Anethole (CAS 104-46-1) — Sweet Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
Anethole
CAS 104-46-1
What Is Anethole?
Anethole is a naturally occurring aromatic compound found in anise, fennel, and star anise. It gives these plants their characteristic sweet, licorice-like aroma. People encounter it in foods, candies, and fragrances. Anethole matters because it’s a key component in many traditional flavors and scents, bridging culinary and perfumery worlds with its distinctive profile.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFE
What Does Anethole Smell Like?
Anethole greets the nose with a sweet, warm licorice-like aroma, reminiscent of crushed star anise pods. The scent evolves into a slightly herbal, spicy heart, with a subtle woody undertone. Over time, it dries down to a soft, comforting sweetness, like a warm cup of herbal tea on a winter evening.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Anethole adds a sweet, licorice-like nuance to the floral bouquet, enhancing the vintage feel of this classic fragrance.
Used to bridge the herbal top notes with the vanilla base, creating a seamless transition.
Anethole contributes to the spicy, oriental character, adding depth and warmth.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: COC1=CC=C(C=CC)C=C1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Anethole is a phenylpropene, a class of organic compounds commonly found in essential oils. It exists in two isomeric forms: trans-anethole (more common) and cis-anethole. Naturally occurring in anise, fennel, and star anise, it can also be synthesized from estragole. The compound’s sweet aroma is due to its phenyl ring and propene side chain, which interact with olfactory receptors.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 234-237 °C |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | 20-21 °C |
| Density | 0.988 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | 1.561-1.565 |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-5% | Up to 10% | Adds sweet, spicy character |
| Functional Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Used in oral care products |
| Flavor | 10-100 ppm | Up to 200 ppm | Common in licorice candies |
Classic Accords
+ Citrus + Mint = Fresh
Tip: Use anethole to add sweetness and depth to oriental and fougère compositions.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Less sweet, more herbal. Use when a sharper, greener licorice note is desired.
More camphoraceous. Suitable for creating cooler, medicinal licorice 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
No IFRA restrictions. Generally recognized as safe for use in fragrances.
EU Allergen Declaration
Not listed as an EU allergen.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM has evaluated anethole and found it safe for use in current practices.
Sustainability
Anethole is primarily sourced from star anise, a renewable resource. Synthetic production is also common, offering a more consistent supply. Both methods have minimal environmental impact when produced responsibly.
Explore Anethole
Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.
Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Industry & Science Data
References
- PubChem: Anethole CID 637563
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Ingredient Data Sheet
CAS 104-46-1Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 148.2 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.3🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 234.5 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.05 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 90.6 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0044💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.261💻 Calculated |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 2.3 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | herbalsweet• leffingwell |
| “Very sweet, herbaceous-wrarm odor, sweet para-propenyl anisole. Extensively used in low-cost fragrances as “Anise camphor” (old name). and household product fragrances, industrial fragrances, etc. @ Very extensively used in flavor composi- tions (NOTE: trans-Anethole only) where its ‘1 enormously flexible concentration level makes CH=CH-CH~ it an almost ideal flavor base.”📖 Arctander | |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 0.0904 ppm (n=8)📖 van Gemert |
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: DTXSID4020086
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 148.205 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.988 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 234.333 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 21.426 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 90.319 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.545 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 154.411 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.052 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.052 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.052 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 5 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.001 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.054 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 1.662 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 33.29 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 9.23 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 48.821 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 19.354 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.
![(E)-3-Benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl-N,N-diphenyl-2-propenamide (CAS 1309389-73-8) — Woody Middle to base Note Fragrance Ingredient](https://thegoodscents.company/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/unnamed-file-101-768x439.webp)
