6,10,14-Trimethyl-2-pentadecanone (CAS 502-69-2) — Musky Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
6,10,14-Trimethyl-2-pentadecanone
CAS 502-69-2
What Is 6,10,14-Trimethyl-2-pentadecanone?
6,10,14-Trimethyl-2-pentadecanone is a synthetic musk compound used in perfumery. You’ll encounter it in laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and some personal care products where it provides a clean, musky background note. This ingredient matters because it helps create long-lasting fragrance effects, particularly in products designed to leave a subtle scent on fabrics and skin throughout the day.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESSWhat Does 6,10,14-Trimethyl-2-pentadecanone Smell Like?
A clean, powdery musk with subtle woody undertones. Starts with a slightly sharp, almost metallic top note that quickly settles into a soft, skin-like warmth. The dry-down resembles sun-warmed cotton sheets – comforting and slightly sweet without being cloying. Unlike animalic musks, this maintains a laundry-fresh character while providing excellent longevity.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used here to recreate the comforting scent of sun-dried linens, blending with aldehydes and white musk for a hyper-realistic fabric softener effect.
Provides the clean musk foundation that contrasts with floral heart notes, creating the signature ‘your skin but better’ effect.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)=O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
A synthetic macrocyclic ketone musk compound. Unlike traditional nitro musks, this belongs to the polycyclic musk family with better environmental stability. Industrially produced via hydrocarbon synthesis routes, often starting from petrochemical precursors. The branched methyl groups contribute to its volatility profile and odor characteristics.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | Colorless to pale yellow liquid |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | ~300 °C (estimated) |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laundry Products | 0.5-2% | Up to 3% | Provides fabric substantivity |
| Fine Fragrance | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Musk foundation |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use in trace amounts with white florals to prevent powderiness from becoming overwhelming.
Alternatives & Comparisons
When a cleaner, more neutral musk is needed without the slight powderiness of trimethylpentadecanone.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No current IFRA restrictions. Listed on IFRA Transparency List.
RIFM Assessment
Reviewed by RIFM with no significant safety concerns at current usage levels.
Sustainability
As a synthetic musk, this avoids the ethical concerns of animal-derived musks but shares the environmental persistence challenges of many synthetic fragrance ingredients. Manufacturers are developing more biodegradable alternatives.
Explore 6,10,14-Trimethyl-2-pentadecanone
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References
- IFRA Transparency List (2023). 6,10,14-Trimethyl-2-pentadecanone. IFRA
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPhysicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID40862063
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 268.485 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.84 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 313.7 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 31.753 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 162 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.44 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 323.907 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 7.384 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 7.384 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 7.384 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 8 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.001 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Viscosity | 5.109 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 27.998 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 133.016 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 | 12 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 85.346 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 33.834 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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