2-Methoxy-3-methylpyrazine (CAS 2847-30-5) — Green Top to heart Note Fragrance Ingredient

Green · Woody

2-Methoxy-3-methylpyrazine

CAS 2847-30-5

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

What Is 2-Methoxy-3-methylpyrazine?

2-Methoxy-3-methylpyrazine is a synthetic aroma chemical that creates earthy, vegetal scents reminiscent of bell peppers and freshly cut grass. You’ll encounter it in perfumes, savory flavors, and some household products. This molecule matters because it’s one of the most potent aroma compounds known – a single drop can alter an entire fragrance composition with its green, peppery character.

Safety Profile

USE WITH AWARENESS
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
IFRA-approved for fragrance use
Extremely potent – requires precise dosing
CAS
2847-30-5
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Green · Woody
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does 2-Methoxy-3-methylpyrazine Smell Like?

2-Methoxy-3-methylpyrazine bursts with an intense green bell pepper aroma that’s almost shocking in its vegetal realism. The initial impact is sharp and slightly metallic, like freshly crushed pepper leaves. As it evolves, the heart reveals earthy undertones of damp soil and raw potatoes. In dry-down, it leaves a whisper of nutty, toasted grain. Despite its power, it integrates beautifully when diluted, adding a crisp green accent that lasts throughout the fragrance lifecycle. The effect is like walking through a sun-dappled vegetable garden after a summer rain.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Eau de Campagne(Sisley, 1973)

Used for its hyper-realistic tomato leaf effect, creating the illusion of crushed green foliage in this groundbreaking vegetal floral.

Un Jardin Sur Le Nil(Hermès, 2005)

Provides the crisp green mango skin accord, blending with citrus to create the scent of unripe tropical fruit.

Chypre Mousse(Ormonde Jayne, 2010)

Adds a dewy forest floor quality to the oakmoss heart, enhancing the chypre’s naturalistic green character.

L'Eau d'Hiver(Frédéric Malle, 2003)

Used in trace amounts to create an impression of frost-touched leaves, adding cool vegetal nuance to the heliotrope.

Philosykos(Diptyque, 1996)

Contributes to the green fig leaf illusion, pairing with stemone to recreate the scent of broken plant stems.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

2-Methoxy-3-methylpyrazine

SMILES: COC1=NC=CN=C1C

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

2-Methoxy-3-methylpyrazine belongs to the alkylmethoxypyrazine class, known for their exceptionally low odor thresholds. These heterocyclic compounds contain a pyrazine ring with methoxy and methyl substituents. In nature, similar compounds occur in bell peppers (Capsicum), potatoes, and some green vegetables. Synthetically, it’s typically produced through condensation reactions of diketones with diamines, followed by selective methylation. The methoxy group at position 2 is crucial for its characteristic green odor profile. Though achiral, minor structural changes create dramatically different odor characters in this sensitive molecular class.

Physical & Chemical Properties

AppearanceColorless to pale yellow liquid
Odor Threshold0.0001 ppb (extremely low)

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Top to heart
Volatility
Medium (2-4 hours)
Blending
Challenging
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance0.001-0.01%Up to 0.05%Extremely powerful – usually in ppm ranges
Functional Fragrance0.0005-0.005%Up to 0.02%Used for green freshness in detergents
Flavor0.1-5 ppmUp to 10 ppmFor bell pepper and vegetable flavors

Classic Accords

Tip: Always pre-dilute to 0.1% or lower before use – undiluted it can overwhelm a composition.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
2-Isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine CAS 24683-00-9

More intense bell pepper character, even more potent. Used when maximum green impact is needed.

2
2-sec-Butyl-3-methoxypyrazine CAS 24168-70-5

Earthier, less sharp green character. Better for soil and root vegetable effects.

3
Stemone CAS 67633-96-9

For more stem-like rather than leafy green effects, with less pepperiness.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

No specific restrictions under IFRA 51st Amendment. Classified as a pyrazine derivative with general usage guidelines.

GHS Classification

H315 Skin irritation H319 Eye irritation H335 May cause respiratory irritation

RIFM Assessment

RIFM evaluated – safe for use at current industry levels with proper handling precautions for concentrated material.

Sustainability

As a synthetic material, 2-methoxy-3-methylpyrazine has minimal environmental impact in production. The extreme potency means very small quantities are needed, reducing resource consumption. No known issues with biodegradability, though its environmental fate is less studied than common aroma chemicals due to low usage volumes.

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References

  1. Maga (1982). Pyrazines in foods. CRC Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. DOI: 10.1080/10408398209527346
  2. Burdock (2010). Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. CRC Press. ISBN 9781420090869

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

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Ingredient Data Sheet

CAS 2847-30-5

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight124.14 g/mol🔬 PubChem
LogP (Octanol-Water)1.2🔬 PubChem
Boiling Point158 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Vapor Pressure0.2754 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
Flash Point55.6 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Involatility Index0.0266💻 Calculated
log Kp (skin permeability)-2.605💻 Calculated
SMILESCC1=NC=CN=C1OC🔬 PubChem

Volatility & Performance

Fragrance NoteHeart💻 Calculated
Volatility ClassSlow💻 Calculated
Persistence Score0.7 / 5💻 Calculated

Odor & Flavor

Primary Descriptorshazelnutnuttyroasted• leffingwell
Functional Groupsetheraromatic💻 RDKit

Sensory Thresholds

Odor Detection Threshold0.0035 ppm (n=2)📖 van Gemert
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: DTXSID80863034

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 124.143 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 1.07 g/cm^3📊 OPERA
Boiling Point 163.83 °C📊 OPERA
Melting Point 37.38 °C📊 OPERA
Flash Point 61.988 °C📊 OPERA
Refractive Index 1.496 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 116.158 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 1.24 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX
LogD (pH 5.5) 1.338 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 1.338 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 4.52 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0.617 mol/L📊 OPERA
Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 1.385 mmHg📊 OPERA
Viscosity 2.475 cP📊 OPERA
Surface Tension 36.578 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
Thermal Conductivity 133.778 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA

Molecular Descriptors

Topological Polar Surface Area 35.01 Ų💻 Computed
H-Bond Donors 0 count💻 Computed
H-Bond Acceptors 3 count💻 Computed
Rotatable Bonds 1 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 1 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 33.939 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 13.454 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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