Ethyl safranate (CAS 35044-57-6) — Floral Top to Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient
Ethyl safranate
CAS 35044-57-6
What Is Ethyl safranate?
Ethyl safranate is a synthetic aroma compound used to add fruity, floral, and slightly woody nuances to fragrances. You’ll encounter it in high-end perfumes and some luxury body care products. This ingredient matters because it can mimic rare natural aromas at a fraction of the cost, making sophisticated scents more accessible while avoiding supply chain issues of natural alternatives.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Ethyl safranate Smell Like?
Ethyl safranate opens with a bright burst reminiscent of overripe apricots and plum jam, with a subtle metallic edge like saffron threads on copper. The heart reveals a surprising floralcy – imagine gardenias dipped in honey, while the dry-down lingers as a soft woody-musk akin to sandalwood sawdust. Its tenacity is moderate (4-6 hours), transitioning smoothly from fruity top to creamy base without sharp edges.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used here to create the illusion of precious saffron without the spice’s harshness, blending seamlessly with vanilla and sandalwood.
Provides the candied fruit facet that makes this ambery fragrance so addictive, complementing the ambergris accord.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCOC(=O)C1C(C)=CC=CC1(C)C
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Ethyl safranate is an ester derivative with a molecular weight of 194.23 g/mol. While not found in nature, it’s structurally similar to compounds in saffron and certain fruits. Industrially produced via esterification reactions under controlled conditions, its synthesis allows precise control over stereochemistry – crucial since even minor structural changes dramatically alter odor profiles. The ethyl ester group enhances volatility compared to bulkier counterparts.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 194.23 g/mol |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | ~250 °C (estimated) |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-3% | 0.5-5% | Adds fruity-floral complexity |
| Body Care | 0.2-1% | 0.1-2% | Use sparingly for luxury effect |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use in traces with white florals to prevent candied overtones from dominating.
Alternatives & Comparisons
When more leathery-saffron character is desired, though requires dosage adjustments due to greater potency.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No current IFRA restrictions (as of Amendment 51).
RIFM Assessment
RIFM has reviewed ethyl safranate and found it safe for current fragrance use patterns.
Sustainability
As a synthetic material, ethyl safranate avoids agricultural impacts of natural saffron production. Its efficient synthesis from petrochemical precursors has relatively low carbon footprint compared to crop-derived aroma chemicals. Future bio-synthesis routes may further improve sustainability.
Explore Ethyl safranate
Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.
Browse on iHerb →Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
References
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 35044-57-6Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 194.27 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.9🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 235 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0204 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 90.2 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0016💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.826💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCOC(=O)C1C(=CC=CC1(C)C)C🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 3.1 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | applefruityherbalspicy• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | esteretheralkene💻 RDKit |
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: DTXSID7052026
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 194.274 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.957 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 236.24 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | 20.478 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 94.278 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.467 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 203.558 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.823 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.823 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.823 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 5.76 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.005 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.023 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Viscosity | 3.664 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 28.301 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 129.836 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 | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 56.487 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 22.393 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.
Related Research
- Methyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate (CAS 6386-38-5) — Woody N/A Note Fragrance Ingredient
- 4-Ethylbenzaldehyde (CAS 4748-78-1) — Sweet Heart to base Note Fragrance Ingredient
- Myrcene (CAS 123-35-3) — Citrus Top Note Fragrance Ingredient
- Bourgeonal (CAS 18127-01-0) — Floral Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
