Camphene (CAS 79-92-5) — Woody Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
Camphene
CAS 79-92-5
What Is Camphene?
Camphene is a naturally occurring terpene found in conifer trees, citrus peels, and some essential oils like cypress and camphor. It has a distinctive woody, earthy scent with camphoraceous undertones. Camphene is used in fragrances to add depth and forest-like character, and is commonly found in men’s colognes and outdoor-inspired scents. Its crisp, clean aroma makes it popular for creating fresh, natural atmospheres in perfumery.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Camphene Smell Like?
Camphene opens with a sharp, crisp pine-needle freshness like walking through a sunlit conifer forest. The heart reveals earthy undertones reminiscent of damp soil and crushed herbs, with a subtle camphor coolness. As it dries down, it leaves a clean, woody trail with faintly medicinal edges – imagine the lingering scent on your hands after gathering fir branches.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used here to enhance the crisp pine character, creating an authentic forest atmosphere with its sharp terpenic opening.
Camphene adds a cold, resinous edge to this dark forest fragrance, complementing the fir and incense notes.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC1(C)C2CCC(C2)C1=C
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Camphene is a bicyclic monoterpene (C10H16) commonly found in essential oils. It’s structurally similar to pinene but with a unique bridged ring system. Industrially produced through acid-catalyzed isomerization of pinene. The molecule exists as two enantiomers that occur naturally in different ratios depending on plant source.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 159-160 °C |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | 51-52 °C |
| Density | 0.842 g/cm³ |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Adds crisp coniferous character |
| Functional Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 3% | Used in pine-type household products |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use with citrus top notes to brighten woody compositions.
Alternatives & Comparisons
When a sharper, more linear pine character is desired without camphoraceous nuances.
For deeper woody notes when less terpenic brightness is needed.
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.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM has evaluated camphene as safe for current fragrance use levels.
Sustainability
Camphene can be sourced sustainably from byproducts of the paper industry where terpenes are recovered during pulp production. Synthetic production offers consistent quality and reduces pressure on natural sources. Biodegradable and considered low environmental impact.
Explore Camphene
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for Camphene CID 6616
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 79-92-5Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 136.23 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.3🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 154.4 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 2.5 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 33.3 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.2309💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.188💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC1(C2CCC(C2)C1=C)C🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Top💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Moderate💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 0.5 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | camphoraceoussweet• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | alkene💻 RDKit |
| “Mild, oily-camphoraceous odor, with little or no "warm-cold-feel" as one can observe with Camphor.”📖 Arctander | |
| Camphene has a terpene, camphoraceous taste.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “Used in Spice and Nutmeg flavor compositions, partly in reconstituted spice oils, partly in general as a "lift" to the flavor composition. Terpeny-camphoraceous taste, remotely resembling that of Celluloid (if the reader has ever tasted that!).”📖 Arctander |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 27.9285 ppm (n=2)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2229⚖️ 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: DTXSID8026488
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 136.238 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.86 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 158.063 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 46.474 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 33.128 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.484 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 153.074 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4.22 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 4.08 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 4.08 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 4.48 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0.047 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 2.735 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 1.431 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 27.897 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 111.855 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 0 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 43.76 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 17.348 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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