Arbutin (CAS 497-76-7) — Citrus Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
Arbutin
CAS 497-76-7
What Is Arbutin?
Arbutin is a naturally occurring compound found in bearberry plants and some fruits. It’s primarily used in skincare for its brightening properties rather than in perfumery. While not a traditional fragrance ingredient, it appears in some cosmetic formulations where scent neutrality is desired.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Arbutin Smell Like?
Arbutin is odorless in pure form, making it functionally neutral in fragrance applications. Its primary role is as a cosmetic active ingredient rather than a scent contributor. When used in perfumed products, it serves as a carrier or stabilizer without altering the olfactory profile.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: OC[C@H]1O[C@@H](OC2=CC=C(O)C=C2)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@@H]1O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Arbutin is a glycosylated hydroquinone derivative belonging to the phenolic glycoside class. Naturally occurring in plants like bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), it’s biosynthesized through the shikimate pathway. The molecule features a glucose moiety bonded to hydroquinone, giving it water solubility and stability. While not chiral itself, its metabolic breakdown products can exhibit stereospecificity in biological systems.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 162.10 g/mol |
|---|---|
| XLogP | -1.4 |
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 112 Ų |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skincare | 0.5-2% | Up to 7% | Skin-brightening active ingredient |
| Cosmetic Bases | 0.1-1% | Up to 3% | Neutral carrier for fragranced formulations |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use as a neutral base for water-soluble fragrance systems requiring skin-benefit actives.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Alternative skin-brightening agent with similar neutral scent profile but different stability characteristics.
Vitamin B3 derivative offering skin benefits without interfering with fragrance compositions.
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 – primarily used as cosmetic active rather than fragrance ingredient.
RIFM Assessment
Not evaluated by RIFM as it’s not a traditional fragrance material.
Sustainability
Arbutin can be sourced sustainably from cultivated bearberry plants or produced synthetically. The synthetic route reduces pressure on wild plant populations while maintaining identical molecular structure and functionality. Both production methods have minimal environmental impact due to the compound’s biodegradability.
Explore Arbutin
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for CID 440853 PubChem 440853
- Boo YC. (2021). Arbutin as a Skin Depigmenting Agent with Antimelanogenic and Antioxidant Actions. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. PMC8197921
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 497-76-7Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 272.25 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | -0.7🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 340 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 293.4 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -4.858💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | C1=CC(=CC=C1O)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Base💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Functional Groups | alcoholphenoletheraromatic💻 RDKit |
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: DTXSID7040152
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 272.253 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.58 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 434.218 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | 193.15 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 296.459 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.65 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 174.944 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | -1.35 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | -1.248 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | -1.459 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 9.47 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.186 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Viscosity | 33.825 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 61.556 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 119.61 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 5 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 7 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 3 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 63.841 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 25.309 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.
