cis-3-Hexenyl oxyacetaldehyde (CAS 68133-72-2) — Green Top Note Fragrance Ingredient

Green · Floral

cis-3-Hexenyl oxyacetaldehyde

CAS 68133-72-2

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

What Is cis-3-Hexenyl oxyacetaldehyde?

cis-3-Hexenyl oxyacetaldehyde is a synthetic fragrance ingredient that mimics the fresh, green scent of crushed leaves. It’s commonly found in perfumes, body care products, and air fresheners. This molecule matters because it provides a naturalistic green note without relying on plant extracts, making fragrances more consistent and sustainable.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
Safe in regulated products
Potential sensitizer – check concentration limits
CAS
68133-72-2
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Green · Floral
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does cis-3-Hexenyl oxyacetaldehyde Smell Like?

A burst of freshly cut grass and dewy vegetation with an underlying crispness like cucumber skin. Opens with sharp chlorophyll vibrancy that softens into watery green tea nuances. The dry-down reveals a faintly floral steminess reminiscent of snap pea tendrils. Exceptionally diffusive green character that remains linear without developing woody or sweet facets.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Vent Vert(Balmain, 1990)

Used as the modern green signature replacing natural galbanum, providing consistent leafy brightness in the floral chypre structure.

Un Jardin sur le Nil(Hermès, 2005)

Creates the illusion of sliced green mango through its watery-green facets blending with citrus top notes.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

[(3Z)-3-Hexen-1-yloxy]acetaldehyde

SMILES: CC\C=C/CCOCC=O

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

An aliphatic aldehyde with an enol ether group, this molecule belongs to the ‘leaf alcohol’ derivatives class. Synthesized via Grignard reaction of 3-hexenol followed by controlled oxidation. The cis configuration at the 3-position is crucial for odor quality, producing cleaner green notes than the trans isomer. Industrial production typically starts from cis-3-hexenol through acetal formation and subsequent deprotection.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Molecular Weight156.22 g/mol
Boiling Point~200 °C (estimated)

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Top
Volatility
Medium (1-3 hours)
Blending
Good
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance0.5-2%Up to 5%Green accent note
Functional Fragrances0.1-0.5%Up to 1%Freshness booster

Classic Accords

Tip: Stabilize in ethanol-based systems to prevent acetal reformation.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
cis-3-Hexenol CAS 928-96-1

More affordable but less diffusive green note with shorter persistence.

2
Stemone CAS 63835-79-2

For deeper vegetal effects with earthy-peppery nuances.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

No IFRA restrictions currently apply (as of Amendment 51).

EU Allergen Declaration

Not listed in EU allergen regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.

GHS Classification

H315 Causes skin irritation H319 Causes serious eye irritation

RIFM Assessment

RIFM assessment completed in 2018 – safe at current usage levels.

Sustainability

Synthetic production reduces agricultural land use compared to natural green notes. Carbon footprint depends on hexenol feedstock source. Readily biodegradable (OECD 301D).

Explore cis-3-Hexenyl oxyacetaldehyde

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References

  1. IFRA (2023). Standards Library. IFRA
  2. Bickers et al. (2018). Safety assessment. Food Chem Toxicol. PMID 29763640

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

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Physicochemical Properties

DTXSID: DTXSID40887175

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 142.198 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 0.896 g/cm^3📊 OPERA
Boiling Point 183.775 °C📊 OPERA
Melting Point -32.3 °C📊 OPERA
Flash Point 63.355 °C📊 OPERA
Refractive Index 1.434 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 157.885 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 1.452 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 5.5) 1.452 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 1.452 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 4.32 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0.094 mol/L📊 OPERA
Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 0.747 mmHg📊 OPERA
Viscosity 0.916 cP📊 OPERA
Surface Tension 26.128 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
Thermal Conductivity 147.408 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 6 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 41.102 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 16.294 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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