Beta-damascenone (CAS 23696-85-7) — Floral Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
Beta-damascenone
CAS 23696-85-7
What Is Beta-damascenone?
Beta-damascenone is a powerful fragrance compound that gives roses their intoxicating depth. You’ll find it in luxury perfumes, candles, and even some fruity beverages. Though synthetic, it perfectly mimics nature’s most prized floral molecules. This ingredient matters because it’s the secret behind many ‘expensive-smelling’ floral accords, adding a velvety, honeyed richness that can’t be achieved with natural rose extracts alone. A tiny amount transforms simple florals into complex masterpieces.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESSWhat Does Beta-damascenone Smell Like?
Beta-damascenone bursts with the decadent warmth of sun-ripened roses steeped in honey. Initially, it presents a jammy fruitiness reminiscent of stewed apricots and plum compote, then unfolds into the velvety petal softness of a damask rose at peak bloom. The dry-down reveals a sophisticated tobacco-like nuance with whispers of saffron and dried hay. Though intensely floral, it carries an almost edible quality – like rosewater syrup drizzled over golden baklava. A master of olfactory illusion, it makes synthetic accords smell astonishingly natural.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Dominique Ropion uses beta-damascenone to amplify the rose absolute, creating the illusion of infinite rose petals with its honeyed density. The molecule’s tobacco undertones bridge the floral and patchouli base.
Here beta-damascenone’s fruity facets enhance the rose-cumin paradox, its jammy warmth making the spicy accord unexpectedly wearable. The molecule’s longevity carries the rose heart through 8+ hours.
Beta-damascenone’s apricot nuances lift the lychee top note while its velvety texture amplifies the peony-rose bouquet. The synthetic purity avoids the mustiness of natural rose absolutes.
Used minimally to add ripe berry nuances to the dewy rose accord. The molecule’s naturalistic effect makes this soliflore smell like a freshly cut garden rose.
Jean-Claude Ellena employs beta-damascenone’s earthy facets to ground the rose in damp soil realism. Its tobacco undertones amplify the geosmin effect.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC=CC(=O)C1=C(C)C=CCC1(C)C
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Beta-damascenone belongs to the family of cyclic terpenoid ketones, specifically a norisoprenoid derived from carotenoid degradation. Though found naturally in rose oil (0.1-0.3%), commercial production involves acid-catalyzed cyclization of safranal or oxidation of beta-ionone. The molecule’s potency stems from its bicyclic structure and conjugated double bond system, which creates exceptional olfactory receptor affinity. Chirality matters – the (R)-enantiomer exhibits greater floral character than the (S)-form. Modern synthesis routes use biocatalysis to achieve enantioselectivity exceeding 90% ee.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | ~300 °C (estimated) |
|---|---|
| Vapor Pressure | 0.001 mmHg (25°C) |
| LogP | 2.8 (estimated) |
| Appearance | Pale yellow viscous liquid |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Overdosing causes metallic off-notes |
| Candles | 0.05-0.2% | Up to 0.3% | Heat-stable but potency requires caution |
| Soaps | 0.01-0.1% | Up to 0.15% | Use with fixatives to combat solubility loss |
| Flavoring | 1-5 ppm | Up to 10 ppm | Imparts honeyed tea nuances |
Classic Accords
Tip: Pre-dilute to 1% in DPG to avoid overpowering blends – perception threshold is ~0.1 ppb.
Alternatives & Comparisons
More fruity-leaning with stronger apple skin facets. Use when needing brighter top notes without beta-damascenone’s honeyed depth.
Sharper green-floral character for modern rose accords. Lacks the jammy richness but provides better lift in citrus-heavy compositions.
Drier, more tea-like rose effect. Preferred for masculine or woody-floral fragrances where beta-damascenone would be too gourmand.
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 under IFRA standards. Classified as a weak sensitizer at high concentrations (>5%).
EU Allergen Declaration
Not listed in EU allergen regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
RIFM assessment confirms safe use at current industry levels. No evidence of phototoxicity or endocrine disruption.
Sustainability
Synthetic production avoids the ecological impact of rose cultivation (1kg rose oil requires 4 tons petals). Modern catalytic processes achieve 85% atom efficiency. Biodegradation studies show complete breakdown in 28 days (OECD 301B). Preferred over natural isolates for consistent quality and supply chain reliability.
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References
- Ohloff, G. (1994). Scent and Fragrances. Springer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-642-78423-0
- Brenna, E. et al. (2003). Biocatalytic Preparation of Enantiomerically Pure Flavor Compounds. Food Chemistry, 80(3), 339-344. DOI:10.1016/S0308-8146(02)00271-0
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 23696-85-7Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 190.28 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.2🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 274 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.589💻 Calculated |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | floral• leffingwell |
Regulatory Status
| IFRA Listed | Yes — see IFRA Standards for category limits⚖️ IFRA 51 |
| EU Annex III | Listed (restricted)⚖️ IFRA 51 |
| 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: DTXSID6041397
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 190.286 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.966 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 257.438 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | 60.234 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 105.918 °C📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.434 dimensionless💻 Computed |
| Water Solubility | 0.001 mol/L📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.023 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 31.386 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 17.07 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
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.
