Butyl alcohol (CAS 71-36-3) — Citrus Top Note Fragrance Ingredient

ByThe Good Scents
Citrus · Sweet

Butyl alcohol

CAS 71-36-3

Origin
synthetic
Note
Top
IFRA
Use with awareness
Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is Butyl alcohol?

Butyl alcohol is a common industrial solvent found in paints, coatings, and cleaning products. It has a sharp, alcoholic odor reminiscent of fusel oils or strong spirits. While not typically used as a primary fragrance ingredient, it serves as a solvent or carrier in some perfumes and cosmetic formulations.

Safety Profile

USE WITH AWARENESS
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
⚠ Irritant to skin and eyes
⚠ Flammable liquid and vapor
CAS
71-36-3
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Citrus · Sweet
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Butyl alcohol Smell Like?

Butyl alcohol has a harsh, pungent odor characteristic of short-chain alcohols – sharp and solvent-like with a distinct fusel oil quality. The initial impression is intensely alcoholic, reminiscent of strong spirits or industrial solvents. It lacks the sweetness of ethanol, presenting instead a raw, burning sensation in the nose. The dry-down reveals slight fruity undertones, but these are overpowered by the dominant harsh alcohol character.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

1-Butanol

SMILES: CCCCO

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Butyl alcohol (1-butanol) is a primary alcohol with a four-carbon chain. It’s produced industrially through hydroformylation of propylene followed by hydrogenation of the resulting butyraldehyde. As a simple aliphatic alcohol, it lacks the complex structure of fragrance alcohols like linalool or geraniol. Its chemical reactivity is typical of primary alcohols, participating in esterification and oxidation reactions.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Boiling Point117-118 °C
Flash Point35 °C
Density0.81 g/cm³

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Top
Volatility
Very High (10-30 min)
Blending
Limited
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Industrial0.1-1%Up to 5%Primarily as solvent
Cosmetics0.01-0.1%Up to 0.5%Rarely used

Classic Accords

Tip: Use minimal quantities due to harsh odor profile; primarily functions as solvent rather than fragrance component.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Ethanol CAS 64-17-5

Better suited for fragrance applications with less harsh odor profile and higher consumer acceptance.

2
Isobutanol CAS 78-83-1

Similar solvent properties with slightly different odor characteristics, sometimes preferred in industrial applications.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.

IFRA Status

Not restricted by IFRA, but generally avoided in fine fragrance due to odor profile.

GHS Classification

H226 Flammable liquid and vapor H315 Causes skin irritation H318 Causes serious eye damage H336 May cause drowsiness or dizziness

RIFM Assessment

Not evaluated by RIFM as it’s not considered a significant fragrance material.

Sustainability

Butyl alcohol is primarily produced from petrochemical feedstocks through industrial chemical processes. While production is energy intensive, it’s widely available and inexpensive. There are no significant natural sources used commercially. Environmental impact is mitigated through industrial recycling and controlled disposal.

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References

    Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.

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    Physicochemical Properties

    DTXSID: DTXSID1021740

    Physical Properties

    Molecular Weight 74.123 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
    Density 0.814 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX
    Boiling Point 117.666 °C🔬 EPA CTX
    Melting Point -84.814 °C🔬 EPA CTX
    Flash Point 33.934 °C🔬 EPA CTX
    Refractive Index 1.396 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
    Molar Volume 92.069 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

    Partition & Solubility

    LogP (Octanol-Water) 1.212 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX
    LogD (pH 5.5) 0.842 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogD (pH 7.4) 0.842 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 4.19 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX
    Water Solubility 0.959 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX
    Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX

    Transport Properties

    Vapor Pressure 7.375 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX
    Viscosity 2.541 cP📊 OPERA
    Surface Tension 25.961 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
    Thermal Conductivity 151.381 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 2 count💻 Computed
    Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
    Molar Refractivity 22.115 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
    Polarizability 8.767 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.

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