2-(4-Methylphenoxy)ethanol (CAS 15149-10-7) — Floral Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient

ByThe Good Scents
Floral · Sweet

2-(4-Methylphenoxy)ethanol

CAS 15149-10-7

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

What Is 2-(4-Methylphenoxy)ethanol?

2-(4-Methylphenoxy)ethanol is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used in perfumes and personal care products. It contributes a subtle, clean aroma often found in modern floral and fresh compositions. This ingredient matters because it helps create long-lasting, balanced scents without overpowering other notes, making it valuable for contemporary fragrance design.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
✓ Safe in regulated products
⚠ Check for skin sensitivity
CAS
15149-10-7
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Floral · Sweet
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does 2-(4-Methylphenoxy)ethanol Smell Like?

2-(4-Methylphenoxy)ethanol offers a delicate, slightly floral aroma with clean, soapy undertones. It evolves from a fresh top note to a soft, powdery heart, reminiscent of laundry detergent or freshly washed linen. The dry-down reveals a subtle woody-musk character, providing excellent tenacity without dominating the fragrance. Its neutral profile makes it an ideal blender for modern floral and fresh compositions.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Modern Muse(Estée Lauder, 2013)

Used as a clean, floral modifier to enhance the freshness of jasmine and lily notes, providing a contemporary laundry-fresh effect.

Light Blue(Dolce & Gabbana, 2001)

Contributes to the crisp, clean dry-down that complements the citrus and woody notes in this iconic summer fragrance.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

2-(4-Methylphenoxy)ethanol

SMILES: CC1=CC=C(OCCO)C=C1

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

2-(4-Methylphenoxy)ethanol is a synthetic aromatic ether alcohol. It’s produced through the Williamson ether synthesis, reacting p-cresol with ethylene oxide. The molecule features both hydrophilic (hydroxyl) and hydrophobic (aromatic ring) regions, giving it balanced solubility properties. Its ether linkage provides stability while the phenolic component contributes to its mild aromatic character.

Physical & Chemical Properties

AppearanceColorless to pale yellow liquid
Boiling PointApprox. 250-260 °C
Density~1.05 g/cm³

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Middle
Volatility
Moderate (2-4 hours)
Blending
Good
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance1-3%Up to 5%Clean floral modifier
Detergents0.5-1.5%Up to 2%Freshness enhancer

Classic Accords

Tip: Use as a bridge between floral and woody notes to enhance freshness without adding sharpness.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Phenoxyethanol CAS 122-99-6

More neutral odor profile, used when less aromatic character is desired.

2
Benzyl alcohol CAS 100-51-6

Provides similar blending properties with a slightly sweeter, floral character.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

Not currently restricted by IFRA standards.

RIFM Assessment

Considered safe for current fragrance use levels based on RIFM assessments.

Sustainability

As a synthetic material, 2-(4-Methylphenoxy)ethanol has consistent quality and avoids natural resource depletion. Production can be optimized for energy efficiency, and it doesn’t contribute to deforestation or habitat loss associated with some natural materials.

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References

  1. PubChem Compound Summary PubChem
  2. IFRA Standards Library IFRA

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

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Ingredient Data Sheet

CAS 15149-10-7

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight152.19 g/mol🔬 PubChem
LogP (Octanol-Water)1.5🔬 PubChem
Boiling Point246 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Vapor Pressure0.0054 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
Flash Point114.3 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Involatility Index0.0005💻 Calculated
log Kp (skin permeability)-2.563💻 Calculated
SMILESCC1=CC=C(C=C1)OCCO🔬 PubChem

Volatility & Performance

Fragrance NoteHeart💻 Calculated
Volatility ClassVery slow💻 Calculated
Persistence Score3.2 / 5💻 Calculated

Odor & Flavor

Primary Descriptorsfloralsweet• leffingwell
Functional Groupsalcoholetheraromatic💻 RDKit
“CH: –0-CH, Ethereal, Acetone-like odor, also resembling crude Methanol (wood alcohol).”📖 Arctander
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: DTXSID9065861

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 152.193 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 1.075 g/cm^3📊 OPERA
Boiling Point 257.661 °C📊 OPERA
Melting Point 53.975 °C📊 OPERA
Flash Point 118.717 °C📊 OPERA
Refractive Index 1.523 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 143.724 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 1.609 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 5.5) 1.609 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 1.609 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 7.55 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0.057 mol/L📊 OPERA
Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 0.006 mmHg📊 OPERA
Viscosity 8.929 cP📊 OPERA
Surface Tension 37.449 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
Thermal Conductivity 156.121 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA

Molecular Descriptors

Topological Polar Surface Area 29.46 Ų💻 Computed
H-Bond Donors 1 count💻 Computed
H-Bond Acceptors 2 count💻 Computed
Rotatable Bonds 3 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 1 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 43.924 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 17.413 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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