Decyl acetate (CAS 112-17-4) — Sweet Top Note Fragrance Ingredient
Decyl acetate
CAS 112-17-4
What Is Decyl acetate?
Decyl acetate is a synthetic fragrance ingredient that adds a fresh, fruity character to products like air fresheners and body care items. You’ll often find it in apple or pear-scented formulations. This ester is prized for its ability to create crisp top notes that blend well with citrus and herbal scents, making it a versatile tool for perfumers crafting fresh, approachable fragrances.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Decyl acetate Smell Like?
Decyl acetate bursts with a bright, slightly fatty fruity aroma reminiscent of freshly peeled apples with a hint of pear skin. The initial impression is sharply sweet like candy before mellowing into a waxy, citrus-tinged heart. As it dries down, it leaves a clean, slightly soapy trail that blends beautifully with herbal notes. The overall effect is like biting into a crisp Granny Smith apple while walking through an orchard – juicy at first, then fading to a pleasant, slightly green freshness.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCCCCCCOC(C)=O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Decyl acetate is a straight-chain ester formed by the condensation of acetic acid and decanol. Industrially produced through acid-catalyzed esterification, this synthetic material offers consistent quality and stability. As a medium-weight ester (C12), it provides good volatility for top notes while maintaining reasonable persistence. The molecule’s simple structure lacks chirality centers, eliminating concerns about stereochemical variations in commercial production.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | Colorless liquid |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | 245 °C |
| Density | 0.862 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | 1.425 |
| Solubility | Insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Fresh top note accent |
| Body Care | 0.5-2% | Up to 3% | Fruity freshness |
| Household | 2-5% | Up to 10% | Clean, fruity effects |
| Candles | 3-8% | Up to 12% | Apple/pear top notes |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use with citrus oils to brighten and extend fruity top notes while avoiding excessive sweetness.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Shorter ester with more intense, shorter-lasting fruity character – ideal when more volatility is desired.
Intermediate ester with similar but slightly softer fruity profile and better blending with florals.
Classic banana-pear note for more tropical fruit effects at lower concentrations.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No restrictions under current IFRA standards.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM evaluation confirms safe use at current industry levels with no significant sensitization potential.
Sustainability
As a purely synthetic material, decyl acetate production avoids agricultural impacts but requires petrochemical feedstocks. Modern manufacturing processes achieve high atom economy in esterification, minimizing waste. Being biodegradable through ester hydrolysis, it presents low environmental persistence concerns compared to more complex fragrance molecules.
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for Decyl Acetate CID 8174
- Burdock, G.A. (2010). Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. CRC Press.
- IFRA Standards Library IFRA
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 112-17-4Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 200.32 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4.5🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 126 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0035 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 107.8 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0003💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -0.727💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCCCCCCCCCOC(=O)C🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 5.5 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | fattyfruityorangepineapplerose• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | esterether💻 RDKit |
| “Sweet fatty-fruity odor of Pineapple-Orange-like character, and rosy waxy undertones.”📖 Arctander | |
| Decyl acetate has a floral, orange-rose odor and characteristic flavor. At high dilution it has a sweet flavor with a pineapple-like undertone. Traces of this compound are used in apple, orange and rum flavors.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “Finds some use in flavor compositions, mainly for imitation Apple, Berry, Honey, Orange, Peach, Plum, etc. and also in Rum flavors. The concentration of Decyl acetate in the functional product amounts usually to traces only.”📖 Arctander |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 2.2972 ppm (n=4)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2367⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| GRAS Status | Generally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| IOFI Classification | Nature Identical📖 Fenaroli |
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: DTXSID8047189
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 200.322 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.865 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 246 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -15.007 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 104.1 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.43 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 230.099 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4.893 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 4.893 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 4.893 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 6.08 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.013 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 2.351 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 28.227 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 141.882 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 | 9 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 59.418 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 23.555 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.
