alpha-Terpineol acetate (CAS 80-26-2) — Citrus Top to Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient
alpha-Terpineol acetate
CAS 80-26-2
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 SAFEWhat 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.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used here to enhance the citrus-herbaceous opening and provide stability to the classic cologne accord.
Contributes to the fresh laundry effect in this unisex fragrance, blending with green tea and jasmine notes.
2D Molecular Structure
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 Point | 220 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.95 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | 1.463 |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-5% | Up to 10% | Adds freshness to citrus accords |
| Functional Products | 0.5-2% | 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
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
- PubChem: alpha-Terpineol acetate PubChem CID
- IFRA Transparency List IFRA
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 80-26-2Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 196.29 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.4🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 115 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0264 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 100 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.002💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -2.193💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC1=CCC(CC1)C(C)(C)OC(=O)C🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 2.7 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | herbalspicysweet• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | esteretheralkene💻 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 Threshold | 2.5 ppm📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| 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: 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.
