 °C📊 OPERA
Flash Point 64.075 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Refractive Index 1.499 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 141.516 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 1.51 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX
LogD (pH 5.5) 1.563 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 1.563 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 4.82 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0.757 mol/L📊 OPERA
Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 0.586 mmHg📊 OPERA
Viscosity 2.768 cP📊 OPERA
Surface Tension 34.55 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
Thermal Conductivity 129.925 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA

Molecular Descriptors

Topological Polar Surface Area 25.78 Ų💻 Computed
H-Bond Donors 0 count💻 Computed
H-Bond Acceptors 2 count💻 Computed
Rotatable Bonds 2 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 1 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 41.534 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 16.465 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.

Similar Posts