Diethyl succinate (CAS 123-25-1) — Sweet Top Note Fragrance Ingredient
Diethyl succinate
CAS 123-25-1
What Is Diethyl succinate?
Diethyl succinate is a clear, fruity-smelling liquid often used to add fresh apple and grape nuances to perfumes and flavorings. You’ll encounter it in fruity body sprays, shampoos, and some candies. This versatile ester matters because it mimics natural fruit aromas at a fraction of the cost, helping create affordable, cheerful fragrances that feel juicy and uplifting.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Diethyl succinate Smell Like?
Diethyl succinate bursts with a crisp, wet fruitiness reminiscent of biting into a green apple, with a subtle grape-like undertone. The top note is sharply refreshing, like carbonated pear juice, which settles into a softer melon heart after 20 minutes. In dry-down, it leaves a faint, clean sweetness akin to cotton candy dissolved in mineral water—transparent and weightless. Unlike heavier esters, it never becomes cloying, instead maintaining an aquatic fruit character that blends seamlessly with citrus and green notes.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used here to amplify the citrus top notes with a dewy apple effect, making the lemon accord smell juicier and more refreshing against the woody base.
Provides a crisp fruit lift to the citrus-green tea pairing, creating the illusion of sliced lemons floating in iced tea with a sprig of mint.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCOC(=O)CCC(=O)OCC
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Diethyl succinate belongs to the ester family, synthesized via esterification of succinic acid with ethanol. This diester is particularly valued for its high volatility and water solubility compared to other fruit esters. Industrial production typically uses acid-catalyzed reactions at 60-80°C, yielding the racemic form. The molecular symmetry contributes to its clean odor profile without chiral variations affecting scent characteristics.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 217-218 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.040 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | 1.420 |
| Flash Point | 96 °C |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Fruit enhancer |
| Functional Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 3% | Shampoos/shower gels |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use with ionones to create pear-like effects without excessive sweetness.
Alternatives & Comparisons
For stronger caramelized fruit effects when more sweetness is desired, though less fresh than diethyl succinate.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No restrictions under IFRA 51st Amendment.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM evaluation confirms safe use up to 5% in leave-on products.
Sustainability
Synthesized from petrochemical feedstocks but requires minimal energy input compared to complex fragrance molecules. Biodegradation studies show 80% breakdown in 28 days under OECD 301B conditions. No known ecological toxicity concerns at typical usage levels.
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for Diethyl succinate CID 31249
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 123-25-1Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 174.19 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 1.2🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 217 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.04 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 90 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0033💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -2.911💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCOC(=O)CCC(=O)OCC🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 1.9 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | etherealgrapegreen• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | esterether💻 RDKit |
| “Faint, pleasant odor, remotely winy-ether- eal. The odor type is somewhat similar to that of Ethyl benzoate, but of much less power. Burning taste in high concentration, mildly tart-fruity upon dilution.”📖 Arctander | |
| Diethyl succinate has a faint, pleasant odor.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “Faint, pleasant odor, remotely winy-ether- eal. The odor type is somewhat similar to that of Ethyl benzoate, but of much less power. Burning taste in high concentration, mildly tart-fruity upon dilution. Used in various flavor compositions, such as imitation Butter, Rum, Arak, Brandy, Grape, Raspber”📖 Arctander |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 65.54 ppm (n=7)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2377⚖️ 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: DTXSID2038732
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 174.196 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.039 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 217.175 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -21.372 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 93.413 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.423 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 167.554 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 1.197 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 1.199 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 1.199 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 4.74 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.105 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.05 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 1.279 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 31.958 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 144.776 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 | 5 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 42.662 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 16.912 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.
