Ethyl levulinate (CAS 539-88-8) — Sweet Top to Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient
Ethyl levulinate
CAS 539-88-8
What Is Ethyl levulinate?
Ethyl levulinate is a sweet, fruity-smelling compound often used in food flavorings and perfumes. You might encounter it in candy, baked goods, or fruity fragrances. This ingredient matters because it adds a natural-smelling juicy fruit character that’s more stable than actual fruit extracts. It helps create realistic strawberry, apple, and tropical fruit effects in both flavors and fragrances.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Ethyl levulinate Smell Like?
Ethyl levulinate bursts with intense, jammy fruitiness – imagine overripe strawberries macerated in sugar syrup with a drop of rum. The top note is all candied red fruits, slightly fermented and boozy. As it dries down, it reveals a caramelized apple core character with a faint herbal undertone. The dryout maintains a persistent fruity sweetness, though it becomes more transparent and slightly powdery like fruit-flavored candy.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Provides the photorealistic strawberry jam note that makes this gourmand fragrance so addictive, blending with vanilla to create a dessert-like effect.
Used subtly in the fruity top notes to enhance the blackcurrant and pear accord with extra jammy sweetness.
Contributes to the luminous raspberry note that makes this fragrance pop, pairing with lychee for a modern fruity-floral effect.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCOC(=O)CCC(C)=O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Ethyl levulinate is an ester formed from levulinic acid and ethanol. While it can occur naturally in some fruits and fermented products, commercial production typically involves esterification of bio-derived levulinic acid. The compound’s fruity character comes from its γ-keto ester structure, which is similar to other fruit-smelling molecules like ethyl maltol. Its relatively high stability makes it valuable for formulations where true fruit extracts would degrade quickly.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 205-207 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.012 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | 1.423 |
| Flash Point | 92 °C |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Fruity top note modifier |
| Body Care | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Sweet fruity accent |
| Candles | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Heat-stable fruity note |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use with ionones to create more sophisticated fruit effects that avoid candy-like simplicity.
Alternatives & Comparisons
More caramel-cotton candy character, less jammy fruit. Higher potency – use at 1/10th the dose.
More baked/stewed fruit character with pineapple aspects. Less stable in alkaline formulations.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions. Classified as a non-sensitizing material.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM evaluation confirms safety at current usage levels in fragrances.
Sustainability
Ethyl levulinate can be produced from biomass sources like sugarcane bagasse or corn cobs, making it a potentially renewable ingredient. Synthetic production avoids seasonal variability of natural fruit extracts. The esterification process typically has low environmental impact compared to extraction methods for natural fruit aromas.
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References
- Burdock, G. (2010). Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. CRC Press. ISBN 9781439832275
- PubChem Compound Summary for Ethyl levulinate CID 10876
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPhysicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID8047058
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 144.17 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.012 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 205.9 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -25.577 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 81.983 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.416 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 144.685 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 0.324 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 0.472 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 0.472 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 4.48 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.444 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.199 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 1.19 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 30.806 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 147.857 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 43.37 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 3 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 4 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 36.283 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 14.384 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.
