Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, 3 methyl-, methyl ester (CAS 72903-23-2) — Woody Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient

Woody · Floral

Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, 3 methyl-, methyl ester

CAS 72903-23-2

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

What Is Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, 3 methyl-, methyl ester?

Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, 3 methyl-, methyl ester is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used in perfumes and scented products. It contributes to fresh, woody, and slightly floral notes. This ingredient matters because it helps create long-lasting, complex scents in everything from fine fragrances to household cleaners.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
Safe in regulated products
Check for individual sensitivity
CAS
72903-23-2
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Woody · Floral
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, 3 methyl-, methyl ester Smell Like?

This synthetic ester offers a crisp, woody opening with subtle floral undertones. As it evolves, the heart reveals a clean, slightly sweet character reminiscent of fresh linen. The dry-down is soft and musky, leaving a lingering impression of warmth and sophistication.

Scent Profile
Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

Methyl 3-methylcyclohexanecarboxylate

SMILES: COC(=O)C1CCCC(C)C1

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, 3 methyl-, methyl ester belongs to the ester class of organic compounds. It is typically synthesized through esterification of the corresponding carboxylic acid with methanol. The methyl group at the 3-position introduces steric effects that influence both its volatility and odor characteristics.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Boiling PointN/A
DensityN/A

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Middle
Volatility
Medium (2-4 hours)
Blending
Good
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance1-5%Up to 10%Adds woody-floral complexity
Functional Products0.1-1%Up to 3%Provides clean background note

Classic Accords

Tip: Use in moderation to avoid overpowering other notes.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Methyl dihydrojasmonate CAS 24851-98-7

When a more floral character is desired.

2
Vertofix CAS 68039-49-6

For enhanced woody-ambery effects.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

No IFRA restrictions currently apply.

RIFM Assessment

Not currently assessed by RIFM.

Sustainability

As a synthetic material, this ingredient avoids agricultural impacts but depends on petrochemical feedstocks. Production typically follows green chemistry principles with high atom economy.

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References

  1. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 72903-23-2 PubChem

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

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Physicochemical Properties

DTXSID: DTXSID101288062

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 156.225 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 0.959 g/cm^3📊 OPERA
Boiling Point 191.395 °C📊 OPERA
Melting Point -19.958 °C📊 OPERA
Flash Point 66.182 °C📊 OPERA
Refractive Index 1.441 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 164.058 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 3.067 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 5.5) 3.067 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 3.067 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 4.32 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0.008 mol/L📊 OPERA
Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 0.445 mmHg📊 OPERA
Viscosity 2.193 cP📊 OPERA
Surface Tension 29.274 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
Thermal Conductivity 130.909 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 43.329 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 17.177 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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