Acetyl propionyl (CAS 600-14-6) — Sweet Top to middle Note Fragrance Ingredient

Sweet · Balsamic

Acetyl propionyl

CAS 600-14-6

Origin
synthetic
Note
Top to middle
IFRA
Use with awareness
Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is Acetyl propionyl?

Acetyl propionyl is a synthetic compound used in flavor and fragrance compositions. It’s primarily encountered in food flavorings and some industrial fragrance applications. This ingredient matters as a versatile building block that helps create buttery, caramel-like notes when used in combination with other aroma chemicals.

Safety Profile

USE WITH AWARENESS
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
Potential respiratory irritant
Requires proper ventilation in industrial settings
CAS
600-14-6
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Sweet · Balsamic
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Acetyl propionyl Smell Like?

Acetyl propionyl presents a complex olfactory profile with a sharp, buttery top note that evolves into a warm, caramelized sugar heart. The dry-down reveals subtle diacetyl-like qualities with a faintly metallic edge. When diluted, it contributes creamy dairy nuances reminiscent of warm butter and toasted nuts, though it requires careful blending as it can dominate compositions at higher concentrations.

Scent Profile
Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

2,3-Pentanedione

SMILES: CCC(=O)C(C)=O

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Acetyl propionyl is a diketone compound structurally similar to diacetyl. As a synthetic molecule, it’s produced through controlled oxidation or condensation reactions of appropriate precursors. Its chemical reactivity makes it useful for creating complex flavor profiles, though its precise behavior in fragrance matrices requires careful formulation due to potential volatility and reactivity issues.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Boiling PointNot well documented
DensityNot well documented

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Top to middle
Volatility
Moderate (1-2 hours)
Blending
Specialized
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Food Flavors0.1-1%Up to 2%Buttery note enhancer
Industrial Fragrance0.05-0.5%Up to 1%Used in trace amounts

Classic Accords

Tip: Use in minimal quantities and always test for stability in final formulations.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Diacetyl CAS 431-03-8

Provides stronger buttery notes but with greater safety concerns.

2
Acetoin CAS 513-86-0

Milder alternative with similar creamy dairy characteristics.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

No specific IFRA restrictions, but general diketone handling precautions apply.

GHS Classification

H315 Skin irritation H319 Eye irritation H335 May cause respiratory irritation

RIFM Assessment

Not currently evaluated by RIFM as a standalone fragrance ingredient.

Sustainability

As a synthetic compound, acetyl propionyl’s environmental impact depends on manufacturing processes. While it doesn’t require agricultural resources, its production involves petrochemical inputs. Responsible manufacturers implement closed systems to minimize emissions during production.

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References

  1. PubChem Compound Summary for Acetyl propionyl PubChem
  2. Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) safety assessment FEMA

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

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Ingredient Data Sheet

CAS 600-14-6

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight100.12 g/mol🔬 PubChem
LogP (Octanol-Water)0.1🔬 PubChem
Boiling Point109.9 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Vapor Pressure21.4 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
Flash Point-7.2 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Involatility Index2.3051💻 Calculated
log Kp (skin permeability)-3.24💻 Calculated
SMILESCCC(=O)C(=O)C🔬 PubChem

Volatility & Performance

Fragrance NoteTop💻 Calculated
Volatility ClassFast💻 Calculated
Persistence Score0.5 / 5💻 Calculated

Odor & Flavor

Primary Descriptorsbutteryfatty• leffingwell
Functional Groupsketone💻 RDKit
“Aqueous solutions taste sweet, the oily-buttery aroma appears only at higher concentration where odor interferes with actual”📖 Arctander
2,3-Pentanedione has a somewhat sweet odor similar to quinone. This compound has a penetrating, buttery taste on dilution.📖 Fenaroli

Flavor Notes (Arctander)

“Soluble 7% in water, miscible with alcohol and flavor materials, Propylene glycol and Glycerin. Aqueous solutions taste sweet, the oily-buttery aroma appears only at higher concentration where odor interferes with actual taste. Weak aqueous solutions are practically odorless.”📖 Arctander

Sensory Thresholds

Odor Detection Threshold0.0233 ppm (n=3)📖 van Gemert

Regulatory Status

FEMA NumberFEMA 2841⚖️ FEMA GRAS
GRAS StatusGenerally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS
IOFI ClassificationNature Identical📖 Fenaroli
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: DTXSID6051435

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 100.117 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 0.97 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX
Boiling Point 110.003 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Melting Point -52 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Flash Point 19.318 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Refractive Index 1.395 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 105.309 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) -0.188 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 5.5) -0.188 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) -0.188 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 4.01 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0.666 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX
Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 20.484 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX
Viscosity 0.634 cP📊 OPERA
Surface Tension 28.731 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
Thermal Conductivity 151.471 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA

Molecular Descriptors

Topological Polar Surface Area 34.14 Ų💻 Computed
H-Bond Donors 0 count💻 Computed
H-Bond Acceptors 2 count💻 Computed
Rotatable Bonds 2 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 25.272 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 10.019 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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