Ethyl vanillin (CAS 121-32-4) — Sweet Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Ethyl vanillin
CAS 121-32-4
What Is Ethyl vanillin?
Ethyl vanillin is a synthetic vanilla flavorant found in baked goods, ice creams, and perfumes. It’s about 3 times stronger than natural vanillin. This ingredient matters because it provides consistent vanilla flavor in mass-produced foods and adds warmth to fragrances without reliance on natural vanilla bean supply chains.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Ethyl vanillin Smell Like?
Ethyl vanillin bursts with intense vanilla sweetness – imagine creme brûlée caramelization amplified by 300%. The initial sugary blast gradually softens into a creamy, slightly woody base. Unlike natural vanillin, it carries a persistent ethyl warmth that lingers like vanilla extract spilled on sun-warmed oak. The dry-down reveals subtle phenolic edges that add sophistication to its gourmand character.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used alongside natural vanillin to amplify the oriental vanilla-amber accord while providing better stability in the base notes.
Provides the hyper-realistic vanilla coffee shop effect in this modern gourmand, cutting through white florals with edible warmth.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCOC1=C(O)C=CC(C=O)=C1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Ethyl vanillin (3-ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde) is a synthetic phenolic aldehyde. The ethoxy group increases lipophilicity compared to vanillin, enhancing its odor potency. Industrially produced via Reimer-Tiemann reaction on guaiacol or from lignin-derived vanillin. Unlike vanillin, the ethyl group prevents natural enzymatic production in vanilla orchids.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Melting Point | 77-81 °C |
|---|---|
| Flash Point | 147 °C |
| Solubility | 1g/100mL in water |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Base note fixative |
| Functional Fragrance | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Air fresheners, detergents |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use with ionones to prevent crystallization in ethanol bases.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Natural-derived option when softer vanilla profile needed, though less stable and potent.
For different type of sweetening effect with more caramel-like character.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No restrictions under IFRA 49th Amendment.
EU Allergen Declaration
Not classified as EU allergen.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM-reviewed with no significant safety concerns at reported usage levels.
Sustainability
Synthetic production avoids pressure on natural vanilla agriculture. Current production primarily from petrochemical precursors, though bioengineered routes from ferulic acid are emerging. Waste streams contain phenolic compounds requiring proper treatment.
Explore Ethyl vanillin
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References
- FEMA (2011). GRAS Assessment of Ethyl Vanillin. FEMA 2464
- Brenna et al. (2002). Enantioselective perception of chiral odorants. Chem. Senses DOI:10.1093
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPhysicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID5021968
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 166.176 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.307 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 290.25 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 76.685 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 140.04 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.574 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 140.038 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 1.588 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 1.588 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 1.446 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 7.77 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.017 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 6.87 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 43.179 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 150.96 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 | 3 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 46.199 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 18.315 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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