2-Naphthalenecarboxaldehyde, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3,5,5,6,7,8,8-heptamethyl- (CAS 127459-79-4) — Woody Base Note Fragrance Ingredient

ByThe Good Scents
Woody · Balsamic

2-Naphthalenecarboxaldehyde, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3,5,5,6,7,8,8-heptamethyl-

CAS 127459-79-4

Origin
synthetic
Note
Base
IFRA
Use with awareness
Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is 2-Naphthalenecarboxaldehyde, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3,5,5,6,7,8,8-heptamethyl-?

2-Naphthalenecarboxaldehyde is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used in perfumery to create unique woody and amber-like scents. It’s found in niche and designer fragrances where complex base notes are desired. This molecule matters because it helps perfumers craft sophisticated, long-lasting scent profiles that evolve beautifully on skin.

Safety Profile

USE WITH AWARENESS
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
✓ IFRA compliant at standard usage levels
⚠ Potential sensitizer – requires careful formulation
CAS
127459-79-4
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Woody · Balsamic
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does 2-Naphthalenecarboxaldehyde, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3,5,5,6,7,8,8-heptamethyl- Smell Like?

This synthetic aldehyde delivers a rich, woody-ambery character with subtle powdery facets. Initially presents with a slightly sharp, almost metallic edge that quickly rounds into a warm, velvety base. The dry-down reveals a sophisticated skin-scent quality reminiscent of aged parchment and antique wood, with exceptional tenacity that lingers for hours.

Scent Profile
Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

2-Naphthalenecarboxaldehyde, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3,5,5,6,7,8,8-heptamethyl-, (6R,7R)-rel-

SMILES: C[C@@H]1[C@@H](C)C(C)(C)C2=C(C=C(C)C(C=O)=C2)C1(C)C

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

2-Naphthalenecarboxaldehyde belongs to the polycyclic aromatic aldehyde class, synthesized through Friedel-Crafts acylation of tetramethylnaphthalene derivatives. The heptamethyl substitution pattern creates steric hindrance that slows degradation, contributing to its exceptional longevity in fragrance applications. This fully synthetic material doesn’t occur in nature, requiring careful catalytic hydrogenation steps to achieve the desired tetrahydro configuration.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Molecular WeightNot available
Boiling PointNot available

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Base
Volatility
Very low (8+ hours)
Blending
Good with woody materials
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance0.5-2%Up to 5%Base note fixative
Home Fragrance0.1-0.5%Up to 1%Longevity booster

Classic Accords

Tip: Use in trace amounts to add depth without overwhelming brighter top notes.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Ambroxide CAS 6790-58-5

For similar woody-amber effects with better diffusion and lower sensitization potential.

2
Norlimbanol CAS 70788-30-6

When seeking more pronounced woody character with less powderiness.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

No specific IFRA restrictions. General aldehyde precautions apply.

RIFM Assessment

Not currently evaluated by RIFM. Recommended for professional use only.

Sustainability

As a fully synthetic material, production involves petrochemical feedstocks. The multi-step synthesis requires careful waste management. No known natural alternatives exist for this specific molecular structure.

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References

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

    Report a data error

    Ingredient Data Sheet

    CAS 127459-79-4

    Physical Properties

    Molecular Weight258.4 g/mol🔬 PubChem
    LogP (Octanol-Water)5.4🔬 PubChem
    Boiling Point324 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
    Vapor Pressure0 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
    Flash Point113.4 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
    log Kp (skin permeability)-0.442💻 Calculated
    SMILESCC1C(C(C2=C(C1(C)C)C=C(C(=C2)C=O)C)(C)C)C🔬 PubChem

    Volatility & Performance

    Fragrance NoteBase💻 Calculated
    Volatility ClassVery slow💻 Calculated
    Persistence Score11.6 / 5💻 Calculated

    Odor & Flavor

    Functional Groupsaldehydearomatic💻 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: DTXSID90888930

    Physical Properties

    Molecular Weight 258.405 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
    Density 0.948 g/cm^3📊 OPERA
    Boiling Point 331.165 °C📊 OPERA
    Melting Point 43.336 °C📊 OPERA
    Flash Point 127.447 °C📊 OPERA
    Refractive Index 1.5 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
    Molar Volume 281.015 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

    Partition & Solubility

    LogP (Octanol-Water) 5.677 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogD (pH 5.5) 5.677 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogD (pH 7.4) 5.677 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 8.21 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    Water Solubility 0 mol/L📊 OPERA
    Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

    Transport Properties

    Vapor Pressure 0 mmHg📊 OPERA
    Surface Tension 30.609 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
    Thermal Conductivity 109.934 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 1 count💻 Computed
    Aromatic Rings 1 count💻 Computed
    Molar Refractivity 82.676 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
    Polarizability 32.775 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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