Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether (CAS 111-77-3) — Sweet N/A Note Fragrance Ingredient
Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether
CAS 111-77-3
What Is Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether?
Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether is a synthetic solvent used in industrial applications and some personal care products. It’s primarily found in cleaning agents, paints, and certain cosmetic formulations. While not commonly used in fine fragrances, it serves as a carrier solvent in functional fragrance applications where solubility and stability are key requirements.
Safety Profile
PROFESSIONAL USEWhat Does Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether Smell Like?
This compound has a faint, slightly sweet ether-like odor with minimal olfactory impact. As a solvent rather than a fragrance ingredient, it lacks the complex evolution of traditional perfume materials. The odor profile remains linear and neutral throughout evaporation, making it functionally useful as a carrier rather than an active scent component.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: COCCOCCO
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether is an ethylene glycol ether with the formula CH3OCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH. It’s produced through the ethoxylation of methanol with ethylene oxide. As a synthetic compound, it doesn’t occur naturally. The molecule contains both ether and alcohol functional groups, giving it excellent solvent properties for polar and non-polar substances alike.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 194 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.035 g/cm³ |
| Flash Point | 93 °C |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial Solvents | 50-100% | Varies | Primary carrier fluid |
| Functional Fragrances | 5-15% | Up to 20% | Solvent base |
Classic Accords
Tip: Not recommended for perfumery applications due to safety concerns and minimal olfactory contribution.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Safer glycol ether alternative with similar solvent properties and lower toxicity profile.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
Not regulated by IFRA for fragrance use due to industrial solvent classification.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
Not evaluated by RIFM as it’s not considered a fragrance ingredient.
Sustainability
As a petrochemical derivative, this compound has significant environmental impact in production. Its persistence in aquatic environments and potential bioaccumulation make it undesirable for sustainable formulations. The industry is moving toward bio-based glycol ether alternatives with better environmental profiles.
Explore Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether
Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.
Browse on iHerb →Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
References
- PubChem Compound Summary for CID 8138 PubChem 8138
- EPA Chemical Data Access Tool EPA CDAT
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPhysicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID3025049
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 120.148 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.026 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 193.463 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -70 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 90.096 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.413 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 121.3 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | -0.47 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | -0.587 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | -0.592 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 4.8 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 8.328 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.228 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 3.488 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 31.649 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 172.161 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 38.69 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 3 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 5 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 30.239 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 11.988 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.
