Diethyl sebacate (CAS 110-40-7) — Sweet Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Diethyl sebacate
CAS 110-40-7
What Is Diethyl sebacate?
Diethyl sebacate is a synthetic fragrance ingredient commonly used as a solvent and fixative in perfumes and personal care products. It’s found in fine fragrances, body lotions, and hair care formulations. This ester provides subtle fruity-waxy notes while helping other fragrance components last longer on skin. Its neutral character makes it valuable for creating smooth, well-blended scent profiles without overpowering other ingredients.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Diethyl sebacate Smell Like?
Diethyl sebacate presents a delicate, nearly odorless profile with faint waxy-fruity undertones reminiscent of pear skins and candle wax. Its subtlety makes it more functional than aromatic – acting as an invisible scaffold that extends other notes rather than asserting its own character. The material shows exceptional stability, maintaining this neutral profile throughout evaporation without developing harsh or chemical off-notes during drydown.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used as a solvent for floral absolutes, helping integrate jasmine and rose notes while preventing crystallization of other components in this iconic aldehyde floral.
Provides a weightless carrier for vanilla and iris in the base, allowing these dense materials to diffuse evenly without becoming cloying.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCOC(=O)CCCCCCCCC(=O)OCC
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Diethyl sebacate belongs to the ester class, synthesized through esterification of sebacic acid (a C10 dicarboxylic acid) with ethanol. The straight-chain aliphatic structure gives it excellent stability and low odor impact. Industrial production typically involves acid-catalyzed reactions under controlled conditions to achieve high purity. Being a diester, it shows greater molecular weight and lower volatility than monoesters, contributing to its fixative properties.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 312 °C |
|---|---|
| Flash Point | >110 °C |
| Density | 0.96 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | 1.436 |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 5-15% | Up to 25% | Fixative and solvent |
| Body Care | 3-8% | Up to 12% | Emollient carrier |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use as a neutral base to modify the texture of heavy materials like vanillin or coumarin.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Alternative solvent with slightly higher volatility, though restricted in some markets due to regulatory concerns.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions – listed on 49th Amendment as unrestricted.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM assessment confirms safety for current usage levels in fragrance applications.
Sustainability
Produced from petrochemical feedstocks but considered environmentally benign due to complete biodegradability. The synthesis process has relatively low energy requirements compared to complex fragrance molecules. No known ecological toxicity at usage levels.
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References
- Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients (6th Ed)
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPhysicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID0021915
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 258.358 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.964 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 306.833 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 5 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 136.099 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.441 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 266.594 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.982 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.982 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.982 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 7.38 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.001 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 4.448 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 32.268 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 150.866 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 52.6 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 4 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 11 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 70.459 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 27.932 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.
