Cedryl Acetate (CAS 77-54-3) — Woody Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient

ByThe Good Scents

Cedryl Acetate

CAS 77-54-3

Origin
Note
IFRA
Generally safe
Data as of: Mar 2026

What Is Cedryl Acetate?

Cedryl acetate is a woody fragrance ingredient commonly found in perfumes, colognes, and home fragrances. It adds a warm, cedar-like character to scents. This synthetic molecule mimics natural cedarwood notes but with enhanced stability and longevity in formulations.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
✓ IFRA approved with no restrictions
✓ Not classified as an allergen
CAS
77-54-3
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Cedryl Acetate Smell Like?

Cedryl acetate delivers a rich, woody aroma reminiscent of aged cedar chests with subtle amber undertones. The scent evolves from an initial crisp woodiness to a smoother, slightly sweet dry-down that lingers close to the skin. Compared to raw cedarwood oils, it offers superior tenacity and a more refined olfactory profile without the harsh edges.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Terre d'Hermès(Hermès, 2006)

Provides the foundational woody character that blends with vetiver and citrus notes. Its stability allows the fragrance to maintain woody depth throughout wear.

Tam Dao(Diptyque, 2003)

Used alongside sandalwood to create a dry, pencil-shaving cedar effect that defines this minimalist woody composition.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

Cedryl acetate

SMILES: [H][C@@]12CC[C@@H](C)[C@]11C[C@]([H])(C2(C)C)[C@@](C)(CC1)OC(C)=O

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Cedryl acetate is a sesquiterpene derivative synthesized through acetylation of cedrol, a major component of cedarwood oil. The acetate group increases volatility compared to cedrol while maintaining woody characteristics. Industrial production typically involves fractional distillation of cedarwood oil followed by chemical modification.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Boiling Point300-310 °C
Flash Point>100 °C

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Base
Volatility
Low (6+ hours)
Blending
Good
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance1-5%Up to 10%Woody foundation
Home Fragrance2-8%Up to 15%Long-lasting woody note

Classic Accords

+ Patchouli + Vanilla = Oriental + Vetiver + Bergamot = Modern Woody

Tip: Use to anchor citrus top notes in woody compositions while avoiding the resinous quality of unmodified cedar oils.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Cedrol CAS 77-53-2

The parent alcohol with similar woody character but lower volatility and different solubility profile.

2
Vertofix Coeur CAS 32388-55-9

More amber-like woody material with better diffusion but less natural cedar character.

Layer 3

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 IFRA standards. Listed in IFRA Transparency List with no usage limits.

RIFM Assessment

RIFM evaluation confirms safe use at current industry levels with no adverse effects identified.

Sustainability

Synthetic production reduces pressure on cedarwood forests while providing consistent quality. Manufacturing typically uses byproducts from cedar oil distillation, improving resource efficiency.

Explore Cedryl Acetate

Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.

Browse on iHerb →

Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

References

  1. Bauer et al. (2001). Common Fragrance and Flavor Materials. Wiley-VCH.

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

Report a data error

Ingredient Data Sheet

CAS 77-54-3

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight264.4 g/mol🔬 PubChem
LogP (Octanol-Water)4.5🔬 PubChem
Boiling Point295 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Vapor Pressure0.0005 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
Flash Point94 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
log Kp (skin permeability)-1.118💻 Calculated
SMILESCC1CCC2C13CCC(C(C3)C2(C)C)(C)OC(=O)C🔬 PubChem

Volatility & Performance

Fragrance NoteBase💻 Calculated
Volatility ClassVery slow💻 Calculated
Persistence Score8.1 / 5💻 Calculated

Odor & Flavor

Functional Groupsesterether💻 RDKit
“Used as a fixative in perfumes, mostly soap perfumes of the woody type. It blends well with the Ionones, Lavandin oil, iso-Bornyl acetate, artificial musks, etc., but it contributes only little to the overall odor. It may”📖 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: DTXSID4047204

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 264.409 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 1.003 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX
Boiling Point 248.25 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Melting Point 41 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Flash Point 94 °C🔬 EPA CTX

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 6.105 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX
Water Solubility 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 0 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX
Surface Tension 32.001 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
Thermal Conductivity 117.662 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 1 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 75.61 cm^3/mol💻 Computed

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.

Similar Posts