Benzyl Alcohol (CAS 100-51-6) — Floral Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
Benzyl Alcohol
CAS 100-51-6
What Is Benzyl Alcohol?
Benzyl alcohol is a common fragrance ingredient found in perfumes, lotions, and soaps. It has a mild, sweet floral aroma. This versatile ingredient acts as both a fragrance and a preservative, making it valuable in cosmetic formulations.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFE
What Does Benzyl Alcohol Smell Like?
Benzyl alcohol presents a delicate, sweet floral character with subtle fruity undertones. Its aroma is reminiscent of fresh jasmine petals with a clean, slightly powdery dry-down. The scent evolves from a bright initial burst to a soft, lingering sweetness that blends seamlessly with other notes.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used as a solvent and fixative to enhance the floral bouquet and prolong scent longevity.
Adds sweetness and balances the vanilla-amber base with its mild floral character.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: OCC1=CC=CC=C1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Benzyl alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with the formula C6H5CH2OH. It occurs naturally in some essential oils but is primarily produced synthetically from toluene via chlorination and hydrolysis. The molecule features a hydroxyl group attached to a benzene ring, giving it both hydrophilic and lipophilic properties.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 205 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.045 g/cm³ |
| Flash Point | 93 °C |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-5% | Up to 10% | Adds floral sweetness |
| Soaps | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Preservative and fragrance |
Classic Accords
+ Rose + Sandalwood = Classic Bouquet
Tip: Use to soften harsh notes and enhance floral compositions.
Alternatives & Comparisons
When a rosier, more honeyed floral character is desired.
For warmer, spicy floral effects in oriental fragrances.
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. Approved for use in all categories.
EU Allergen Declaration
Must be declared when concentration exceeds 1% in leave-on products.
GHS Classification
H319 Eye irritation
RIFM Assessment
RIFM assessment confirms safe use at current levels in fragrance applications.
Sustainability
Primarily produced synthetically from petroleum-derived toluene. Some natural production via hydrolysis of benzyl esters from plant sources exists but is less common. Considered low environmental impact due to biodegradability.
Explore Benzyl Alcohol
Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.
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Industry & Science Data
References
- PubChem Compound Summary for Benzyl Alcohol CID 244
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Physicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID5020152
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 108.14 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.042 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 205.3 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -15.1 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 99.025 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.546 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 103.25 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 1.1 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 1.148 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 1.153 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 4.97 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.398 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.094 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 4.495 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 39.541 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 151.991 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 20.23 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 32.704 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 12.965 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.
