Acetone (CAS 67-64-1) — Sweet Carrier solvent Note Fragrance Ingredient
Acetone
CAS 67-64-1
What Is Acetone?
Acetone is a simple organic compound best known as nail polish remover. It evaporates quickly with a sharp, sweet smell. Beyond cosmetics, it’s widely used in industrial cleaners and paint thinners. This volatile solvent plays a surprising role in perfumery as a carrier for fragile aroma compounds.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESSWhat Does Acetone Smell Like?
Acetone announces itself with a piercing, almost medicinal sharpness that recalls antiseptic clinics. The initial blast softens into a peculiar fruity sweetness like overripe apples, with a metallic edge. As it evaporates, this synthetic note leaves behind a faintly waxy, clean impression – the olfactory equivalent of a freshly wiped whiteboard.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC(C)=O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Acetone (C3H6O) is the simplest ketone, consisting of three carbons with a central carbonyl group. Industrially produced via cumene process or fermentation, this volatile solvent exhibits perfect miscibility with water and most organic compounds. Its small molecular size enables rapid skin penetration, requiring careful formulation.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 56 °C |
|---|---|
| Flash Point | -20 °C |
| Vapor Pressure | 233 mmHg at 25°C |
| Density | 0.791 g/cm³ |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial Fragrance | 0-2% | Up to 5% | Solvent for difficult materials |
| Nail Products | 10-30% | Up to 100% | Primary active ingredient |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use chilled acetone to dissolve stubborn resins before dilution in ethanol.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Less aggressive solvent with fruity nuance, preferred for delicate compositions.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
Not restricted by IFRA – primarily used as processing aid rather than fragrance ingredient.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
Not evaluated by RIFM – considered a process chemical rather than fragrance material.
Sustainability
Most acetone is petroleum-derived, though bio-based production exists via fermentation. Its high volatility contributes to VOC emissions, but rapid atmospheric breakdown minimizes environmental persistence. Closed-loop recycling systems are increasingly adopted in industrial settings.
Explore Acetone
Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.
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References
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPhysicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID8021482
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 58.08 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.79 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 56.089 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -94.72 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | -18.543 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.345 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 75.176 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | -0.215 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | -0.073 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | -0.073 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 2.31 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| Water Solubility | 17.263 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 215.584 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 0.319 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 20.989 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 147.469 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 | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 15.977 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 6.334 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.
