Ethyl methylphenylglycidate (CAS 77-83-8) — Sweet Middle to base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Ethyl methylphenylglycidate
CAS 77-83-8
What Is Ethyl methylphenylglycidate?
Ethyl methylphenylglycidate is a synthetic aroma compound that mimics the smell of strawberries. You’ll find it in candies, sodas, and fruity perfumes where that classic berry note is desired. This ingredient matters because it creates the unmistakable ‘strawberry’ scent in mass-market products, offering an affordable and stable alternative to natural strawberry extracts which are costly and fade quickly.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Ethyl methylphenylglycidate Smell Like?
A burst of hyper-realistic strawberry jam – think warm, sugared berries cooking in a pot with a drop of vanilla. The top note has a bright, slightly tart edge like fresh fruit, quickly rounding into a dense heart of cooked strawberry preserves. Unlike natural extracts, it maintains its candy-like sweetness through drydown without turning woody or fermented. Leaves a lingering impression of strawberry hard candy with a faint powdery finish.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Forms the jammy strawberry core, blending with blackcurrant and jasmine for a modern fruity-floral that avoids being juvenile through woody base notes.
Relies heavily on this molecule to create its photorealistic strawberry note before the champagne aldehydes lift the composition.
Used in overdose to achieve the signature ‘strawberry daiquiri’ effect, tempered by citrus and tropical florals.
Provides the candied berry facet that makes this gourmand distinctive, pairing with caramel and cotton candy notes.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCOC(=O)C1OC1(C)C1=CC=CC=C1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Ethyl methylphenylglycidate belongs to the aryl glycidate ester class, synthesized through the Darzens condensation of acetophenone with ethyl chloroacetate. The resulting epoxide ring contributes to its exceptional stability in formulations. While not found in nature, its structure mimics certain lactones present in ripe strawberries. The (R)-enantiomer is responsible for the characteristic sweet-berry odor, while the (S)-form contributes more generic fruity tones. Industrial production typically yields a racemic mixture unless chiral catalysts are employed.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | Colorless to pale yellow liquid |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | 272 °C (estimated) |
| Density | 1.088 g/cm³ (20°C) |
| Refractive Index | 1.504 (20°C) |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-3% | Up to 5% | Used sparingly to avoid overpowering |
| Body Care | 0.1-1% | Up to 2% | Adds fruity character to shower gels |
| Candles | 2-5% | Up to 8% | Withstands high temperatures well |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use at 0.2-0.5% with ionones to create a more natural strawberry impression.
Alternatives & Comparisons
For a more caramelized, cooked strawberry note with less candy character. Better for gourmand applications.
Higher impact version with greener top notes. Requires dosage adjustment as it’s 5-10x stronger.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No restrictions under IFRA 49th Amendment. Classified as a ‘No Predicted Sensitization’ material.
EU Allergen Declaration
Not listed in EU Annex III allergen declaration requirements.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
RIFM assessment confirms safe use at current exposure levels in fragrances (2019).
Sustainability
As a purely synthetic material, ethyl methylphenylglycidate has no agricultural footprint. Production typically uses petrochemical feedstocks, though some manufacturers are exploring bio-based routes using ferulic acid. Its high potency means relatively small quantities are needed compared to natural strawberry extracts, reducing transportation impacts.
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References
- Burdock, G.A. (2010). Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. CRC Press. ISBN 9781420090772
- IFRA Standards Library (2021) IFRA Official
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 77-83-8Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 206.24 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 1.9🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 272.2 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0017 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 93.3 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0001💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -2.609💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCOC(=O)C1C(O1)(C)C2=CC=CC=C2🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Base💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 4.5 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | fruitystrawberrysweet• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | esteretheraromatic💻 RDKit |
| “not only for its fruity note which is utilized in E.M.P.G. lipstick perfumes with Ionones and fruity Lnctones, but also as a sweetener in floral CH3 complexes for use in fragrance types other J —CH-COO-~H6 than the typical floral ones, e.g. Sweet-fruity, “candy’’-like, warm odor with Prod.: from Acetophenone by condensation considerable similarity to that of Strawberry with Ethyl monochloroacetate”📖 Arctander | |
| Ethyl methylphenylglycidate on dilution has a strong fruity odor suggestive of strawberry. It has a characteristic, slightly acid taste reminiscent of strawberry.📖 Fenaroli | |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 0.0008 ppm (n=4)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| IOFI Classification | Artificial📖 Fenaroli |
Trade Names
| Strawberry pure (Givaudan).📖 Surburg |
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: DTXSID8020591
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 206.241 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.086 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 280.615 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 36.539 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 132.5 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.525 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 181.009 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.6 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 2.467 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 2.467 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 6.35 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.005 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.002 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 1.185 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 39.792 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 38.83 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 3 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 3 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 55.47 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 21.99 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.
