Cedrenyl formate (CAS 39900-38-4) — Woody Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Cedrenyl formate
CAS 39900-38-4
What Is Cedrenyl formate?
Cedrenyl formate is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used to impart woody, cedar-like notes in perfumes and scented products. Consumers encounter it in masculine colognes, aftershaves, and home fragrances. This versatile molecule helps create depth in woody accords while adding subtle sweetness, making it valuable for perfumers crafting complex forest-inspired scents.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Cedrenyl formate Smell Like?
Cedrenyl formate opens with crisp pencil shavings and freshly split cedar logs, transitioning to a heart of warm amber resins with hints of vanilla pod. The dry-down reveals subtle animalic undertones reminiscent of sun-warmed tree bark, lasting 4-6 hours with excellent diffusion. Like walking through an old-growth forest after rain – simultaneously clean and earthy.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used to amplify the flinty mineral character of the vetiver base, creating an illusion of sun-baked rocks in a cedar forest.
Provides structural support to the sandalwood core, adding dimensionality to the linear wood profile.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: [H]C(=O)O[C@]1(C)CC[C@@]23C[C@]1([H])C(C)(C)[C@]2([H])CC[C@H]3C
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Cedrenyl formate is an ester derived from cedrene, a sesquiterpene found in cedar oils. Industrial synthesis typically involves formylation of cedrol followed by dehydration. The molecule’s rigid tricyclic structure contributes to its exceptional tenacity in fragrance formulations, while the formate ester group provides subtle sweet-woody tonalities.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 290-295 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.98-1.02 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | 1.495-1.505 |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Base note fixative |
| Home Fragrance | 2-4% | Up to 8% | Woody accord anchor |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use with ionones to create luminous wood effects without heaviness.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No restrictions under current IFRA standards.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM assessment completed – no safety concerns at current usage levels.
Sustainability
Synthetic production avoids harvesting of endangered cedar species. Modern catalytic processes minimize waste and energy use compared to traditional isolation methods.
Explore Cedrenyl formate
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References
- Bauer, K. et al. (2001). Common Fragrance and Flavor Materials. Wiley-VCH.
- Arctander, S. (1969). Perfume and Flavor Chemicals. Allured.
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 39900-38-4Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 250.38 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4.5🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 315 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0001 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 126.8 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.032💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC1CCC2C13CCC(C(C3)C2(C)C)(C)OC=O🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Base💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 9.6 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Functional Groups | ether💻 RDKit |
| “Mild, but persistent dry-woody odor. The woody notes are accompanied by a discrete amount of greenness, which completes an”📖 Arctander | |
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: DTXSID00865974
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 250.382 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.011 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 301.593 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | 26.036 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 138.157 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.506 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 242.457 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4.522 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 4.522 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 4.522 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 7.44 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 | 34.682 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 119.351 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 26.3 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 72.043 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 28.56 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.
