Dipropyl disulfide (CAS 629-19-6) — Spicy Base Note Fragrance Ingredient

Spicy · Musky

Dipropyl disulfide

CAS 629-19-6

Origin
synthetic
Note
Base
IFRA
Professional use
Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is Dipropyl disulfide?

Dipropyl disulfide is a synthetic sulfur compound rarely encountered by consumers outside of industrial or laboratory settings. In perfumery, it’s an ultra-niche material used in trace amounts for specific effects. This ingredient matters because it can impart extremely powerful onion/garlic notes at minute concentrations, making it valuable for creating realistic savory accords in avant-garde fragrances.

Safety Profile

PROFESSIONAL USE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
Strong irritant – requires dilution
Not for home perfumery
CAS
629-19-6
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Spicy · Musky
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Dipropyl disulfide Smell Like?

Dipropyl disulfide explodes with an intensely pungent, raw onion-like aroma that borders on aggressive at full strength. The initial blast carries sulfurous, almost skunky undertones that gradually soften into a cooked allium character reminiscent of simmering garlic. In dilution, it reveals a surprising complexity – the harshness recedes to leave a savory, meaty depth that works well in gourmand bases. The dry-down persists for hours as a faint sulfury whisper, requiring careful balancing with sweeter notes to prevent overwhelming compositions.

Scent Profile
Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

Dipropyl disulfide

SMILES: CCCSSCCC

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Dipropyl disulfide belongs to the organosulfur compound class, specifically the dialkyl disulfides. While some disulfides occur naturally in plants like garlic and onions, this synthetic version offers precise control over olfactory properties. Industrially produced through oxidation of propanethiol or via reaction of propyl halides with sodium disulfide. The molecule’s S-S bond is responsible for its characteristic odor profile, with the propyl groups modulating volatility and tenacity compared to shorter-chain variants.

Physical & Chemical Properties

AppearanceColorless to pale yellow liquid
Odor ThresholdExtremely low (ppb range)

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Base
Volatility
Very high (detectable for days)
Blending
Challenging
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance0.001-0.01%Up to 0.1%Used in trace amounts only
Flavorppm levels1-10 ppmFor savory applications

Classic Accords

Tip: Always pre-dilute to 0.1% or lower before incorporating into blends.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Allyl propyl disulfide CAS 2179-59-1

Milder onion note with green facets, better for delicate compositions while maintaining sulfury character.

2
Diallyl disulfide CAS 2179-57-9

Stronger garlic aroma from natural sources, preferred for more naturalistic profiles.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

Not currently restricted by IFRA but requires careful handling due to potency.

GHS Classification

H315 Skin irritation H319 Eye irritation H335 May cause respiratory irritation

RIFM Assessment

No formal RIFM assessment available due to extremely limited consumer exposure.

Sustainability

As a synthetic material produced in small quantities, dipropyl disulfide has minimal environmental impact. Production typically occurs as needed rather than in bulk. No known ecological concerns at current usage levels, though sulfur compounds generally require careful waste management.

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References

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

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    Ingredient Data Sheet

    CAS 629-19-6

    Physical Properties

    Molecular Weight150.3 g/mol🔬 PubChem
    LogP (Octanol-Water)2.7🔬 PubChem
    Boiling Point193 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
    Vapor Pressure0.512 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
    Flash Point66.1 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
    Involatility Index0.045💻 Calculated
    log Kp (skin permeability)-1.7💻 Calculated
    SMILESCCCSSCCC🔬 PubChem

    Volatility & Performance

    Fragrance NoteTop💻 Calculated
    Volatility ClassSlow💻 Calculated
    Persistence Score0.5 / 5💻 Calculated

    Odor & Flavor

    Primary Descriptorsgarlicgreenonion• leffingwell
    “The flavor is, according to well-known experiments, almost entirely dependent upon the odor impression. The reasonably pleasant level (unless you dislike Garlic very strongly) is about 0.1 ppm, but concentrations much”📖 Arctander
    Propyl disulfide has a pungent, sulfur-like odor, with penetrating qualities like the odor of onion and garlic.📖 Fenaroli

    Flavor Notes (Arctander)

    “The flavor is, according to well-known experiments, almost entirely dependent upon the odor impression. The reasonably pleasant level (unless you dislike Garlic very strongly) is about 0.1 ppm, but concentrations much This material is one of a number of Disulfides identified in Onion and in Garlic. ”📖 Arctander

    Sensory Thresholds

    Odor Detection Threshold0.13 ppm📖 van Gemert

    Regulatory Status

    IOFI ClassificationNature Identical📖 Fenaroli
    Data Sources & Attribution
    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: DTXSID2022096

    Physical Properties

    Molecular Weight 150.3 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
    Density 0.953 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX
    Boiling Point 194.5 °C🔬 EPA CTX
    Melting Point -85.783 °C🔬 EPA CTX
    Flash Point 66.111 °C🔬 EPA CTX
    Refractive Index 1.501 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
    Molar Volume 155.515 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

    Partition & Solubility

    LogP (Octanol-Water) 3.452 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogD (pH 5.5) 3.452 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogD (pH 7.4) 3.452 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 5 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    Water Solubility 0.008 mol/L📊 OPERA
    Henry's Law Constant 0.003 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX

    Transport Properties

    Vapor Pressure 0.512 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX
    Surface Tension 31.354 dyn/cm📊 OPERA

    Molecular Descriptors

    Topological Polar Surface Area 0 Ų💻 Computed
    H-Bond Donors 0 count💻 Computed
    H-Bond Acceptors 2 count💻 Computed
    Rotatable Bonds 5 count💻 Computed
    Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
    Molar Refractivity 45.84 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
    Polarizability 18.172 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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