Acetic Acid (CAS 64-19-7) — Citrus Top Note Fragrance Ingredient
Acetic Acid
CAS 64-19-7
What Is Acetic Acid?
Acetic acid is the main component of vinegar, giving it its characteristic sharp, sour smell. People encounter it daily in food products, cleaning solutions, and some fragrances. In perfumery, diluted acetic acid adds a tangy, fresh quality that can brighten citrus or green accords.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESSWhat Does Acetic Acid Smell Like?
Acetic acid delivers an intensely sharp, piercing sourness reminiscent of distilled white vinegar with a slightly fruity undertone. The initial burst is aggressively acidic, mellowing into a cleaner, almost metallic dryness. In trace amounts, it adds a crisp, mouthwatering quality to citrus top notes and can enhance the green freshness of cut grass or leaf accords. The dry-down leaves minimal olfactory trace unless deliberately paired with complementary materials.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Uses acetic acid’s green sharpness to amplify the tomato leaf accord, creating an ultra-fresh vegetal effect.
Showcases acetic acid’s photorealistic quality in a single-note novelty fragrance.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC(O)=O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Acetic acid (CH₃COOH) is a simple carboxylic acid produced through bacterial fermentation of ethanol. Industrially synthesized via methanol carbonylation (Cativa process). The molecule’s polarity gives it high water solubility and a low odor threshold. In perfumery, typically used as glacial acetic acid (99% purity) diluted to 1-5% solutions.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 118 °C |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | 16.6 °C |
| Density | 1.049 g/cm³ |
| Vapor Pressure | 15.7 mmHg at 25°C |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.01-0.1% | Up to 0.5% | Used sparingly for lift |
| Functional Fragrance | 0.05-0.3% | Up to 1% | Cleaning product freshness |
Classic Accords
Tip: Always pre-dilute to 1% in alcohol before incorporating to avoid material degradation.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Less sharp, more cheesy nuance. Used when a softer acidic effect is desired.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. IFRA, REACH, EU Cosmetics Regulation standards update periodically. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating. Not legal or regulatory advice.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions. Considered GRAS for fragrance use.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
RIFM evaluation confirms safe use at current industry levels.
Sustainability
Most acetic acid is produced synthetically from petrochemical feedstocks, though bio-based routes using fermented sugars exist. The carbonylation process has high energy demands but produces minimal waste. Recycling programs exist for industrial acetic acid recovery.
Explore Acetic Acid
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References
- PubChem Acetic Acid CID 176
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Report a data errorPhysicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID5024394
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 60.052 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.048 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 117.853 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 16.642 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 40.104 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.376 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 56.175 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | -0.185 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | -1.294 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | -3.135 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 4.31 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| Water Solubility | 15.948 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 13.906 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 1.522 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 28.757 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 165.776 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 37.3 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 12.879 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 5.106 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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