d-Camphor (CAS 464-49-3) — Woody Top to middle Note Fragrance Ingredient
d-Camphor
CAS 464-49-3
What Is d-Camphor?
d-Camphor is a crisp, aromatic compound most recognized as the active ingredient in vapor rubs and moth repellents. Its sharp, medicinal scent is also found in some traditional fragrances and incense. This versatile molecule bridges the gap between functional uses and perfumery, adding a cooling, penetrating quality to compositions where a clean, camphoraceous lift is desired.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESSWhat Does d-Camphor Smell Like?
d-Camphor bursts forth with an intensely sharp, almost piercing coolness—like inhaling winter air laced with eucalyptus. The initial medicinal punch gradually softens into a dry, woody-vapor reminiscent of antique cedar chests. Unlike its racemic counterpart, the dextrorotatory form offers cleaner, brighter camphoraceous tones without the musty undertones. In drydown, it leaves a faintly resinous, almost mentholated trail that provides excellent lift to herbal and woody bases.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used sparingly to amplify the citrus-herbal freshness, creating a cooling contrast to the warm oakmoss base.
Provides a crisp, medicinal edge to the leather-tobacco heart, evoking barbershop aromatics.
Contributes to the ozonic ‘water’ illusion with its sharp, clean diffusion.
Used in the brutalist herbal opening, amplifying the wormwood’s medicinal bitterness.
Adds a dry, sun-baked mineral quality to the amber-resin core.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC1(C)[C@@H]2CC[C@@]1(C)C(=O)C2
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
d-Camphor is a bicyclic terpenoid ketone with the molecular formula C10H16O. Naturally occurring in the wood of Cinnamomum camphora trees, the dextrorotatory enantiomer is now primarily synthesized from α-pinene via camphene. Industrial production involves acid-catalyzed rearrangement of camphene to isobornyl acetate, followed by saponification and oxidation. The rigid bowl-shaped structure of the bornane skeleton contributes to its high volatility and distinctive odor profile. Chirality matters significantly—the d-form is preferred in perfumery for its cleaner odor compared to the racemic mixture.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 204 °C |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | 175-177 °C |
| Flash Point | 64 °C |
| Density | 0.992 g/cm³ |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.18 mmHg at 25°C |
| Solubility | 1.2 g/L in water, soluble in ethanol |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Used for diffusion and cooling effects |
| Functional Products | 3-10% | Up to 20% | Vapor rubs, insect repellents |
| Household Cleaners | 0.1-1% | Up to 3% | Adds fresh, disinfectant character |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use below 2% to prevent overwhelming floral heart notes—works best when anchored by warmer ambers.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Less sharp, more woody-camphoraceous character suitable for subtle applications.
Provides similar cooling effects with herbal-anisic nuances for fougères.
Milder camphoraceous note with fresher, minty undertones.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions (2023 Amendment 51). Considered safe at typical usage levels in fragrance.
EU Allergen Declaration
Not listed in EU allergen regulations.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
RIFM assessment confirms safe use up to 3.9% in leave-on products (2019).
Sustainability
While traditionally sourced from camphor trees, most modern d-camphor is synthesized from turpentine-derived α-pinene, reducing pressure on natural stands. The synthesis route has relatively low environmental impact, with >85% atom economy in the final oxidation step. Biodegradation occurs via microbial oxidation to camphorquinone.
Explore d-Camphor
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References
- Bauer et al. (2001). Common Fragrance and Flavor Materials. Wiley-VCH.
- PubChem Compound Summary for CID 2537 Camphor
- IFRA Standards Library (2023) Amendment 51
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPhysicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID4024721
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 152.237 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.993 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 206.944 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 178.472 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 55.797 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.485 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 154.875 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.34 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 2.434 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 2.434 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 4.85 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.003 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.39 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 1.349 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 32.136 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 118.555 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 17.07 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 44.395 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 17.6 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.
