Dihydro-alpha-terpineol (CAS 498-81-7) — Floral Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient

Floral · Woody

Dihydro-alpha-terpineol

CAS 498-81-7

Origin
synthetic
Note
Middle
IFRA
Generally safe
Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is Dihydro-alpha-terpineol?

Dihydro-alpha-terpineol is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used in perfumes and household products to add fresh, floral-citrus notes. It’s commonly found in air fresheners, detergents, and personal care items where a clean, uplifting scent is desired. This versatile molecule helps create balanced floral bouquets while adding subtle woody undertones. Its stability makes it valuable for products requiring long-lasting freshness.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
No major restrictions
Not classified as an allergen
CAS
498-81-7
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Floral · Woody
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Dihydro-alpha-terpineol Smell Like?

Dihydro-alpha-terpineol opens with crisp citrus-lime facets that quickly soften into a floral heart reminiscent of lily-of-the-valley with a dewy freshness. As it evolves, subtle pine-like woody notes emerge, creating an intriguing contrast with the initial brightness. The dry-down reveals a clean, slightly powdery muskiness that lingers close to the skin. Its odor profile bridges floral freshness with woody depth, making it particularly useful for modern fougère and citrus-floral compositions where balanced tenacity is required.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Cool Water(Davidoff, 1988)

Used as a floral-woody bridge between the citrus top notes and herbal heart, contributing to the fragrance’s signature aquatic freshness.

L'Eau d'Issey(Issey Miyake, 1992)

Enhances the floralcy of lotus while adding subtle woody depth to this aquatic floral masterpiece.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

Dihydro-alpha-terpineol

SMILES: CC1CCC(CC1)C(C)(C)O

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Dihydro-alpha-terpineol is a monoterpenoid alcohol synthesized through hydrogenation of alpha-terpineol. Its saturated structure provides greater oxidative stability compared to its unsaturated counterpart. The molecule exists as a racemic mixture unless specifically resolved, with the different enantiomers exhibiting slight variations in odor intensity. Industrial synthesis typically involves catalytic hydrogenation of pinene-derived intermediates.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Boiling PointNot available
DensityNot available

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Middle
Volatility
Medium (2-6 hours)
Blending
Good
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance1-5%Up to 10%Floral-woody modifier
Functional Fragrances0.5-3%Up to 5%Freshness booster

Classic Accords

Tip: Use with ionones to enhance floralcy without overpowering delicate top notes.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Alpha-Terpineol CAS 98-55-5

More pronounced pine character with higher volatility, suitable when brighter top notes are desired.

2
Linalool CAS 78-70-6

For compositions requiring softer floralcy with citrus aspects.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.

IFRA Status

No IFRA restrictions under Amendment 49

RIFM Assessment

Considered safe for current fragrance use levels based on RIFM assessments.

Sustainability

As a synthetic material, dihydro-alpha-terpineol offers consistent quality without natural sourcing constraints. Production typically utilizes renewable turpentine feedstocks. Its stability reduces the need for antioxidant additives in formulations.

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References

  1. Bauer et al. (2001). Common Fragrance and Flavor Materials. Wiley-VCH.

Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.

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Physicochemical Properties

DTXSID: DTXSID4041812

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 156.269 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 0.904 g/cm^3📊 OPERA
Boiling Point 214.529 °C📊 OPERA
Melting Point 59.652 °C📊 OPERA
Flash Point 88.327 °C📊 OPERA
Refractive Index 1.459 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 173.691 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 3.085 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 5.5) 3.085 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 3.085 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 6.71 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0.007 mol/L📊 OPERA
Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 0.034 mmHg📊 OPERA
Viscosity 8.609 cP📊 OPERA
Surface Tension 30.071 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
Thermal Conductivity 127.923 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA

Molecular Descriptors

Topological Polar Surface Area 20.23 Ų💻 Computed
H-Bond Donors 1 count💻 Computed
H-Bond Acceptors 1 count💻 Computed
Rotatable Bonds 1 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 47.476 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 18.821 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.

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