3-Hexyldihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (CAS 18436-37-8) — Sweet Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient

ByThe Good Scents
Sweet · Floral

3-Hexyldihydrofuran-2(3H)-one

CAS 18436-37-8

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

What Is 3-Hexyldihydrofuran-2(3H)-one?

3-Hexyldihydrofuran-2(3H)-one is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used to add fruity, creamy nuances to perfumes. It’s found in body care products and fine fragrances. This lactone derivative matters because it mimics natural fruit aromas while offering superior stability, allowing consistent scent profiles in mass-market products.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
✓ No known major restrictions
⚠ Use standard handling precautions
CAS
18436-37-8
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Sweet · Floral
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does 3-Hexyldihydrofuran-2(3H)-one Smell Like?

A warm, fruity-lactonic character reminiscent of ripe peaches and coconut flesh. Opens with a slightly green, waxy top note that softens into a creamy heart with nuances of baked apricots. The drydown reveals a subtle woody undertone that prevents cloying sweetness. Exceptionally versatile for creating tropical or gourmand effects without overwhelming compositions.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Angel(Mugler, 1992)

Used to amplify the ethyl maltol accord, adding dimension to the fragrance’s famous ‘edible flower’ effect.

Vanille Insensée(Atelier Cologne, 2012)

Provides a counterpoint to the vanilla absolute with its lactonic fruitiness.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

alpha-Hexyl-gamma-butyrolactone

SMILES: CCCCCCC1CCOC1=O

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

A gamma-hexyl-substituted butyrolactone belonging to the ester class. Synthesized via esterification of 4-hydroxyhexanoic acid or through cyclization of relevant keto acids. The gamma position creates its characteristic fruity-lactonic odor profile. No significant chirality effects noted due to rapid interconversion under use conditions.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Boiling PointNot established
DensityEstimated ~0.95 g/cm³

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Heart
Volatility
Medium (2-6 hours)
Blending
Good
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance1-3%Up to 5%Fruit accords
Body Care0.5-1%Up to 2%Creamy modifiers

Classic Accords

Tip: Use with ionones to create peach-apricot effects.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
γ-Decalactone CAS 706-14-9

When more pronounced peach character is desired.

2
δ-Undecalactone CAS 710-04-3

For stronger creamy/milky effects.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

No current IFRA restrictions (2023).

RIFM Assessment

Under evaluation – preliminary data suggests low concern at typical use levels.

Sustainability

Synthetic production avoids agricultural impacts. Typical petrochemical feedstock with opportunities for bio-based routes via fermentation-derived intermediates.

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References

  1. Burdock, G.A. (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 18436-37-8

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight170.25 g/mol🔬 PubChem
LogP (Octanol-Water)3.3🔬 PubChem
Boiling Point241 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Vapor Pressure0.0269 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
Flash Point105.8 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Involatility Index0.0022💻 Calculated
log Kp (skin permeability)-1.396💻 Calculated
SMILESCCCCCCC1CCOC1=O🔬 PubChem

Volatility & Performance

Fragrance NoteHeart💻 Calculated
Volatility ClassVery slow💻 Calculated
Persistence Score2.9 / 5💻 Calculated

Odor & Flavor

Primary Descriptorsfloralsweet• leffingwell
Functional Groupsesterether💻 RDKit
“Dry-fruity, unripe-Apricot-type odor with Ambre-like background.”📖 Arctander

Flavor Notes (Arctander)

“In the author's opinion, this lactone does not lend itself very easily to application in flavor compositions”📖 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: DTXSID7047437

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 170.252 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 0.955 g/cm^3📊 OPERA
Boiling Point 257.89 °C📊 OPERA
Melting Point -8.304 °C📊 OPERA
Flash Point 110.986 °C📊 OPERA
Refractive Index 1.447 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 179.856 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 2.985 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 5.5) 2.985 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 2.985 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 5.83 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0.006 mol/L📊 OPERA
Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 0.014 mmHg📊 OPERA
Viscosity 3.045 cP📊 OPERA
Surface Tension 31.018 dyn/cm📊 OPERA

Molecular Descriptors

Topological Polar Surface Area 26.3 Ų💻 Computed
H-Bond Donors 0 count💻 Computed
H-Bond Acceptors 2 count💻 Computed
Rotatable Bonds 5 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 48.041 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 19.045 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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