Spicy · Musky

Butyl sulfide

CAS 544-40-1

Origin

synthetic

Note

Top to middle

IFRA

Use with awareness

Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is Butyl sulfide?

Butyl sulfide is a synthetic sulfur compound used in perfumery to create garlic-like or onion-like nuances. It’s found in trace amounts in some savory fragrances and flavor compounds. While not common, it adds a distinctive savory depth when used skillfully.

Safety Profile

USE WITH AWARENESS

Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use

⚠ Strong odor – use sparingly

⚠ May cause irritation at high concentrations

CAS

544-40-1

Formula

Mixture

Variable

Odor Family

Spicy · Musky

Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Butyl sulfide Smell Like?

Butyl sulfide delivers an intensely sulfurous punch – imagine crushed garlic cloves meeting rubber tires. The initial blast is aggressively savory, settling into a lingering metallic-organic character. In dilution, it can suggest roasted onions or leeks, adding umami depth to fragrance compositions. The dry-down reveals faint animalic undertones that blend surprisingly well with amber bases.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Secretions Magnifiques(Etat Libre d’Orange, 2006)

Used minimally to amplify the controversial blood-and-body-fluids accord, contributing metallic/savory facets to the challenging composition.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

SMILES: CCCCSCCCC

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Butyl sulfide (C8H18S) belongs to the dialkyl sulfides class, characterized by a central sulfur atom bonded to two alkyl groups. Industrially produced via reaction of butyl mercaptan with butyl bromide, this compound exemplifies how sulfur-containing molecules can create powerful olfactory effects at minute concentrations despite their simple structure.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Boiling Point	185-186 °C
Density	0.838 g/cm³

Perfumer Guide

Note Position

Top to middle

Volatility

Medium (2-4 hours)

Blending

Challenging

Application	Typical %	Range	Notes
Fine Fragrance	0.01-0.1%	Up to 0.5%	Used for savory accents
Functional Fragrance	0.001-0.01%	Up to 0.05%	Masking agent

Classic Accords

+ Cumin + Castoreum = Animalic + Galbanum + Black Pepper = Savory

Tip: Use in parts-per-million quantities and balance with fresh citrus or green notes to tame the sulfurous character.

Alternatives & Comparisons

Diallyl disulfide CAS 2179-57-9

For a more garlic-like profile with slightly less rubbery undertones.

Methyl propyl disulfide CAS 2179-60-4

When a sharper, more onion-like sulfur note is desired.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

Not currently restricted by IFRA.

EU Allergen Declaration

Not listed as an EU allergen.

GHS Classification

H315 Causes skin irritation H319 Causes serious eye irritation

RIFM Assessment

Not currently evaluated by RIFM.

Sustainability

As a synthetic compound, butyl sulfide production has minimal environmental impact when properly contained. Its extreme potency means very small quantities are needed, reducing overall usage in the fragrance industry.

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References

PubChem Compound Summary for Butyl sulfide CID 11005
Arctander S. (1969) Perfume and Flavor Chemicals

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

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Ingredient Data Sheet

CAS 544-40-1

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight	146.3 g/mol🔬 PubChem
LogP (Octanol-Water)	3.4🔬 PubChem
Boiling Point	182 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Vapor Pressure	1.2 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
Flash Point	76.7 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Involatility Index	0.1069💻 Calculated
log Kp (skin permeability)	-1.178💻 Calculated
SMILES	CCCCSCCCC🔬 PubChem

Volatility & Performance

Fragrance Note	Top💻 Calculated
Volatility Class	Moderate💻 Calculated
Persistence Score	0.5 / 5💻 Calculated

Odor & Flavor

Primary Descriptors	floralgarlicgreenonionviolet• leffingwell
“Very powerful, repulsively sulfuraceous odor in high concentration. Intensely green, foliage-odor in extreme dilution. Solutions weaker than 5% in Diethyl phthalate show little or no "sulfide"-type odor, and the green odor is typical and perceptible at far below 0.2% in the same solvent.”📖 Arctander
Butyl sulﬁde has an herbaceous, green, garlic, onion, heavy odor. -📖 Fenaroli

Flavor Notes (Arctander)

“Used in flavor compositions, not only in the rare type of Violet, but also in various florals and fruit flavor types. The concentration in the finished product amounts to mere traces.”📖 Arctander

Sensory Thresholds

Odor Detection Threshold

0.0015 ppm (n=2)📖 van Gemert

Regulatory Status

FEMA Number	FEMA 2215⚖️ FEMA GRAS
GRAS Status	Generally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS
IOFI Classification	Nature Identical📖 Fenaroli

Data Sources & Attribution
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: DTXSID6022058

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight	146.29 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density	0.838 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX
Boiling Point	186.333 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Melting Point	-79.9 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Flash Point	70.517 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Refractive Index	1.452 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume	174.559 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water)	4.441 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 5.5)	4.441 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4)	4.441 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air)	4.84 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility	0.003 mol/L📊 OPERA
Henry's Law Constant	0.008 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure	1.196 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX
Viscosity	1.339 cP📊 OPERA
Surface Tension	27.329 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
Thermal Conductivity	119.55 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA

Molecular Descriptors

Topological Polar Surface Area	0 Å²💻 Computed
H-Bond Donors	0 count💻 Computed
H-Bond Acceptors	1 count💻 Computed
Rotatable Bonds	6 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings	0 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity	47.109 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability	18.675 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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Butyl sulfide