Benzyl Benzoate (CAS 120-51-4) — Sweet Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Benzyl Benzoate
CAS 120-51-4
What Is Benzyl Benzoate?
Benzyl benzoate is a synthetic fragrance ingredient commonly found in perfumes, soaps, and insect repellents. It has a sweet, balsamic aroma reminiscent of vanilla and almonds. This versatile compound serves as both a fragrance and a solvent, helping to blend other scent components smoothly while adding its own warm character.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Benzyl Benzoate Smell Like?
Benzyl benzoate unfolds with an initial sweet-tart burst reminiscent of cherry cough drops, quickly settling into a rich, vanillic heart with almond-like nuances. The dry-down reveals a soft balsamic warmth that lingers close to the skin, behaving like a gentle fixative that subtly amplifies surrounding florals and spices without overpowering them. Its texture is smooth and slightly resinous, evoking the comforting aroma of tonka beans dipped in honey.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Provides a velvety balsamic foundation that bridges the citrus top notes to vanilla base, creating Shalimar’s signature oriental warmth.
Used as a solvent for civet that tempers the animalic notes while adding honeyed sweetness to this pioneering fougère.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: O=C(OCC1=CC=CC=C1)C1=CC=CC=C1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Benzyl benzoate is an ester formed from benzyl alcohol and benzoic acid. Industrially produced via esterification of benzyl chloride with sodium benzoate or direct esterification of benzyl alcohol. The synthetic route ensures consistent quality compared to natural extraction from balsam resins. Its molecular structure allows excellent solubility in both polar and non-polar solvents, making it valuable as a fragrance carrier.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 323-324 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.118 g/cm³ |
| Flash Point | 148 °C |
| Refractive Index | 1.568 |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 5-15% | Up to 25% | Fixative and balsamic modifier |
| Soap | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Adds lasting sweetness |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use as a solvent for crystalline materials like coumarin to improve blend homogeneity.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Offers similar solvent properties with a greener, floral character instead of balsamic sweetness.
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 under Amendment 49. Commonly used well below any safety thresholds.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
RIFM evaluation confirms safe use at current industry levels with wide margins of safety.
Sustainability
Synthetic production from petrochemical sources avoids overharvesting of natural balsam resins. Modern manufacturing achieves high atom efficiency (>85%) in esterification processes. Readily biodegradable under OECD 301 standards.
Explore Benzyl Benzoate
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References
- IFRA Standards Library (2021). Benzyl Benzoate Usage Standards. IFRA
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Report a data errorPhysicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID8029153
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 212.248 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.112 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 323.2 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 19.835 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 148.31 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.579 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 188.028 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.951 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.781 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.781 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 7.46 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 8.24 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 41.967 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 141.331 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 | 3 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 62.513 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 24.782 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.
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