Ethyl alcohol (CAS 64-17-5) — Sweet Carrier Note Fragrance Ingredient
Ethyl alcohol
CAS 64-17-5
What Is Ethyl alcohol?
Ethyl alcohol, commonly known as ethanol, is a clear, colorless liquid most recognized as the intoxicating ingredient in alcoholic beverages. People encounter it daily in perfumes, hand sanitizers, and household products. As the primary solvent in perfumery, ethyl alcohol carries fragrance molecules and ensures even evaporation. Its high purity (often 95% or higher) makes it ideal for dissolving essential oils and aroma chemicals without altering their scent profiles.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Ethyl alcohol Smell Like?
Pure ethyl alcohol has a sharp, slightly sweet odor with a medicinal undertone that evaporates quickly. In perfumery, its scent is intentionally neutralized through denaturation, leaving only a faintly clean, crisp character that disappears within seconds of application. The rapid evaporation creates a cooling sensation on skin, making it an ideal carrier that doesn’t interfere with fragrance notes. High-grade perfumer’s alcohol is odorless after evaporation, allowing the true fragrance composition to shine without distortion.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Ethyl alcohol serves as the neutral base that carries the iconic aldehyde bouquet and floral heart, ensuring even diffusion without scent interference.
Ultra-pure ethyl alcohol delivers the sharp citrus-ambergris opening with clinical precision, allowing maximal projection of synthetic ambroxan.
The alcohol base provides immediate burst of citrus top notes before cleanly evaporating to reveal herbal heart notes.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCO
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH) is a simple aliphatic alcohol produced primarily through fermentation of sugars or petrochemical ethylene hydration. Perfume-grade ethanol undergoes multiple rectification processes to achieve 95-96% purity, with the remainder being water. Denaturants like Bitrex are added to make it undrinkable while maintaining olfactory neutrality. Molecularly, its small size and hydroxyl group make it an excellent solvent for both polar and non-polar fragrance compounds. Azeotropic distillation creates anhydrous ethanol (99.5+%) for absolute-sensitive compositions.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 78.37 °C |
|---|---|
| Flash Point | 16.6 °C (closed cup) |
| Density | 0.789 g/cm³ |
| Vapor Pressure | 44 mmHg at 20°C |
| Refractive Index | 1.361 (20°C) |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 70-90% | 60-95% | Primary solvent in eau de parfum/parfum |
| Colognes | 80-95% | 75-98% | Higher concentration for freshness |
| Aftershaves | 50-70% | 40-80% | Lower alcohol content for skin comfort |
Classic Accords
Tip: Always use SDA 40B or equivalent perfume-grade alcohol to avoid unwanted odors from impurities.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Cheaper solvent but with stronger medicinal odor, only suitable for technical applications where scent isn’t critical.
Non-alcoholic carrier for fragrance oils in applications requiring alcohol-free formulations.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
Not restricted by IFRA – essential carrier solvent for fragrance industry.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
RIFM considers ethyl alcohol safe as used in fragrance applications with proper handling precautions.
Sustainability
Most perfume-grade ethanol now comes from sustainable sugarcane rather than petrochemical sources. Brazil leads in producing carbon-neutral bioethanol through closed-loop distillation systems that recapture CO2. Synthetic ethanol from ethylene remains common but carries higher carbon footprint. Industry initiatives promote recycled alcohol recovery from industrial byproducts.
Explore Ethyl alcohol
Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for Ethanol CID 702
- IFRA Standards Library IFRA Alcohol Guidelines
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPhysicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID9020584
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 46.069 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.79 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 78.285 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -116.341 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 12.884 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.354 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 59.055 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | -0.288 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | -0.269 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | -0.269 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 3.25 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| Water Solubility | 16.38 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 56.212 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 1.532 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 23.241 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 182.077 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 20.23 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 12.85 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 5.094 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.
