Alpha-Pinene (CAS 80-56-8) — Woody Top Note Fragrance Ingredient
Alpha-Pinene
CAS 80-56-8
What Is Alpha-Pinene?
Alpha-pinene is a fresh, pine-like scent found naturally in conifer trees and many essential oils like pine and rosemary. You’ll encounter it in cleaning products, air fresheners, and forest-inspired perfumes. This molecule matters because it creates crisp, outdoorsy aromas while also having potential therapeutic benefits, making it popular in aromatherapy and natural product formulations.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFE
What Does Alpha-Pinene Smell Like?
Alpha-pinene bursts with the crisp, resinous aroma of a sun-warmed pine forest. The initial impression is sharply green and camphoraceous, like snapping fresh pine needles between your fingers. As it evolves, it reveals a drier, woodier character reminiscent of freshly cut timber. The dry-down maintains a clean, slightly medicinal edge that blends beautifully with citrus and herbal notes. Its stereochemistry creates subtle variations – the alpha form tends to be sharper and more pine-like, while beta-pinene leans slightly sweeter and more herbal.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
This classic Italian fragrance uses alpha-pinene as its backbone to create an authentic pine forest aroma, enhanced by citrus and woody notes for a timeless masculine freshness.
Alpha-pinene here evokes Swedish forests, blended with juniper berries and birch leaves to create a crisp, cold-weather scent with remarkable clarity.
Used as a sparkling top note to represent alpine freshness, alpha-pinene combines with grapefruit and lily of the valley for an uplifting effect.
Alpha-pinene’s pine character is warmed with spices and dried fruits in this composition, creating a nostalgic forest walk in autumn.
Showcases alpha-pinene’s crispness alongside citrus and musk, creating a clean, sophisticated interpretation of pine needle freshness.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC1=CCC2CC1C2(C)C
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Alpha-pinene is a bicyclic monoterpene with the molecular formula C10H16, existing as two enantiomers that occur naturally in different ratios. The (+)-α-pinene is predominant in North American pines while (-)-α-pinene dominates in European pines. Industrially, it’s obtained through fractional distillation of turpentine oil or synthesized from beta-pinene via acid-catalyzed isomerization. Its rigid bicyclic structure makes it relatively stable, though it can undergo oxidation to pinene oxide or hydration to terpineol. The molecule’s volatility and low water solubility are characteristic of its terpene class.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 155-156 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.858 g/cm³ |
| Flash Point | 32 °C |
| Vapor Pressure | 4.5 mmHg at 25°C |
| Refractive Index | 1.465 |
| Solubility | Insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-5% | Up to 10% | Provides crisp top notes |
| Household Cleaners | 0.5-3% | Up to 5% | Fresh pine character |
| Aromatherapy | 2-8% | Up to 15% | Respiratory benefits |
| Air Fresheners | 0.1-1% | Up to 2% | Outdoorsy freshness |
Classic Accords
+ Cedarwood + Vetiver = Woody Depth
+ Lemon + Rosemary = Herbal Freshness
Tip: Use alpha-pinene in small amounts to add lift to woody compositions or in larger quantities for authentic pine effects.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Slightly sweeter and less sharp than alpha-pinene, useful when a softer pine character is desired.
Offers a drier, more turpentine-like pine note with less camphoraceous character.
Provides similar piney notes but with more pronounced camphoraceous and cooling effects.
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
Not restricted by IFRA. Approved for use in all categories without limitations.
GHS Classification
H319 Eye irritation
H226 Flammable liquid and vapor
RIFM Assessment
RIFM has evaluated alpha-pinene as safe for current fragrance use levels based on available data.
Sustainability
Alpha-pinene is primarily sourced as a byproduct of the paper industry through turpentine recovery from pine tree processing. Synthetic production exists but is less common. As a natural product, it’s biodegradable and considered environmentally friendly. Sustainable forestry practices ensure renewable supplies. The compound’s volatility means it contributes to biogenic VOC emissions but breaks down rapidly in the atmosphere.
Explore Alpha-Pinene
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Industry & Science Data
References
- Breitmaier, E. (2006). Terpenes: Flavors, Fragrances, Pharmaca, Pheromones. Wiley-VCH. DOI 10.1002/9783527609949
- RIFM (2016). Fragrance Ingredient Safety Assessment α-Pinene. DOI 10.1016/j.fct.2016.05.006
- PubChem Compound Summary for CID 6654 (alpha-Pinene) PubChem CID 6654
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Ingredient Data Sheet
CAS 80-56-8Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 136.23 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.8🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 156.2 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 10 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 32.8 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.9234💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.543💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC1=CCC2CC1C2(C)C🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Top💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Moderate💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 0.5 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | pine• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | alkene💻 RDKit |
| “alpha-Pinene is one of the lowest boiling of all Monoterpenes, and has therefore the most diffusive odor and poorest tenacity. It is also one of the purest commercially available Monoterpenes, the chief impurities being beta-Pinene and Camphene.”📖 Arctander | |
| a-Pinene has a characteristic odor of pine. It is turpentine-like. The oxidized material has a resin-like odor.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “The title material is also used in flavor compositions, partly as ingredient in artificial Lemon and Nutmeg oils, partly as component of such type flavors. The concentration in the finished product will be about 15 to 150 ppm. alpha-Pinene has a more balsamic taste, while beta-Pinene, less suitable ”📖 Arctander |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 0.6561 ppm (n=13)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| EU Annex III | Listed (restricted)⚖️ IFRA 51 |
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2902⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| GRAS Status | Generally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| IOFI Classification | Nature Identical📖 Fenaroli |
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: DTXSID4026501
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 136.238 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.682 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 155.39 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -54.409 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 43.033 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.479 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 154.905 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2193.892 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 4.484 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 4.484 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 4.44 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0.134 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 4.471 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 1.679 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 27.057 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 114.426 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 0 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 43.964 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 17.429 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.
