Dimethyl sulfide (CAS 75-18-3) — Green Top Note Fragrance Ingredient
Dimethyl sulfide
CAS 75-18-3
What Is Dimethyl sulfide?
Dimethyl sulfide is a volatile organic compound often associated with the smell of the sea, cooked corn, and certain fermented foods. It’s used in perfumery to create marine, oceanic, and sometimes vegetal accords. This ingredient matters because it adds a realistic ‘sea breeze’ quality to fragrances, though it must be used sparingly due to its potent aroma.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESSWhat Does Dimethyl sulfide Smell Like?
Dimethyl sulfide hits with an intense, slightly sulfurous marine burst reminiscent of fresh oysters and ocean spray. The initial pungency quickly evolves into a cooked cabbage or corn-like heart, settling into a subtle, salty-dry seaweed nuance. In dilution, it behaves like sea air trapped in a seashell – briny, mineralic, and hauntingly evocative of coastal landscapes.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CSC
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is the simplest thioether, with the formula (CH₃)₂S. Industrially produced by treating methanol with hydrogen sulfide over an alumina catalyst. Naturally occurs in marine environments from phytoplankton breakdown. The sulfur center makes it highly nucleophilic. Unlike many sulfur compounds, DMS lacks the skunky thiol (-SH) group, giving it a comparatively softer sulfur character.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 37 °C |
|---|---|
| Vapor Pressure | 400 mmHg at 20°C |
| Density | 0.846 g/cm³ |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Accords | 0.001-0.01% | Up to 0.05% | Exceedingly potent – measure by drop |
| Gourmand Modifier | 0.0005-0.002% | Up to 0.005% | Adds cooked vegetable realism |
Classic Accords
Tip: Always pre-dilute to 1% or lower before incorporating into blends.
Alternatives & Comparisons
When a fruitier, less aggressive sulfur note is needed for tropical or durian-inspired accords.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
Not restricted by IFRA. Listed as safe when used at appropriate levels.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
RIFM assessment confirms safe use at current industry levels.
Sustainability
Synthetically produced from petrochemical sources. No known ecological impact at usage levels due to extreme dilution. Natural occurrence in marine environments means biodegradation pathways exist.
Explore Dimethyl sulfide
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for Dimethyl sulfide CID 1068
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 75-18-3Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 62.14 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 0.9🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 37.2 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 502 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | -37.8 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 68.6351💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -2.44💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CSC🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Top💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very fast💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 0.5 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | cabbagepungent• leffingwell |
| “Faint, musty odor. Warm and sweet taste in water.”📖 Arctander | |
| Methyl sulfide has an intense, unpleasant odor, wild radish, cabbage-like. It can be tolerated as a green vegetable note only at very low levels (0.1 to 3.0 ppm).📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “Faint, musty odor. Warm and sweet taste in water. Ethylene glycol has been used as a diluent for flavor compositions but the use of this glycol in food products has been abandoned in most countries now. Ethylene glycol is considered moderately toxic, but the reports on minimum lethal dosis for human”📖 Arctander |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 0.0322 ppm (n=45)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| 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: DTXSID9026398
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 62.13 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.847 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 37.327 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -95.576 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | -40.817 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.425 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 75.518 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 1.062 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 1.183 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 1.183 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 2.26 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.325 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0.002 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 472.444 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 0.328 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 22.214 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 121.861 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 0 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 19.312 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 7.656 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.
