d-.alpha.-Terpineol (CAS 7785-53-7) — Floral Top to Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient
d-.alpha.-Terpineol
CAS 7785-53-7
What Is d-.alpha.-Terpineol?
d-α-Terpineol is a naturally occurring monoterpenoid alcohol found in pine oil and petitgrain. It’s commonly used in household cleaners and perfumes for its fresh, floral-pine scent. This ingredient matters because it bridges natural pine aromas with refined citrus-floral notes, offering perfumers a versatile building block for fresh top notes and clean scent profiles.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does d-.alpha.-Terpineol Smell Like?
Opens with a crisp, uplifting pine needle character that quickly reveals a floral heart reminiscent of lilac and orange blossom. The dry-down introduces a clean, slightly woody character like freshly sanded cedar. Over hours, it maintains a persistent freshness with subtle citrus undertones, behaving like sunlight filtering through a coniferous forest.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used as the piney-floral heart that defines this classic Italian barbershop fragrance, creating an aromatic bridge between citrus top notes and woody base.
Provides subtle floral enhancement to the violet leaf note while contributing to the fragrance’s overall ‘outdoors after rain’ freshness.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC1=CC[C@@H](CC1)C(C)(C)O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
C10H18O monoterpenoid alcohol with three chiral centers. Naturally occurs in conifer oils and citrus petitgrain. Industrially produced via acid-catalyzed hydration of α-pinene or from turpentine fractions. The d-isomer has superior odor characteristics compared to racemic mixtures. Undergoes esterification to produce valuable fragrance materials like terpinyl acetate.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 219 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.933 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | 1.483 |
| Flash Point | 96 °C |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-5% | Up to 10% | Fresh top notes, floral enhancer |
| Household Cleaners | 0.5-3% | Up to 5% | Provides pine-fresh character |
| Soaps/Detergents | 0.1-1% | Up to 2% | Freshness booster |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use with citrus oils to brighten pine character; combines well with lavender for herbaceous freshness.
Alternatives & Comparisons
More stable ester form with sweeter, fruitier character when longer-lasting floral notes are needed.
For projects requiring more pronounced floral character without the piney aspects.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No restrictions under IFRA standards.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM assessment confirms safe use at current industry levels.
Sustainability
Primarily synthesized from turpentine, a renewable forest product. Synthetic production reduces pressure on natural pine oil resources. Biodegradable with low environmental persistence. Increasingly produced via green chemistry methods including catalytic processes.
Explore d-.alpha.-Terpineol
Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.
Browse on iHerb →Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
References
- Bauer, K. et al. (2001). Common Fragrance and Flavor Materials. Wiley-VCH.
- PubChem Compound Summary for α-Terpineol CID 17100
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 7785-53-7Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 154.25 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 1.8🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 219 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0427 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 89.4 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0037💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -2.363💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC1=CCC(CC1)C(C)(C)O🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 2 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | floralsweet• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | alcoholalkene💻 RDKit |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 3.2276 ppm (n=28)📖 van Gemert |
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: DTXSID60884429
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 154.253 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.928 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 220.39 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | 53.696 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 87.891 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.483 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 164.977 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.98 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.008 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.008 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 7.16 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.005 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.039 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Viscosity | 6.906 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 31.946 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 130.808 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 | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 47.075 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 18.662 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.
