Eicosane (CAS 112-95-8) — Citrus Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Eicosane
CAS 112-95-8
What Is Eicosane?
Eicosane is a synthetic hydrocarbon used in fragrance fixatives and base notes. It helps stabilize volatile components in perfumes. Consumers encounter it in long-lasting scents where it subtly extends fragrance life without adding detectable odor. Its importance lies in technical performance – this odorless workhorse enables other ingredients to shine while improving product longevity.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Eicosane Smell Like?
Eicosane is virtually odorless to human noses, functioning as an invisible backbone in perfumery. Its molecular weight provides anchoring properties that slow the evaporation of more volatile materials. In dry-down phases, it contributes a faint waxy smoothness akin to high-grade paraffin, detectable only at very high concentrations by trained perfumers.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Eicosane is a straight-chain alkane with twenty carbon atoms (C20H42). As a saturated hydrocarbon, it exhibits exceptional chemical inertness. Industrial production typically involves petroleum fractionation or Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Its lack of functional groups makes it resistant to oxidation and degradation, explaining its widespread use as a fragrance stabilizer.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 343 °C |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | 36-38 °C |
| Density | 0.789 g/cm³ (20 °C) |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Fixative base |
| Functional Fragrances | 0.5-2% | Up to 3% | Stabilizer |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use to extend longevity of citrus-heavy compositions without affecting olfactive profile.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Higher molecular weight alternative (C22) for even slower evaporation rates in extreme heat formulations.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions apply.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM considers eicosane safe for current fragrance use levels.
Sustainability
As a petroleum-derived material, eicosane’s environmental impact depends on extraction and refining practices. Synthetic production avoids agricultural land use but relies on fossil feedstocks. Future bio-based routes using algal hydrocarbons may offer sustainable alternatives with identical performance characteristics.
Explore Eicosane
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for Eicosane CID 8229
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 112-95-8Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 282.5 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 10.4🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 342.7 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 4.62 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 100 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.2963💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | 2.961💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Moderate💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 0.5 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | waxy• leffingwell |
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: DTXSID1025227
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 282.556 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.789 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 343.364 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 36.651 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 134.025 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.441 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 358.671 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 10.39 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 10.017 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 10.017 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 8.82 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0.987 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 4.427 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 27.487 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 144.602 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 0 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 17 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 94.706 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 37.544 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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