Bornyl Acetate (CAS 76-49-3) — pine top Note Fragrance Ingredient
Bornyl Acetate
CAS 76-49-3
What Is Bornyl Acetate?
Bornyl acetate is a natural compound found in conifer trees like pine and fir, giving them their crisp, woodsy scent. You’ll encounter it in pine-scented cleaning products, masculine colognes, and forest-inspired perfumes. This molecule matters because it creates authentic ‘outdoorsy’ aromas – it’s the chemical signature of walking through a conifer forest after rain, blending pine freshness with subtle camphor coolness.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Bornyl Acetate Smell Like?
Bornyl acetate bursts with the exhilarating crispness of crushed pine needles underfoot – a volatile top note that’s simultaneously green, woody, and slightly cooling like camphor. The opening is bracingly fresh, reminiscent of alpine air, which gradually mellows into a smoother heart reminiscent of aged pine resin. Unlike sharper terpenes, it carries a rounded sweetness in its dry-down, leaving a clean woody trail that evokes sun-warmed conifer bark rather than sappy stickiness. Its moderate tenacity (2-3 hours) makes it ideal for creating naturalistic forest accords that don’t overwhelm.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
This iconic Italian fougère uses bornyl acetate as its pine backbone, creating a hyper-realistic forest effect when blended with lavender and citrus. The acetate’s coolness prevents the composition from becoming overly sappy.
Bornyl acetate here provides the crisp ‘frosted pine’ effect, its camphoraceous edge enhanced by juniper to create a Scandinavian winter forest fantasy with remarkable transparency.
Used minimally here to accentuate the Japanese cypress heart, adding structural woodiness without competing with the dominant hinoki essential oil’s medicinal character.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: [H][C@]12CC[C@](C)([C@@H](C1)OC(C)=O)C2(C)C
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Bornyl acetate is a bicyclic monoterpene ester derived from borneol, with the acetate group at the 2-position of the bornane skeleton. Naturally occurring in many conifer species (Pinus, Abies), it’s typically isolated via steam distillation then purified by fractional crystallization. Industrially, it’s synthesized by esterifying borneol with acetic anhydride. The molecule exists as two enantiomers – the more common (+)-form from pine sources has slightly sharper odor characteristics than the (-)-form found in some Artemisia species. Its relatively high molecular weight (196.29) and XLogP of 3.3 account for moderate volatility and good tenacity as a top note.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 196.29 g/mol |
|---|---|
| XLogP | 3.3 |
| Density | 0.981-0.985 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | 1.462-1.466 |
| Solubility | Slightly soluble in water |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Adds natural pine character |
| Functional Fragrances | 0.5-2% | Up to 3% | Cleaning product fresh notes |
| Aromatherapy | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Forest ambiance blends |
Classic Accords
Tip: Combine with alpha-pinene at 1:3 ratio to create a more dimensional pine effect without excessive sharpness.
Alternatives & Comparisons
More stable isomer with similar but softer pine character and less camphoraceous edge, preferred for functional products requiring longer shelf life.
Softer, fruitier conifer note lacking bornyl’s crispness, useful when a less aggressive pine character is desired.
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 restrictions under current IFRA standards (Amendment 49).
RIFM Assessment
RIFM evaluation confirms safe use at current industry levels (FEMA GRAS 2159).
Sustainability
Most commercial bornyl acetate is synthesized from turpentine-derived pinene, making it a renewable resource. Natural extraction from pine needles remains niche due to low yields. Synthetic production avoids pressure on conifer forests while providing consistent quality. Biocatalytic production methods are being explored to reduce energy use in esterification processes.
Explore Bornyl Acetate
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References
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Report a data errorPhysicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID7041675
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 196.29 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.983 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 221 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 29 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 86.986 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.48 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 194.74 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.905 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.905 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.905 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 5.87 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.001 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0.001 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.228 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 8.114 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 31.619 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 116.092 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 | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 55.347 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 21.941 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.
