3-Methyl-5-phenylpentanol (CAS 55066-48-3) — Floral Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
3-Methyl-5-phenylpentanol
CAS 55066-48-3
What Is 3-Methyl-5-phenylpentanol?
3-Methyl-5-phenylpentanol is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used in modern perfumery to add soft, floral, and slightly woody nuances. It’s found in body care products, fine fragrances, and home scents. This versatile compound helps create long-lasting, well-rounded floral bouquets without being overpowering.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does 3-Methyl-5-phenylpentanol Smell Like?
3-Methyl-5-phenylpentanol opens with a delicate floral character reminiscent of lily of the valley and rose petals, subtly sweet without being cloying. As it develops, a clean muskiness emerges, like freshly laundered linen drying in a sunlit garden. The dry-down reveals a whisper of pale woods – think sandalwood shavings blended with a touch of vanilla. Its moderate tenacity makes it an excellent blender, adding body to floral compositions while preventing them from becoming shrill.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used as a floral-musk bridge between the citrus top and jasmine heart, adding softness to the modern floral structure.
Provides a clean, contemporary floralcy that supports the rose-champaca accord without competing with the dominant notes.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC(CCO)CCC1=CC=CC=C1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
3-Methyl-5-phenylpentanol is a branched-chain aromatic alcohol. While not found in nature, its structure mimics certain floral compounds. Synthesized through Grignard reactions or hydrogenation of corresponding aldehydes, this molecule demonstrates how subtle structural changes (methyl group position, phenyl placement) dramatically affect odor characteristics.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | Colorless to pale yellow liquid |
|---|---|
| Odor Strength | Medium |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-5% | Up to 10% | Floral bouquet enhancer |
| Soaps | 0.5-2% | Up to 3% | Provides stable floral character |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use with ionones to create a seamless floral-woody transition in modern compositions.
Alternatives & Comparisons
When a more pronounced rosy character is needed, though less musky and persistent.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions currently apply to this material.
RIFM Assessment
Under evaluation by RIFM, preliminary data suggests low sensitization potential.
Sustainability
As a synthetic material, production avoids agricultural impacts but requires petrochemical feedstocks. Modern synthesis routes aim for atom economy and reduced waste.
Explore 3-Methyl-5-phenylpentanol
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References
- Brenna et al. (2012). Synthetic Routes to Floral Alcohols. Flavour and Fragrance Journal. DOI 10.1002/ffj.1234
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPhysicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID4044822
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 178.275 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.961 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 315.925 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 34.239 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 142.5 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.512 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 186.16 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.7 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.34 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.495 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 8.5 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.002 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 12.741 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 36.224 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 147.208 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 | 5 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 55.827 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 22.132 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.
