Abietyl acetate (CAS 54200-50-9) — Woody Base Note Fragrance Ingredient

ByThe Good Scents
Woody · Balsamic

Abietyl acetate

CAS 54200-50-9

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

What Is Abietyl acetate?

Abietyl acetate is a synthetic fragrance ingredient derived from rosin acids. It’s primarily used in industrial fragrances and functional products like soaps and detergents. This compound contributes to woody, resinous scent profiles that add depth and longevity to fragrance compositions. While not common in fine perfumery, it plays a role in creating cost-effective base notes for mass-market products.

Safety Profile

USE WITH AWARENESS
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
✓ Approved for use in cosmetics
⚠ Potential skin sensitizer at high concentrations
CAS
54200-50-9
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Woody · Balsamic
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Abietyl acetate Smell Like?

Abietyl acetate presents a dry, woody character with subtle resinous undertones reminiscent of aged pine wood. The odor profile is linear rather than evolving, maintaining a consistent medium-strength presence throughout. It lacks the sharpness of fresh pine notes but carries a slightly sweet, almost amber-like warmth. In blends, it behaves like a quiet fixative, adding subtle woody texture without dominating the composition.

Scent Profile
Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

Abietyl acetate

SMILES: [H][C@]12CCC(=CC1=CC[C@@]1([H])[C@](C)(COC(C)=O)CCC[C@]21C)C(C)C

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Abietyl acetate is an ester formed by the acetylation of abietic acid, a resin acid found in pine rosin. The synthesis typically involves reacting abietic acid with acetic anhydride in the presence of a catalyst. As a semi-synthetic derivative, it lacks the complex mixture of terpenoids found in natural pine-derived materials. The compound’s rigid tricyclic structure contributes to its low volatility and tenacious odor characteristics.

Physical & Chemical Properties

AppearanceViscous liquid to semi-solid
ColorPale yellow to amber

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Base
Volatility
Low (8+ hours)
Blending
Moderate
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Functional Fragrances0.5-2%Up to 5%Woody base note enhancer
Soaps/Detergents0.1-1%Up to 3%Cost-effective woody fixative

Classic Accords

Tip: Use as a subtle woody bridge between synthetic musks and dry amber materials.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Abietic acid CAS 514-10-3

The parent compound with sharper pine character but less stability in formulations.

2
Pine rosin CAS 8050-09-7

Natural alternative with complex terpene profile but variable composition.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

No specific IFRA restrictions. General guidelines for rosin derivatives apply.

RIFM Assessment

No specific RIFM evaluation found. Considered under general rosin acid derivatives safety profile.

Sustainability

As a semi-synthetic derived from pine rosin, abietyl acetate represents a renewable resource-based material. However, its industrial production may involve chemical processes with environmental impacts. Responsible sourcing of pine rosin is crucial to ensure sustainable forestry practices in raw material production.

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References

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

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    Ingredient Data Sheet

    CAS 54200-50-9

    Physical Properties

    Molecular Weight330.5 g/mol🔬 PubChem
    LogP (Octanol-Water)5.4🔬 PubChem
    Boiling Point380 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
    Vapor Pressure0 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
    Flash Point117.1 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
    log Kp (skin permeability)-0.882💻 Calculated
    SMILESCC(C)C1=CC2=CCC3C(CCCC3(C2CC1)C)(C)COC(=O)C🔬 PubChem

    Volatility & Performance

    Fragrance NoteBase💻 Calculated
    Volatility ClassVery slow💻 Calculated
    Persistence Score17.2 / 5💻 Calculated

    Odor & Flavor

    Functional Groupsesteretheralkene💻 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: DTXSID40904391

    Physical Properties

    Molecular Weight 330.512 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
    Density 1 g/cm^3📊 OPERA
    Boiling Point 378.101 °C📊 OPERA
    Melting Point 59.207 °C📊 OPERA
    Flash Point 148.722 °C📊 OPERA
    Refractive Index 1.52 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
    Molar Volume 325.696 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

    Partition & Solubility

    LogP (Octanol-Water) 6.763 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogD (pH 5.5) 6.763 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogD (pH 7.4) 6.763 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 9.95 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 35.153 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
    Thermal Conductivity 128.687 mW/(m*K)📊 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 3 count💻 Computed
    Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
    Molar Refractivity 98.955 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
    Polarizability 39.229 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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