Disodium succinate (CAS 150-90-3) — Balsamic Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Disodium succinate
CAS 150-90-3
What Is Disodium succinate?
Disodium succinate is a synthetic ingredient primarily used as a flavor enhancer in food products, where it creates umami and savory notes. It’s less common in perfumery but appears in some niche fragrances seeking metallic or salty nuances. While not a traditional fragrance material, its unique properties make it valuable for avant-garde compositions that challenge conventional scent profiles.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Disodium succinate Smell Like?
Disodium succinate presents a sharp, metallic tang reminiscent of sea spray on stainless steel, with underlying savory umami characteristics akin to oyster liquor or aged soy sauce. The initial saline punch evolves into a dry, mineral-like persistence, leaving an almost electric sensation on the nose. While lacking traditional fragrance appeal, its ability to impart ionic sharpness makes it intriguing for conceptual compositions.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: [Na+].[Na+].[O-]C(=O)CCC([O-])=O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Disodium succinate is the sodium salt of succinic acid, a dicarboxylic acid that occurs naturally in the Krebs cycle. Synthetically produced through neutralization of succinic acid with sodium hydroxide, it forms white crystalline powders with high water solubility. The compound lacks chirality due to its symmetrical structure. While primarily used in food applications, its ionic character allows unique interactions with other fragrance materials in aqueous systems.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | White crystalline powder |
|---|---|
| Solubility | Highly water soluble |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conceptual Fragrances | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Used for metallic/mineral effects |
| Functional Products | 0.01-0.1% | Trace amounts | Masking agent in cleaners |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use in hydroalcoholic bases to create mineralic effects, but test for solubility issues.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
Not currently restricted by IFRA standards
RIFM Assessment
No specific RIFM assessment available due to limited fragrance use.
Sustainability
As a synthetic material, disodium succinate production has minimal environmental impact compared to natural extracts. Manufacturing typically uses petrochemical feedstocks, though bio-based routes from fermented sugars are emerging. Its high water solubility reduces ecological persistence concerns. The material’s potency at low concentrations contributes to sustainable formulation practices.
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for Succinic Acid CID 1110
- EFSA Panel on Food Additives (2014). Re-evaluation of succinic acid. EFSA Journal. EFSA Journal 2014
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 150-90-3Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 162.05 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 317 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 103 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| SMILES | C(CC(=O)[O-])C(=O)[O-].[Na+].[Na+]🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Base💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Disodium succinate has an acidic flavor. It is used as an acidity regulator and flavor enhancer.📖 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: DTXSID5059741
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 162.052 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.082 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 317 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | 146 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 103 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | -1.64 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | -3.92 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | -5.82 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 7.21 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 1.234 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 80.26 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 4 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 3 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 19.25 cm^3/mol💻 Computed |
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.
