Ethyl palmitate (CAS 628-97-7) — Musky Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Ethyl palmitate
CAS 628-97-7
What Is Ethyl palmitate?
Ethyl palmitate is a synthetic ester commonly used as a fragrance fixative and emollient in cosmetics. You’ll find it in lotions, creams, and some perfumes where it helps extend scent longevity. This ingredient matters because it provides a subtle waxy, fatty character that rounds out sharper notes while improving product texture.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Ethyl palmitate Smell Like?
Ethyl palmitate presents a faint, waxy odor reminiscent of candle wax or cosmetic creams. Its scent profile is subtle – think of the background smell in a high-end hand cream rather than a dominant fragrance note. The aroma evolves minimally over time, serving primarily as a fixative that anchors more volatile components. In dry-down phases, it contributes a barely perceptible fatty warmth that blends seamlessly with musks and woody notes.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used as a subtle fixative to extend the floral bouquet’s longevity without adding noticeable scent character.
Helps stabilize the vanilla-oriental accord while contributing to the creaminess of the base notes.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)OCC
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Ethyl palmitate is the ethyl ester of palmitic acid, formed through esterification reactions. As a saturated fatty acid ester, it’s chemically stable with low reactivity. Industrial production typically involves acid-catalyzed reactions between ethanol and palmitic acid derived from palm oil or other vegetable sources. The molecule lacks chiral centers, existing as a single stereoisomer.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | Colorless to pale yellow liquid |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | 185-187 °C at 15 mmHg |
| Melting Point | 24-26 °C |
| Density | 0.857 g/cm³ at 25 °C |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Fixative/base note |
| Cosmetics | 1-3% | Up to 10% | Emollient properties |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use to soften harsh synthetic musks while extending overall fragrance longevity.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Similar waxy character with slightly higher melting point, useful for products requiring more thermal stability.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions – unrestricted use.
RIFM Assessment
Evaluated as safe for current fragrance use levels by RIFM.
Sustainability
While often synthesized from palm-derived precursors, synthetic production avoids direct palm oil use. Future green chemistry approaches may utilize waste streams or bioengineered yeast production.
Explore Ethyl palmitate
Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.
Browse on iHerb →Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
References
- Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients (6th ed.)
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPhysicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID2047511
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 284.484 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.859 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 333.686 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | 23.889 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 138.7 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.443 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 329.139 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 7.828 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 7.828 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 7.828 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 8.86 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 5.907 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 29.716 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 150.662 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 | 15 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 87.215 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 34.575 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.
