2-Nonanol (CAS 628-99-9) — Green Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient
2-Nonanol
CAS 628-99-9
What Is 2-Nonanol?
2-Nonanol is a synthetic alcohol used in perfumery to create fresh, green, and slightly floral scents. It’s found in cleaning products and some personal care items for its crisp, cucumber-like aroma. This ingredient helps bridge herbal and floral notes in fragrances, adding a naturalistic quality even though it’s lab-created. Its subtle character makes it useful for creating balanced compositions where you want freshness without overpowering other elements.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does 2-Nonanol Smell Like?
2-Nonanol offers a crisp, green opening reminiscent of freshly cut cucumber skins with a waxy undertone. As it evolves, it reveals a subtle floral heart akin to lily stems dipped in rainwater. The dry-down is clean and slightly soapy, like expensive hand wash lingering on skin. Its moderate tenacity allows it to support other green notes without dominating, making it ideal for creating dewy, vegetal effects in fresh compositions.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCCCC(C)O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
2-Nonanol is a secondary alcohol with a nine-carbon chain, classified as an aliphatic alcohol. While trace amounts exist naturally in some plants, commercial production typically involves hydroformylation of 1-octene followed by hydrogenation. Its molecular structure (CH3(CH2)6CH(OH)CH3) gives it both hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties, explaining its moderate solubility in both water and oil phases. The secondary alcohol group at carbon 2 creates a more complex odor profile compared to primary alcohols of similar chain length.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 193-195 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.82 g/cm³ |
| Flash Point | 76 °C |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.12 mmHg at 25°C |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Green note modifier |
| Functional Fragrance | 1-3% | Up to 8% | Freshness enhancer |
| Household Products | 0.1-1% | Up to 2% | Clean scent component |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use to add dimensionality to synthetic green notes by introducing naturalistic waxy nuances.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
Not restricted under any IFRA amendment.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM evaluation confirms safe use at current industry levels.
Sustainability
As a fully synthetic material, 2-nonanol production doesn’t impact natural resources. Its petrochemical origin raises carbon footprint considerations, but efficient catalytic processes minimize waste. The material’s stability and effectiveness at low concentrations reduce overall environmental load compared to some natural alternatives requiring agricultural inputs.
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for 2-Nonanol CID 12345
- Bauer et al. (2001). Common Fragrance and Flavor Materials. Wiley-VCH.
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 628-99-9Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 144.25 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.4🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 193 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0669 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 82 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.006💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.166💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCCCCCCC(C)O🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 2.1 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | fruitygreenwaxy• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | alcohol💻 RDKit |
| “Powerful fruity-green, slightly oily-floral odor of moderate to poor tenacity. This is indeed a material that receives quite a variation of odor descriptions from different observers.”📖 Arctander | |
| 2-Nonanol has a powerful, fruity-green odor.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “The alcohol finds limited use in flavor compositions as a trace ingredient in Coconut flavors or in various spice blends.”📖 Arctander |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 0.069 ppm (n=2)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| IOFI Classification | Nature Identical📖 Fenaroli |
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: DTXSID60862323
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 144.258 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.828 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 193.533 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -35.217 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 82.2 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.43 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 174.979 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.36 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.247 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.247 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 6.27 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.002 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.073 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 5.575 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 27.661 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 150.103 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 20.23 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 6 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 45.238 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 17.934 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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