Butyl salicylate (CAS 2052-14-4) — Balsamic Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient
Butyl salicylate
CAS 2052-14-4
What Is Butyl salicylate?
Butyl salicylate is a synthetic fragrance ingredient commonly found in perfumes, soaps, and lotions. It contributes a warm, balsamic scent reminiscent of wintergreen with floral undertones. This versatile material helps create long-lasting fragrance bases and is valued for its ability to blend well with both floral and woody accords.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Butyl salicylate Smell Like?
Butyl salicylate opens with a crisp, medicinal wintergreen top note that quickly mellows into a rounded balsamic heart. The drydown reveals a surprisingly floral character – imagine antique roses preserved in a cedar chest. Unlike methyl salicylate’s sharpness, butyl salicylate has a softer, more diffusive quality that lingers close to the skin like the memory of sun-warmed leather.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCOC(=O)C1=CC=CC=C1O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Butyl salicylate is an ester formed from salicylic acid and butanol. As a synthetic material, it’s typically produced via Fischer esterification. The butyl chain increases lipophilicity compared to methyl salicylate (XLogP ~3.5 vs ~2.5), contributing to its longer-lasting scent profile. While not found in nature, it shares structural similarities with plant-derived salicylates.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 260-262 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.07 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | 1.510-1.513 |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Base modifier for oriental and fougère accords |
| Soap | 0.5-1% | Up to 2% | Provides lasting balsamic character |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use to smooth harsh woody notes and add diffusion to heavy bases.
Alternatives & Comparisons
More floral and less balsamic. Preferred when a softer, powdery effect is desired.
Brighter top note with similar longevity. Useful in citrus colognes.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No restrictions under IFRA 49th Amendment. Category 4 usage limit 3.8%.
EU Allergen Declaration
Not listed in EU allergen regulations.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
RIFM assessment complete. Safe at current usage levels.
Sustainability
Synthetic production avoids plant harvesting pressures. Esterification process has moderate environmental impact. Readily biodegradable (OECD 301D).
Explore Butyl salicylate
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for Butyl salicylate CID 7184
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 2052-14-4Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 194.23 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4.6🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 271 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Flash Point | 107 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -0.619💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCCCOC(=O)C1=CC=CC=C1O🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | balsamicwoody• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | esterphenoletheraromatic💻 RDKit |
| “odor, resembling Ethyl benzoate (but weaker) with a trace of Wintergreen note. Not as floral as iso-Butyl salicylate (next monograph). Not nearly as versatile as that ester, but quite powerful in compositions.”📖 Arctander | |
| Butyl salicylate has a rough herbaceous chemical odor.📖 Fenaroli | |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 0.007 ppm (n=3)📖 van Gemert |
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: DTXSID8062153
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 194.23 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.075 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 271 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -3.52 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 107.05 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.526 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 175.276 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4.63 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 4.191 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 4.141 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 8.5 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.002 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Viscosity | 13.945 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 39.876 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 146.175 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 46.53 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 3 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 4 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 53.806 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 21.33 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.
