alpha-Terpineol acetate (CAS 80-26-2) — Citrus Top to Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient

Citrus · Woody

alpha-Terpineol acetate

CAS 80-26-2

Origin
synthetic
Note
Top to Middle
IFRA
Generally safe
Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is alpha-Terpineol acetate?

Alpha-Terpineol acetate is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used to add fresh, floral, and slightly woody notes to perfumes and personal care products. You’ll encounter it in air fresheners, fabric softeners, and some citrus-forward perfumes. This ester matters because it provides excellent stability and longevity compared to its parent alcohol, making scents last longer on skin and fabrics.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
Safe in regulated concentrations
Potential mild skin sensitization
CAS
80-26-2
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Citrus · Woody
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does alpha-Terpineol acetate Smell Like?

Alpha-Terpineol acetate opens with a crisp, clean citrus-lime burst reminiscent of peeled tangerines, quickly revealing a heart of lavender-like floralcy with a subtle herbaceous edge. As it dries down, it transforms into a soft woody base with hints of fresh-cut pine and a whisper of sweet lily-of-the-valley. The overall effect is like walking through a Mediterranean garden at dawn, where dewy citrus trees mingle with aromatic herbs.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Eau Sauvage(Dior, 1966)

Used here to enhance the citrus-herbaceous opening and provide stability to the classic cologne accord.

CK One(Calvin Klein, 1994)

Contributes to the fresh laundry effect in this unisex fragrance, blending with green tea and jasmine notes.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

alpha-Terpinyl acetate

SMILES: CC(=O)OC(C)(C)C1CCC(C)=CC1

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Alpha-Terpineol acetate is an ester formed by the acetylation of alpha-Terpineol. This modification increases its volatility and changes its odor profile compared to the parent alcohol. Industrially produced via acid-catalyzed esterification, it’s valued for its improved stability and resistance to oxidation. The acetate group also makes it more soluble in alcohol bases used in perfumery.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Boiling Point220 °C
Density0.95 g/cm³
Refractive Index1.463

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Top to Middle
Volatility
Medium (2-4 hours)
Blending
Good
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance1-5%Up to 10%Adds freshness to citrus accords
Functional Products0.5-2%Up to 5%Used in detergents for longevity

Classic Accords

Tip: Use to boost citrus top notes while adding subtle floral depth that transitions smoothly to heart notes.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Linalyl acetate CAS 115-95-7

More floral and less citrusy, preferred for lavender reconstitutions.

2
Terpinyl acetate CAS 80-26-2

Similar but with stronger pine and herbal characteristics.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

Not currently restricted by IFRA. Listed on IFRA Transparency List.

EU Allergen Declaration

Not listed in EU allergen regulation.

RIFM Assessment

RIFM-reviewed, considered safe at current usage levels.

Sustainability

Synthetic production reduces pressure on natural sources. Manufacturing process follows standard green chemistry principles with high yield efficiency.

Explore alpha-Terpineol acetate

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References

  1. PubChem: alpha-Terpineol acetate PubChem CID
  2. IFRA Transparency List IFRA

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

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Ingredient Data Sheet

CAS 80-26-2

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight196.29 g/mol🔬 PubChem
LogP (Octanol-Water)2.4🔬 PubChem
Boiling Point115 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Vapor Pressure0.0264 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
Flash Point100 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Involatility Index0.002💻 Calculated
log Kp (skin permeability)-2.193💻 Calculated
SMILESCC1=CCC(CC1)C(C)(C)OC(=O)C🔬 PubChem

Volatility & Performance

Fragrance NoteHeart💻 Calculated
Volatility ClassVery slow💻 Calculated
Persistence Score2.7 / 5💻 Calculated

Odor & Flavor

Primary Descriptorsherbalspicysweet• leffingwell
Functional Groupsesteretheralkene💻 RDKit
“The concentration in finished products is Mildly herbaceous, sweet and refreshing normally about 1 to 15 ppm, but it may be as odor of spicy Bergamot-Lavender type, with high as 260 ppm in chewing gum. It is also widely used in common perfumery for low- manufactured by azeotropic esterification of cost fragrances of the Lavender, Bergamot, Terpineol with Acetic acid.”📖 Arctander
Terpinyl acetate has a sweet, refreshing, herbaceous odor.📖 Fenaroli

Sensory Thresholds

Odor Detection Threshold2.5 ppm📖 van Gemert

Regulatory Status

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: DTXSID2026496

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 196.29 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 0.96 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX
Boiling Point 231.9 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Melting Point -20 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Flash Point 100 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Refractive Index 1.467 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 203.967 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 4.023 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX
LogD (pH 5.5) 3.934 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 3.934 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 5.73 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX
Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 0.026 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX
Viscosity 2.924 cP📊 OPERA
Surface Tension 30.378 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
Thermal Conductivity 130.033 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA

Molecular Descriptors

Topological Polar Surface Area 26.3 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 56.581 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 22.43 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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