Bisabolol (CAS 515-69-5) — Floral Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Bisabolol
CAS 515-69-5
What Is Bisabolol?
Bisabolol is a naturally occurring alcohol found in chamomile and other plants, prized for its soft, sweet floral aroma with woody undertones. You’ll encounter it in skincare products for its soothing properties and in fragrances as a gentle floral modifier. This ingredient matters because it bridges therapeutic and olfactory worlds – offering anti-inflammatory benefits while contributing a delicate, persistent scent that enhances floral compositions without overpowering them.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFE
What Does Bisabolol Smell Like?
Bisabolol unfolds like chamomile tea steeping – first a delicate floral whisper reminiscent of apple blossoms dipped in honey, then revealing creamy sandalwood nuances as it dries down. The scent profile is remarkably persistent for a top-to-middle note, maintaining a soft woody-floral character that blends seamlessly with rose absolutes and citrus oils. When diluted, it develops a powdery, almost musky trail that adds sophistication to floral bouquets without the sharpness of traditional white florals.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Bisabolol provides the honeyed floral heart that makes Chamade’s green galbanum opening transition smoothly into its powdery violet base. The ingredient’s natural affinity with chamomile creates the fragrance’s distinctive ‘green tea floral’ effect.
Here bisabolol amplifies the chamomile absolute’s creamy aspects while tempering its herbal sharpness. The result is a sun-drenched meadow effect where floral and green elements coexist harmoniously.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: [H][C@]1(CCC(C)=CC1)[C@](C)(O)CCC=C(C)C
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Bisabolol exists as two stereoisomers: (-)-α-bisabolol (the naturally occurring form from chamomile) and (+)-α-bisabolol. This monocyclic sesquiterpene alcohol is typically extracted from Matricaria chamomilla but can also be synthesized from limonene. Its molecular structure features a tertiary alcohol group attached to a cyclohexane ring with two methyl groups and a branched hydrocarbon chain, explaining both its solubility in alcohol and its affinity for lipid membranes in skincare applications.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 153-154 °C at 12 mmHg |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.921 g/cm³ at 20 °C |
| Refractive Index | 1.492 at 20 °C |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-3% | Up to 5% | Floral modifier and fixative |
| Skincare | 0.1-1% | Up to 2% | Soothing active ingredient |
Classic Accords
+ Rose + Sandalwood = Creamy Floral
+ Bergamot + Neroli = Soft Cologne
Tip: Use bisabolol to round off sharp citrus top notes and prevent floral heart notes from becoming cloying.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Offers similar floral-green character but with more pronounced lily-of-the-valley aspects. Use when needing greater diffusion.
Provides comparable creamy-woody drydown but lacks bisabolol’s floral top notes. Better for base note applications.
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 all fragrance categories without limitations.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM evaluation confirms bisabolol’s safety for current use levels in fragrance and cosmetic applications.
Sustainability
Natural bisabolol is sustainably sourced from chamomile crops in Europe and Africa, with synthetic versions offering a more consistent supply. The synthetic route from limonene reduces agricultural land use while maintaining identical olfactory properties. Both forms are readily biodegradable.
Explore Bisabolol
Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.
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Industry & Science Data
References
- Kamatou et al. (2008). The pharmacological and ethnomedicinal uses of chamomile. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. PMID 18037807
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Physicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID5045964
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 222.372 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.912 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 289 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | 76.7 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 118.652 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.494 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 240.926 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4.713 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 4.713 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 4.713 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 8.93 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.001 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.003 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Viscosity | 9.719 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 31.485 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 135.411 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 | 4 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 70.14 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 27.806 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.
