alpha-Amylcinnamaldehyde dimethyl acetal (CAS 91-87-2) — Floral Heart to base Note Fragrance Ingredient

Floral · Sweet

alpha-Amylcinnamaldehyde dimethyl acetal

CAS 91-87-2

Origin
synthetic
Note
Heart to base
IFRA
Use with awareness
Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is alpha-Amylcinnamaldehyde dimethyl acetal?

alpha-Amylcinnamaldehyde dimethyl acetal is a synthetic fragrance ingredient commonly found in perfumes and personal care products. It contributes a warm, floral, and slightly spicy character to fragrances. This molecule is valued for its ability to enhance floral bouquets and add depth to oriental and amber accords, making it a versatile tool for perfumers seeking long-lasting floralcy.

Safety Profile

USE WITH AWARENESS
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
IFRA approved within limits
Potential sensitizer – use with caution
CAS
91-87-2
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Floral · Sweet
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does alpha-Amylcinnamaldehyde dimethyl acetal Smell Like?

A radiant floral burst with jasmine-like facets evolves into a warm, honeyed heart with subtle cinnamon spice undertones. The dry-down reveals a persistent ambery sweetness that lingers on skin, behaving like a molecular bridge between top and base notes. Its tenacity makes it particularly valuable in floral-oriental compositions where it adds both lift and depth simultaneously.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Poison(Dior, 1985)

Used as a jasmine enhancer in this iconic floral-oriental, adding warmth and persistence to the tuberose-jasmine heart while smoothing the transition to vanilla base notes.

Opium(Yves Saint Laurent, 1977)

Contributes to the floral-spicy complexity, helping bridge the citrus top to the balsamic base with its persistent floral-amber character.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

[2-(Dimethoxymethyl)-1-heptenyl]benzene

SMILES: CCCCCC(=CC1=CC=CC=C1)C(OC)OC

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

This acetal derivative belongs to the cinnamaldehyde chemical family, created by protecting the aldehyde group of amylcinnamaldehyde with methanol. The dimethyl acetal modification increases stability and modifies odor characteristics, producing a more floral, less aggressive scent compared to the parent aldehyde. Industrial synthesis typically involves acid-catalyzed reaction of amylcinnamaldehyde with methanol.

Physical & Chemical Properties

AppearanceColorless to pale yellow liquid
Boiling PointApprox. 300 °C (estimated)
Density~0.95 g/cm³ (estimated)

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Heart to base
Volatility
Moderate (2-6 hours)
Blending
Excellent with florals, spices, and ambers
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance1-3%Up to 5%Adds floral persistence in oriental compositions
Soap0.5-1%Up to 2%Provides stable floral character in alkaline media

Classic Accords

Tip: Use to extend floral top notes downward into the heart of a composition while adding warmth.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Amylcinnamaldehyde CAS 122-40-7

The parent aldehyde offers stronger jasmine character but less stability and more potential for skin sensitization.

2
Hexylcinnamaldehyde CAS 101-86-0

Similar floral profile with better safety profile, though slightly less warm and ambery in character.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

Not currently restricted under IFRA standards. Listed in IFRA Transparency List with no usage limits specified.

EU Allergen Declaration

Not listed in EU allergen regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 Annex III.

GHS Classification

H315 Skin irritation H319 Eye irritation

RIFM Assessment

RIFM has reviewed available data and found no significant safety concerns at current usage levels in fragrance applications.

Sustainability

As a synthetic material, production avoids agricultural land use but depends on petrochemical feedstocks. The acetal modification improves stability, potentially reducing waste from product degradation. Manufacturers are increasingly adopting green chemistry principles in synthesis.

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References

  1. Bickers et al. (2005). Safety assessment of cinnamyl derivatives. Food and Chemical Toxicology. PMID 15854760

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

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Physicochemical Properties

DTXSID: DTXSID1052612

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 248.366 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 0.953 g/cm^3📊 OPERA
Boiling Point 332.332 °C📊 OPERA
Melting Point 29.304 °C📊 OPERA
Flash Point 124.466 °C📊 OPERA
Refractive Index 1.513 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 258.859 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 4.356 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 5.5) 4.356 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 4.356 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 8.41 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0.001 mol/L📊 OPERA
Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 0 mmHg📊 OPERA
Viscosity 8.817 cP📊 OPERA
Surface Tension 34.452 dyn/cm📊 OPERA

Molecular Descriptors

Topological Polar Surface Area 18.46 Ų💻 Computed
H-Bond Donors 0 count💻 Computed
H-Bond Acceptors 2 count💻 Computed
Rotatable Bonds 8 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 1 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 77.864 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 30.868 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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