Ethyl (L)-lactate (CAS 687-47-8) — Sweet Top to middle Note Fragrance Ingredient
Ethyl (L)-lactate
CAS 687-47-8
What Is Ethyl (L)-lactate?
Ethyl (L)-lactate is a fruity, creamy ester found naturally in some wines and fermented foods. It’s also synthesized for use in fragrances and flavorings. This ingredient matters because it adds a soft, slightly sweet dairy nuance to perfumes, helping bridge fresh top notes with richer heart accords.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Ethyl (L)-lactate Smell Like?
Ethyl (L)-lactate unfolds like a chiffon scarf of yogurt-drizzled peaches – initially bright with a lactic tang that softens into warm, milky sweetness. The optical purity of the L-isomer gives it cleaner dairy character than racemic mixtures. In drydown, it leaves a subtle skin-like warmth reminiscent of baby powder.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used here to soften the citrus opening with a dewy milkiness, creating the signature ‘water droplet’ effect. Complements the lotus and freesia heart.
Amplifies the whipped cream fantasy through its authentic dairy facets, blending seamlessly with vanilla and musk.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCOC(=O)[C@H](C)O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
This chiral ester is the L-enantiomer of ethyl lactate, formed by esterification of (L)-lactic acid with ethanol. The stereochemistry profoundly impacts odor quality – the D-isomer smells sharper and more solvent-like. Industrial production typically uses enzymatic resolution or asymmetric synthesis to obtain the desirable L-form with >98% ee.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | Colorless liquid |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | 154 °C |
| Density | 1.03 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | 1.412-1.414 |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Adds creamy diffusion |
| Functional Fragrance | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Softens harsh synthetics |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use with ionones to create smooth powder effects without excessive sweetness.
Alternatives & Comparisons
When stronger caramelized milk effects are needed, though less natural-smelling.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No restrictions under IFRA standards.
RIFM Assessment
Evaluated by RIFM with no significant safety concerns at current usage levels.
Sustainability
Synthesized from bio-derived lactic acid, making it more sustainable than animal dairy extracts. The production process can utilize agricultural waste streams.
Explore Ethyl (L)-lactate
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References
- Burdock, G.A. (2010). Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. CRC Press. ISBN 9781439847503
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 687-47-8Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 118.13 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 0.2🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 154 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 1.6 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 53.8 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.1587💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -3.279💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCOC(=O)C(C)O🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Top💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Moderate💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 0.5 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | floralsweet• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | esteralcoholether💻 RDKit |
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: DTXSID9042336
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 118.132 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.055 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 156.081 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | -21.8 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 50.63 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.42 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 112.434 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 0.233 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 0.223 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | -0.083 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 4.2 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 3.572 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 4 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 2.6 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 30.923 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 157.659 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 46.53 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 3 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 28.482 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 11.291 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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