Camphor (CAS 76-22-2) — Woody Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
Camphor
CAS 76-22-2
What Is Camphor?
Camphor is a naturally occurring organic compound found in the wood of camphor laurel trees. It’s widely recognized in mothballs, chest rubs, and medicated balms. This ingredient matters because it provides both medicinal cooling effects and distinctive aromatic properties, bridging therapeutic and fragrance applications.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESS
What Does Camphor Smell Like?
Camphor greets the nose with an intensely medicinal, piercing coolness reminiscent of Vicks VapoRub. The initial blast is sharp and almost mentholated, but quickly settles into a cleaner, woody-pine character. Over hours, it softens to a waxy, slightly sweet dry-down that lingers like the memory of winter air in an evergreen forest.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used for its medicinal sharpness to contrast the spice blend, creating an addictive push-pull effect.
Provides crispness to the citrus-herbal accord, enhancing the fougère structure.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC1(C)C2CCC1(C)C(=O)C2
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Camphor is a bicyclic monoterpenoid with the chemical formula C10H16O. Naturally occurring in camphor laurel, it’s synthesized from alpha-pinene. The molecule’s rigid bowl shape contributes to its volatility and cooling sensation through TRPM8 receptor activation, similar to menthol but with greater aromatic persistence.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 204 °C |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | 175 °C |
| Flash Point | 64 °C |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicinal Products | 5-20% | Up to 50% | For vapor rubs and liniments |
| Fragrances | 0.5-3% | Up to 5% | Used sparingly for cooling effects |
Classic Accords
+ Sandalwood + Vetiver = Woody Balsamic
Tip: Use camphor to add cooling contrast in spicy oriental compositions.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Less intense cooling with more woody character
For stronger immediate cooling but shorter duration
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
Not restricted but limited in leave-on products due to toxicity concerns.
EU Allergen Declaration
Not classified as an EU allergen.
GHS Classification
H315 Causes skin irritation
RIFM Assessment
RIFM evaluation confirms safe use at current fragrance levels.
Sustainability
Most camphor is now synthesized from turpentine rather than harvested from endangered camphor trees. Synthetic production reduces ecological impact while maintaining consistent quality.
Explore Camphor
Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.
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Industry & Science Data
References
- PubChem: Camphor CID 2537
- IFRA Standards Library Amendment 49
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Physicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID5030955
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 152.237 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.991 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 204.997 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 177.431 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 65.852 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.485 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 154.875 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.432 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 2.434 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 2.434 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 4.85 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.01 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.413 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 1.349 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 32.136 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 118.555 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 17.07 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 44.395 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 17.6 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.
