Ascorbic acid (CAS 50-81-7) — Citrus N/A Note Fragrance Ingredient
Ascorbic acid
CAS 50-81-7
What Is Ascorbic acid?
Ascorbic acid, commonly known as vitamin C, is a water-soluble nutrient found in citrus fruits and many skincare products. It’s widely used in dietary supplements and cosmetic formulations for its antioxidant properties. While not primarily used for fragrance, it plays a role in stabilizing other ingredients in perfumes and personal care products.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Ascorbic acid Smell Like?
Ascorbic acid itself is nearly odorless, presenting only a faint, clean acidic note when pure. In formulations, it contributes no significant olfactory character but helps preserve delicate top notes by preventing oxidative degradation. Its presence is more functional than aromatic, acting as a silent guardian of fragrance integrity rather than an active participant in the scent profile.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: [H][C@@]1(OC(=O)C(O)=C1O)[C@@H](O)CO
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Ascorbic acid is a simple organic compound with antioxidant properties, classified as a water-soluble vitamin. It exists naturally in many fruits and vegetables but is typically produced synthetically for commercial use through the Reichstein process, which involves glucose fermentation followed by chemical oxidation. The molecule contains an enediol structure that makes it particularly effective as a reducing agent.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Melting Point | 190-192 °C (decomposes) |
|---|---|
| Solubility | 33 g/100 mL in water |
| Appearance | White crystalline powder |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skincare | 5-15% | Up to 20% | Antioxidant and brightening agent |
| Food Preservation | 0.01-0.1% | Up to 0.5% | Prevents oxidation |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use as a stabilizer in citrus-heavy fragrances to prevent top note degradation.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Fat-soluble antioxidant better suited for oil-based formulations where ascorbic acid’s water solubility is limiting.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No restrictions by IFRA; ascorbic acid is classified as safe for all cosmetic applications.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM has evaluated ascorbic acid as safe for use in fragrance applications at current levels.
Sustainability
Synthetic production of ascorbic acid is energy intensive but highly efficient, with most industrial processes achieving good yields. The raw materials (glucose) are typically derived from sustainable corn or wheat sources. Unlike some vitamins, ascorbic acid is completely biodegradable and presents no environmental accumulation concerns.
Explore Ascorbic acid
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References
- Padayatty et al. (2003). Vitamin C as an antioxidant. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. PMID 12569111
- USP-NF Monograph for Ascorbic Acid USP Reference
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 50-81-7Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 176.12 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | -1.6🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 274 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 180.4 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -4.91💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | C(C(C1C(=C(C(=O)O1)O)O)O)O🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Functional Groups | esteralcoholetheralkene💻 RDKit |
| Ascorbic acid is present in nutritionally useful amounts in many edible plants, especially in rapidly growing leafy vegetables, fruits, tomatoes and potatoes. Foods of animal origin as usually consumed are generally poor sources of the vitamin. Of the stereoisomers (L-ascorbic acid, D-ascorbic acid, L-isoascorbic acid and D-isoascorbic acid or erythorbic acid), only L-ascorbic acid has significant vitamin C activity. The vitamin C activity of ascorbyl palmitate is approximately equal to that of L-ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid has a pleasant, sharp, acidic taste without any odor. It is extensively used as antioxidant, meat-curing aid, nutrient and dietary supplement. For a detailed description see Burdock (1997).📖 Fenaroli | |
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: DTXSID5020106
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 176.124 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.65 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 397.191 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | 191 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 180.5 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.711 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 90.124 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | -1.888 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | -2.822 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | -4.448 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 8.12 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 1.888 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Viscosity | 9.981 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 140.562 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 107.22 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 4 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 6 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 35.261 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 13.979 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.
