Cedrol (CAS 77-53-2) — Woody Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Cedrol
CAS 77-53-2
What Is Cedrol?
Cedrol is a naturally occurring alcohol found in cedarwood oil, giving it that distinctive woody aroma. You’ll encounter it in men’s colognes, home fragrances, and natural insect repellents. As a key component of cedar’s scent profile, cedrol provides longevity and depth to woody accords, making it invaluable for creating forest-like or pencil-shaving freshness in perfumery.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFE
What Does Cedrol Smell Like?
Cedrol opens with a sharp, pencil-like woodiness reminiscent of freshly sharpened cedar pencils. As it evolves, the scent becomes creamier, revealing subtle camphoraceous undertones and a clean, almost laundry-like dryness. The dry-down is remarkably persistent – like the lingering scent of a well-used cedar chest, blending warm wood resins with a faintly medicinal edge that prevents it from becoming overly sweet.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Cedrol contributes to the flinty mineral accord that makes this modern classic smell like wet stones and fresh-cut cedar.
Here cedrol amplifies the ink-like vetiver, creating a stark woody profile reminiscent of charred cedar planks.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: [H][C@@]12CC[C@@H](C)[C@]11C[C@]([H])(C2(C)C)[C@](C)(O)CC1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Cedrol is a sesquiterpene alcohol with the molecular formula C15H26O. It occurs naturally in several Juniperus and Cupressus species. Industrially, it’s typically isolated from Texas cedarwood oil via fractional distillation. The molecule has three chiral centers, with the (+)-enantiomer being more common in nature and possessing a stronger odor profile. Commercial production sometimes involves hydrogenation of cedrene derivatives.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 291-294 °C |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | 86-87 °C |
| Density | 0.98 g/cm³ |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Adds woody depth |
| Home Fragrance | 2-5% | Up to 10% | Long-lasting wood note |
Classic Accords
+ Amber + Vanilla = Oriental
Tip: Use cedrol to anchor citrus top notes in woody compositions.
Alternatives & Comparisons
More diffusive with a fruity nuance, used when a lighter cedar effect is desired.
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 by IFRA
RIFM Assessment
RIFM assessment confirms safe use at current levels.
Sustainability
Most commercial cedrol comes from sustainable Texas cedarwood oil distillation. Synthetic production exists but is less common due to the complexity of the molecule. Cedar forests are generally fast-growing and managed as renewable resources.
Explore Cedrol
Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.
Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Industry & Science Data
References
- Burdock, G.A. (2010). Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. CRC Press.
- PubChem CID 65575 PubChem
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Physicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID1041269
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 222.372 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.036 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 285.5 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 85.683 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 119.385 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.519 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 220.265 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4.377 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 4.377 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 4.377 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 9.23 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 1.05 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Surface Tension | 35.101 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 119.93 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 | 66.861 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 26.506 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.
![Cyclopropanemethanol, 1-methyl-2-[[(1R,3R)-2,2,3-trimethylcyclopentyl]methyl]-, (1R,2R)- (CAS 1181244-95-0) — Woody Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient](https://thegoodscents.company/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/cyclopropanemethanol-1-methyl-2-1-1-768x439.webp)
![3-Hexene, 1,1′,”-[ethylidynestris(oxy)]tris-, (3Z, 3’Z,3″Z)- (CAS 215305-10-5) — Green Top Note Fragrance Ingredient](https://thegoodscents.company/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/3-hexene-1-1-039-039-039-ethylidynestris-1-768x439.webp)
