Ethyl octanoate (CAS 106-32-1) — Sweet Top Note Fragrance Ingredient

Sweet · Citrus

Ethyl octanoate

CAS 106-32-1

Origin
synthetic
Note
Top
IFRA
Generally safe
Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is Ethyl octanoate?

Ethyl octanoate is a fruity ester commonly found in perfumes and food flavorings. It’s known for its sweet, wine-like aroma with hints of pineapple and pear. This ingredient matters because it adds a natural, juicy quality to fragrances, making them more vibrant and appealing.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
Safe in regulated products
Non-toxic but use in moderation
CAS
106-32-1
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Sweet · Citrus
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Ethyl octanoate Smell Like?

Ethyl octanoate bursts with a bright, fruity top note reminiscent of ripe pineapple and juicy pear. The heart evolves into a sweet, wine-like aroma with a subtle floral undertone. The dry-down is clean and slightly fatty, leaving a fresh, slightly tropical impression.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Pineapple Vintage(Parfums Vintage, 2015)

Used for its vibrant pineapple top note, enhancing the fruity freshness and adding a juicy, tropical allure.

Aventus(Creed, 2010)

Adds a sweet, fruity dimension to the pineapple note, creating a more natural and rounded aroma.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

Ethyl octanoate

SMILES: CCCCCCCC(=O)OCC

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Ethyl octanoate is an ester formed from ethanol and octanoic acid. It is commonly synthesized via esterification reactions. This compound is widely used in both perfumery and food flavoring due to its pleasant fruity aroma.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Boiling Point208 °C
Density0.865 g/cm³

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Top
Volatility
Medium (1-2 hours)
Blending
Good
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance1-5%Up to 10%Adds fruity top notes
Food Flavoring0.1-1%Up to 2%Enhances fruity flavors

Classic Accords

+ Ethyl hexanoate = Enhanced fruity + Vanillin = Sweet gourmand

Tip: Use in small amounts to avoid overpowering the fragrance.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Ethyl hexanoate CAS 123-66-0

Similar fruity aroma but with a more apple-like character.

2
Ethyl decanoate CAS 110-38-3

Longer-lasting fruity note with a fatty undertone.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.

IFRA Status

No restrictions under IFRA standards.

EU Allergen Declaration

Not listed as an EU allergen.

RIFM Assessment

Considered safe for use in fragrances by RIFM.

Sustainability

Ethyl octanoate is typically synthesized from renewable resources. Its production has minimal environmental impact when properly managed.

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References

  1. PubChem: Ethyl octanoate PubChem CID 7799

Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.

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Ingredient Data Sheet

CAS 106-32-1

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight172.26 g/mol🔬 PubChem
LogP (Octanol-Water)3.5🔬 PubChem
Boiling Point206 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Vapor Pressure0.8251 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
Flash Point82 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Involatility Index0.0678💻 Calculated
log Kp (skin permeability)-1.266💻 Calculated
SMILESCCCCCCCC(=O)OCC🔬 PubChem

Volatility & Performance

Fragrance NoteTop💻 Calculated
Volatility ClassSlow💻 Calculated
Persistence Score0.5 / 5💻 Calculated

Odor & Flavor

Primary Descriptorsfruitysweet• leffingwell
Functional Groupsesterether💻 RDKit
“Fruity-winey, sweet odor, reminiscent of Apricot, Banana and Pineapple with a "fermented"-winey note.”📖 Arctander
Ethyl octanoate has a pleasant, fruity, floral odor (wine-apricot note).📖 Fenaroli

Flavor Notes (Arctander)

“Sweet-winey-brandy-like taste with a distinct fruity note. It finds extensive use in flavor compositions for imitation Apricot, Apple, Brandy, Butter, Citrus fruits, Cheese, Grape, Nut, Pear, Pine-apple, Rum, Strawberry, Banana, etc.”📖 Arctander

Sensory Thresholds

Odor Detection Threshold0.3974 ppm (n=10)📖 van Gemert

Regulatory Status

FEMA NumberFEMA 2449⚖️ FEMA GRAS
GRAS StatusGenerally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS
IOFI ClassificationNature Identical📖 Fenaroli
Data Sources & Attribution
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: DTXSID8051542

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 172.268 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 0.868 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX
Boiling Point 207.64 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Melting Point -45.088 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Flash Point 78.86 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Refractive Index 1.423 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 197.085 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 4.47 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX
LogD (pH 5.5) 3.887 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 3.887 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 5.06 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX
Henry's Law Constant 0.001 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 0.72 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX
Viscosity 1.557 cP📊 OPERA
Surface Tension 27.558 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
Thermal Conductivity 138.702 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA

Molecular Descriptors

Topological Polar Surface Area 26.3 Ų💻 Computed
H-Bond Donors 0 count💻 Computed
H-Bond Acceptors 2 count💻 Computed
Rotatable Bonds 7 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 50.152 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 19.882 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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