Acetylcarene (CAS 3608-11-5) — Woody Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient
Acetylcarene
CAS 3608-11-5
What Is Acetylcarene?
Acetylcarene is a synthetic fragrance ingredient primarily used in industrial and functional fragrance applications. Consumers may encounter it in cleaning products or air fresheners where its woody character helps mask odors. While not common in fine perfumery, it serves as a cost-effective building block for creating forest-like scent profiles in mass-market products.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESSWhat Does Acetylcarene Smell Like?
Acetylcarene presents a dry, resinous woody character with subtle pine needle facets. The scent evolves from an initial sharp terpenic burst to a more rounded woody-amber dry down. Comparable to freshly split cedar planks with a faint camphoraceous edge, it lacks the sweetness of traditional sandalwood materials but provides excellent diffusion in functional applications.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC(=O)C1CC2C(C=C1C)C2(C)C
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Acetylcarene belongs to the bicyclic monoterpenoid class, structurally related to carene derivatives. As a synthetic material, it’s produced through catalytic hydrogenation or acetylation of carene precursors. The exact molecular configuration varies by manufacturer, with potential for both alpha and beta isomers depending on synthesis conditions. Its stability makes it suitable for alkaline formulations where other woody materials might degrade.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | Clear to pale yellow liquid |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | Approx. 200-220°C (estimated) |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Functional Fragrance | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Base for woody accords |
| Cleaning Products | 0.5-2% | Up to 3% | Odor masking agent |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use with citrus top notes to brighten its woody character in household products.
Alternatives & Comparisons
More refined woody character with better substantivity for fine fragrance applications.
Brighter pine-like character with similar cost profile for functional uses.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No specific IFRA restrictions. General guidelines for terpenoid materials apply.
RIFM Assessment
Not currently evaluated by RIFM. Recommended for functional rather than cosmetic use.
Sustainability
As a synthetic material, acetylcarene production avoids natural resource depletion but requires petrochemical feedstocks. Manufacturers typically employ green chemistry principles to minimize waste in its synthesis. The material’s stability reduces formulation waste compared to more volatile woody alternatives.
Explore Acetylcarene
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References
- Bauer, K. et al. (2001). Common Fragrance and Flavor Materials. Wiley-VCH.
- Arctander, S. (1969). Perfume and Flavor Chemicals. Allured.
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPhysicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID00863218
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 178.275 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.955 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 233.437 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | 56.404 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 86.45 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.483 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 186.154 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.145 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.145 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.145 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 5.77 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.002 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.073 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Viscosity | 1.544 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 29.822 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 117.385 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 | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 53.169 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 21.078 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.
