Ethyl ricinoleate (CAS 55066-53-0) — Woody Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Ethyl ricinoleate
CAS 55066-53-0
What Is Ethyl ricinoleate?
Ethyl ricinoleate is a synthetic ester used in fragrances to add smooth, fatty notes. It’s found in some body lotions and soaps. This ingredient helps blend sharp top notes into softer, creamier bases, making scents feel more luxurious and skin-friendly.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Ethyl ricinoleate Smell Like?
Ethyl ricinoleate offers a subtle, fatty-waxy aroma with faint floral undertones. Like warm beeswax melting on skin, it evolves from a slightly green edge to a creamy, slightly sweet base. Its low volatility makes it a quiet background player that helps anchor brighter notes.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used to soften the aldehydic burst and enhance the floral heart’s creaminess.
Helps blend the citrus top with vanilla base for seamless transitions.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCC[C@@H](O)C\C=C/CCCCCCCC(=O)OCC
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Ethyl ricinoleate is the ethyl ester of ricinoleic acid, derived from castor oil. It’s synthesized via esterification of ricinoleic acid with ethanol. The molecule’s fatty chain provides excellent fixative properties while the ester group contributes mild volatility.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | Not specified |
|---|---|
| Density | Not specified |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Fixative and blender |
| Soaps | 0.5-2% | Up to 3% | Adds creaminess |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use to round off harsh edges in woody-amber bases.
Alternatives & Comparisons
More neutral fatty character when less waxy notes are desired.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
Not restricted by IFRA.
RIFM Assessment
No significant safety concerns identified by RIFM.
Sustainability
Synthesized from renewable castor oil. Production has relatively low environmental impact compared to petrochemical-derived esters.
Explore Ethyl ricinoleate
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References
- PubChem: Ethyl ricinoleate PubChem
- Arctander, S. (1969). Perfume and Flavor Chemicals.
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 55066-53-0Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 326.5 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 6.4🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 327 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 159.1 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -0.148💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCCCCCC(CC=CCCCCCCCC(=O)OCC)O🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Base💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | fatty• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | esteralcoholetheralkene💻 RDKit |
| “carries a faint, not unpleasant, oily-fatty, mild and bland odor. It blends very well with the 2,4,6,6-Tetramethyl-5: 6-dihydrobenzaldehy- alifatic aldehydes in Pine fragrances, or with de. There are still unopposed claims that Ozone, as such, is odorless, while secondary CllHleO = 164.25 products from this highly reactive oxidizing agent may supply various types of odor.”📖 Arctander | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “The ester is also used in flavor compositions for a similar purpose.”📖 Arctander |
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: DTXSID80886127
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 326.521 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.912 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 382.56 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | -7.471 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 170.63 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.466 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 353.65 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 6.548 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 5.228 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 6.143 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 11.08 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Viscosity | 26.399 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 32.326 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 158.074 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 | 16 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 98.032 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 38.863 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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