Cedrenol (CAS 28231-03-0) — Woody Base Note Fragrance Ingredient

Woody · Balsamic

Cedrenol

CAS 28231-03-0

Origin
synthetic
Note
Base
IFRA
Generally safe
Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is Cedrenol?

Cedrenol is a synthetic fragrance ingredient that mimics the woody character of cedar. While not naturally occurring, it’s used in many woody perfumes and household products like candles and detergents. Its importance lies in providing a stable, consistent cedar-like note without the variability of natural cedar extracts. This makes fragrances more reproducible and often more affordable.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
No major restrictions
Limited safety data available
CAS
28231-03-0
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Woody · Balsamic
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Cedrenol Smell Like?

Cedrenol delivers a crisp, dry woody character reminiscent of pencil shavings and freshly cut cedar planks. It opens with a slightly camphoraceous edge that quickly settles into a clean, masculine woodiness. Unlike natural cedar oils, it lacks resinous depth but offers superior tenacity in the dry-down. The scent evolves linearly, maintaining its structural wood note without developing animalic or smoky facets.

Scent Profile
Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

Octahydro-3,8,8-trimethyl-6-methylene-1H-3a,7-methanoazulen-5-ol

SMILES: C[C@@H]1CC(O)[C@H]2C(C)(C)[C@H]3C[C@@]12CCC3=C

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Cedrenol belongs to the sesquiterpenoid alcohol class, structurally related to cedrol but with altered functional groups. As a synthetic material, it’s typically produced through hydrogenation or oxidation of cedrene precursors. The synthesis allows control over stereochemistry, yielding a more consistent odor profile than natural cedar extracts which contain variable ratios of related compounds.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Base
Volatility
Low (6+ hours)
Blending
Good
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance1-3%Up to 5%Woody base note
Functional Products0.5-1%Up to 2%Clean woody character

Classic Accords

Tip: Use to extend natural cedar notes while avoiding the discoloration issues of cedarwood oil.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Cedrol CAS 77-53-2

Natural cedar alcohol with more pronounced woody character but lower stability.

2
Vertofix CAS 68039-49-6

More powerful woody-ambery substitute with better diffusion.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

No IFRA restrictions apply.

RIFM Assessment

Not currently assessed by RIFM.

Sustainability

As a synthetic material, cedrenol avoids forestry impacts associated with natural cedar production. However, its petroleum-derived synthesis carries typical petrochemical environmental concerns. Some manufacturers are exploring bio-based routes using fermentation-derived intermediates.

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References

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

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    Ingredient Data Sheet

    CAS 28231-03-0

    Physical Properties

    Molecular Weight220.35 g/mol🔬 PubChem
    LogP (Octanol-Water)3.6🔬 PubChem
    Boiling Point283 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
    Vapor Pressure0.0035 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
    Flash Point126.8 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
    Involatility Index0.0003💻 Calculated
    log Kp (skin permeability)-1.488💻 Calculated
    SMILESCC1CCC2C13CC(C2(C)C)C(=C)C(C3)O🔬 PubChem

    Volatility & Performance

    Fragrance NoteBase💻 Calculated
    Volatility ClassVery slow💻 Calculated
    Persistence Score5.1 / 5💻 Calculated

    Odor & Flavor

    Primary Descriptorswoody• leffingwell
    Functional Groupsalcoholalkene💻 RDKit
    “cible with perfume oils. Used as a fixative in soaps and "heavy-duty" perfume types. The odor varies with the purity, since traces of Cedrene and other impurities heavily influence the odor picture. Generally of mild woody odor, less dry, more balsamic than the Cedrene. The tenacity is good, but the actual "odor value" is unimpressive.”📖 Arctander
    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: DTXSID3051961

    Physical Properties

    Molecular Weight 220.356 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
    Density 0.993 g/cm^3📊 OPERA
    Boiling Point 287.909 °C📊 OPERA
    Melting Point 93.231 °C📊 OPERA
    Flash Point 126.354 °C📊 OPERA
    Refractive Index 1.528 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
    Molar Volume 215.606 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

    Partition & Solubility

    LogP (Octanol-Water) 3.866 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogD (pH 5.5) 3.866 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogD (pH 7.4) 3.866 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 9.25 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    Water Solubility 0 mol/L📊 OPERA
    Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

    Transport Properties

    Vapor Pressure 0.002 mmHg📊 OPERA
    Surface Tension 35.301 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
    Thermal Conductivity 121.83 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 0 count💻 Computed
    Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
    Molar Refractivity 66.371 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
    Polarizability 26.311 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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