Dihydrocarvyl acetate (CAS 20777-49-5) — Green Top to Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient

Green · Woody

Dihydrocarvyl acetate

CAS 20777-49-5

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

What Is Dihydrocarvyl acetate?

Dihydrocarvyl acetate is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used to add fresh, herbal-minty nuances to perfumes and scented products. You’ll encounter it in air fresheners, masculine colognes, and some herbal-floral compositions. This versatile material helps create natural-smelling mint and herbal effects without the sharpness of actual mint oils, making it valuable for balanced fragrance design.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
No major restrictions
Moderate volatility – consider fixation
CAS
20777-49-5
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Green · Woody
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Dihydrocarvyl acetate Smell Like?

Dihydrocarvyl acetate unfolds with a crisp, cooling mint-herbal opening reminiscent of crushed spearmint leaves without the menthol bite. As it evolves, a subtle woody-carvone character emerges, like the dry-down of caraway seeds softened by a whisper of sweet apple peel. The dry-down reveals a clean, slightly camphoraceous base that lingers with the impression of fresh linen dried in an herb garden. Its medium volatility allows it to bridge between top and heart notes effectively.

Scent Profile
Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

(+/-)-Dihydrocarvyl acetate

SMILES: C[C@@H]1CC[C@H](C[C@H]1OC(C)=O)C(C)=C

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Dihydrocarvyl acetate is a synthetic ester derived from hydrogenated carvone. The hydrogenation process saturates the double bonds in the parent molecule, creating a more stable compound with reduced oxidative degradation. Industrial synthesis typically involves catalytic hydrogenation of carvone followed by acetylation. The resulting material lacks the stereochemical complexity of natural carvone derivatives, existing as a racemic mixture.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Top to Middle
Volatility
Medium (1-3 hours)
Blending
Good
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance0.5-2%Up to 5%Herbal-modifier
Functional Fragrance1-3%Up to 8%Freshness booster

Classic Accords

Tip: Use with citrus top notes to extend their freshness into the heart phase.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Carvone CAS 99-49-0

More intense caraway-spearmint character with higher volatility.

2
Menthyl acetate CAS 89-48-5

Cooler mint effect with stronger cooling sensation.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

Not restricted under current IFRA standards.

RIFM Assessment

No specific RIFM assessment found. Considered safe at current usage levels.

Sustainability

As a fully synthetic material, dihydrocarvyl acetate avoids agricultural impacts associated with natural mint oil production. Its synthesis from petrochemical precursors raises typical sustainability concerns for synthetic aromatics, though its potency allows for relatively low usage rates in formulations.

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References

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

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    Physicochemical Properties

    DTXSID: DTXSID501031358

    Physical Properties

    Molecular Weight 196.29 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
    Density 0.949 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX
    Boiling Point 233 °C🔬 EPA CTX
    Melting Point 12.216 °C📊 OPERA
    Flash Point 90 °C🔬 EPA CTX
    Refractive Index 1.458 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
    Molar Volume 208.468 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

    Partition & Solubility

    LogP (Octanol-Water) 3.901 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogD (pH 5.5) 3.901 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogD (pH 7.4) 3.901 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 5.79 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    Water Solubility 0.002 mol/L📊 OPERA
    Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

    Transport Properties

    Vapor Pressure 0.045 mmHg📊 OPERA
    Viscosity 5.476 cP📊 OPERA
    Surface Tension 29.853 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
    Thermal Conductivity 128.309 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 2 count💻 Computed
    Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
    Molar Refractivity 56.89 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
    Polarizability 22.553 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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