Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid (CAS 98-89-5) — Woody Base Note Fragrance Ingredient

Woody · Green

Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid

CAS 98-89-5

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

What Is Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid?

Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid is a synthetic fragrance ingredient primarily used in industrial and functional fragrance applications. It’s rarely found in consumer products but may appear in some cleaning agents or air fresheners. This molecule serves as a building block for more complex fragrance chemicals. Its importance lies in its role as a precursor for esters and other derivatives that carry more pronounced olfactory characteristics.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
Low toxicity profile
Handle with basic precautions
CAS
98-89-5
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Woody · Green
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid Smell Like?

Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid possesses a faint, waxy odor with subtle cheesy undertones. The scent profile is relatively neutral compared to its ester derivatives, presenting a clean chemical character that lacks strong top notes or evolution. In dilution, it may reveal a slightly fatty, soap-like quality reminiscent of simple carboxylic acids.

Scent Profile
Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid

SMILES: OC(=O)C1CCCCC1

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid belongs to the class of alicyclic carboxylic acids. It’s produced through hydrogenation of benzoic acid or oxidation of cyclohexane. The molecule features a carboxyl group attached to a cyclohexane ring, creating a stable structure that serves as an intermediate for various fragrance chemicals. While not chiral itself, it can be used to create chiral derivatives important in perfumery.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Base
Volatility
Low
Blending
Fair
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Functional Fragrance0.1-1%Up to 3%Precursor role
Cleaning Products0.05-0.5%Up to 2%Neutral carrier

Classic Accords

Tip: Primarily used as a chemical intermediate rather than direct fragrance material.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Cyclohexyl acetate CAS 622-45-7

For direct fragrance use with fruity-pear character

2
Cyclohexanemethanol CAS 100-49-2

When alcohol functionality is needed for esterification

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

Not restricted by IFRA

RIFM Assessment

No specific RIFM assessment found for direct use.

Sustainability

As a synthetic material, cyclohexanecarboxylic acid is produced from petrochemical feedstocks. Its environmental impact is primarily tied to manufacturing processes rather than end-use. Being an intermediate rather than final product, its carbon footprint is distributed across derivative materials.

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References

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

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    Physicochemical Properties

    DTXSID: DTXSID8059180

    Physical Properties

    Molecular Weight 128.171 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
    Density 1.032 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX
    Boiling Point 232.5 °C🔬 EPA CTX
    Melting Point 31.054 °C🔬 EPA CTX
    Flash Point 107.05 °C🔬 EPA CTX
    Refractive Index 1.481 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
    Molar Volume 118.703 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

    Partition & Solubility

    LogP (Octanol-Water) 1.96 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX
    LogD (pH 5.5) 1.339 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogD (pH 7.4) -0.428 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 5.88 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    Water Solubility 0.036 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX
    Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

    Transport Properties

    Vapor Pressure 0.03 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX
    Viscosity 8.424 cP📊 OPERA
    Surface Tension 35.888 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
    Thermal Conductivity 142.615 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA

    Molecular Descriptors

    Topological Polar Surface Area 37.3 Ų💻 Computed
    H-Bond Donors 1 count💻 Computed
    H-Bond Acceptors 1 count💻 Computed
    Rotatable Bonds 1 count💻 Computed
    Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
    Molar Refractivity 33.778 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
    Polarizability 13.391 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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