Beta-Pinene (CAS 127-91-3) — Woody Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
Beta-Pinene
CAS 127-91-3
What Is Beta-Pinene?
Beta-pinene is a naturally occurring terpene found in pine trees, rosemary, and many citrus fruits. You encounter it in cleaning products, air fresheners, and forest-scented perfumes. This molecule contributes to the crisp, refreshing quality of many outdoorsy fragrances. As a key component of pine resin, beta-pinene evokes memories of hiking through conifer forests and freshly peeled citrus fruits. It’s prized in perfumery for adding natural freshness and acting as a versatile building block for more complex woody accords.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFE
What Does Beta-Pinene Smell Like?
Beta-pinene delivers an intensely fresh, dry woody aroma with distinct pine character. The opening is brisk and resinous – imagine crushing pine needles between your fingers with a subtle citrusy brightness. As it evolves, the scent develops a drier, more camphoraceous quality reminiscent of old wooden cabins. The dry-down reveals a clean, slightly herbal woody base that lingers pleasantly. Compared to its alpha-pinene counterpart, beta-pinene offers a slightly sweeter, less harsh pine profile with better blending potential in floral compositions.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
This classic Italian fragrance uses beta-pinene as the backbone of its iconic pine forest accord, combined with lavender and citrus for a barbershop-fresh interpretation of woodland aromas.
Beta-pinene recreates the crispness of Swedish pine forests in this unisex scent, where it blends with juniper berries and wild strawberries for a contemporary Nordic woods interpretation.
Here beta-pinene provides the aromatic freshness that cuts through heavier base notes, creating contrast between bright pine top notes and warm amber-musk foundations.
Used sparingly to evoke seaside pine trees, beta-pinene adds dry woody contrast to this marine composition’s salty, mineralic character.
In this sophisticated woody fragrance, beta-pinene blends with myrtle and rosemary to create a refined Mediterranean forest accord with herbal complexity.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC1(C)C2CC1C(=C)CC2
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Beta-pinene is a bicyclic monoterpene with the molecular formula C10H16. It exists naturally as one of two pinene isomers, differing from alpha-pinene in the position of its double bond. In nature, it’s synthesized by conifers as part of their defensive resin systems and occurs alongside alpha-pinene in varying ratios. Industrial production typically involves fractional distillation of turpentine oil from pine resin, though synthetic routes via pinane hydroperoxide exist. The molecule’s rigid bicyclic structure contributes to its volatility and distinctive odor profile. Unlike alpha-pinene, beta-pinene can’t be converted to pineol via hydration.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 165-166 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.865 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | 1.477 |
| Flash Point | 32 °C |
| Vapor Pressure | 2.5 mmHg at 25°C |
| Solubility | Insoluble in water, miscible with alcohol |
| Appearance | Colorless liquid |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-5% | Up to 10% | Provides woody freshness in top notes |
| Household Products | 3-8% | Up to 15% | Clean pine impression in detergents |
| Air Fresheners | 5-12% | Up to 20% | Forest and outdoors themes |
| Aromatherapy | 2-7% | Up to 10% | Used in focus blends |
Classic Accords
+ Citrus + Mint = Wilderness Cologne
+ Rosemary + Eucalyptus = Herbal Clean
Tip: Use beta-pinene to add dry woody lift to citrus top notes or soften harsh pine effects in conifer accords.
Alternatives & Comparisons
More aggressive pine character with harsher top notes; better for true pine reconstruction but less versatile in blending.
Offers similar dry woodiness but with added spicy-peppery nuances and better solubility in alcohol bases.
Provides comparable dry wood effects but with more pronounced camphoraceous character and longer persistence.
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 current IFRA standards (Amendment 49).
GHS Classification
H315 Causes skin irritation
RIFM Assessment
RIFM assessment confirms safe use at current exposure levels in fragrance applications.
Sustainability
Beta-pinene is primarily sourced as a byproduct of the paper industry’s turpentine recovery from pine pulping. Sustainable forestry practices ensure renewable supplies. Synthetic production exists but is less common due to cost. As a volatile organic compound, formulators must consider its contribution to atmospheric reactivity. Some manufacturers now offer certified sustainable pine-derived beta-pinene with full chain-of-custody documentation.
Explore Beta-Pinene
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Industry & Science Data
References
- Breitmaier, E. (2006). Terpenes: Flavors, Fragrances, Pharmaca, Pheromones. Wiley-VCH. ISBN 9783527317868
- PubChem Beta-Pinene CID 14896
- Sell, C. (2006). The Chemistry of Fragrances. Royal Society of Chemistry. ISBN 0854048243
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Ingredient Data Sheet
CAS 127-91-3Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 136.23 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.1🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 166 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 2.93 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 31.1 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.2706💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.33💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC1(C2CCC(=C)C1C2)C🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Top💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Moderate💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 0.5 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | drypinewoody• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | alkene💻 RDKit |
| b-Pinene has a characteristic turpentine odor with a dry, woody or resinous aroma.📖 Fenaroli | |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 5.3743 ppm (n=11)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| 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: DTXSID7027049
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 136.238 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.865 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 165.833 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -61.417 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 31.131 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.484 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 153.074 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4.16 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 4.043 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 4.043 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 4.48 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0.077 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 2.947 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 2.087 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 28.447 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 112.703 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 0 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 43.76 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 17.348 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.
