Borneol (CAS 507-70-0) — Woody Top Note Fragrance Ingredient
Borneol
CAS 507-70-0
What Is Borneol?
Borneol is a naturally occurring organic compound found in various plants like rosemary and camphor. It’s commonly used in fragrances for its woody, camphoraceous scent. This ingredient matters because it adds a refreshing, medicinal quality to perfumes and is valued in aromatherapy for its potential calming effects.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Borneol Smell Like?
Borneol offers a crisp, woody aroma with strong camphoraceous undertones. It starts with a sharp, almost medicinal top note that gradually mellows into a warm, earthy heart. The dry-down reveals a subtle sweetness, reminiscent of dried herbs left in the sun. Its scent profile is clean and invigorating, like a walk through a pine forest after rain.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Borneol adds a fresh, woody-camphoraceous edge to this classic citrus chypre, enhancing its aromatic masculinity.
Used here to complement lavender, giving a crisp medicinal quality to this barbershop staple.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC1(C)[C@@H]2CC[C@@]1(C)[C@@H](O)C2
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Borneol is a bicyclic organic compound belonging to the terpenoid class. It exists as two enantiomers: (+)-borneol and (-)-borneol, which differ in their optical rotation. Naturally occurring in essential oils like rosemary and camphor, it can also be synthesized from pinene. Its structure features a hydroxyl group attached to a camphor-like skeleton, contributing to its distinctive scent and properties.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 210 °C |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | 208 °C |
| Density | 0.91 g/cm³ |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-5% | Up to 10% | Adds woody-camphoraceous character |
| Aromatherapy | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Used for its refreshing properties |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use borneol to add a crisp, medicinal quality to woody or herbal compositions.
Alternatives & Comparisons
More intense camphoraceous note, use when stronger medicinal character is desired.
Similar scent profile but with slightly sweeter, less sharp characteristics.
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 apply to borneol.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM has assessed borneol as safe for use in current practices.
Sustainability
Borneol can be sourced sustainably from plant-derived essential oils or produced synthetically. Synthetic production reduces pressure on natural sources and ensures consistent quality. Both methods have low environmental impact when properly managed.
Explore Borneol
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for Borneol PubChem CID 6552009
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 507-70-0Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 154.25 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.7🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 212 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.03 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 65.6 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0026💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.724💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC1(C2CCC1(C(C2)O)C)C🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 2.5 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | camphoraceousmintysharpwoody• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | alcohol💻 RDKit |
| “Dry-camphoraceous, woody-peppery odor. The dryness is characteristic and constitutes the main difference from the odor of iso- Bornedol. The odor of Bornedol is often com- pared to that of a good grade Rosemary oil (in which Bornedol is present).”📖 Arctander | |
| Borneol has a pungent, camphor-like odor and burning taste somewhat reminiscent of mint.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “slightly burning taste. Bornedol is used in Nut and Spice flavor interest to the creative perfumer or flavorist.”📖 Arctander |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 3.2495 ppm (n=26)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2157⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| GRAS Status | Generally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| 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: DTXSID3052143
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 154.253 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.038 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 205.667 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 205.345 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 60 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.502 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 155.364 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.905 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 2.848 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 2.848 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 6.57 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.004 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 8.583 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 7.835 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 34.232 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 125.116 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 | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 45.855 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 18.178 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.
