Gamma-Decalactone (CAS 706-14-9) — Sweet Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
Gamma-Decalactone
CAS 706-14-9
What Is Gamma-Decalactone?
Gamma-Decalactone is a fruity-smelling compound found naturally in peaches, apricots, and coconut. You’ll encounter it in fruity perfumes, gourmand fragrances, and some food flavorings. This lactone creates creamy, peach-like aromas that make scents feel juicy and ripe. It’s prized for adding a naturalistic fruitiness without being cloying.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFE
What Does Gamma-Decalactone Smell Like?
Gamma-Decalactone bursts with the succulent sweetness of sun-warmed peaches, dripping with juice. The initial impression is intensely fruity – like biting into a perfectly ripe peach with hints of coconut cream swirling beneath. As it evolves, the scent becomes creamier, developing a lactonic richness reminiscent of sweetened condensed milk. The dry-down reveals a soft, musky undertone that lingers close to the skin, creating a comforting gourmand trail.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Gamma-Decalactone forms the luscious peach core of this fragrance, blending with osmanthus and vanilla to create an ultra-realistic peach nectar effect that lasts through the heart notes.
Used here to contrast with bitter orange, the lactone provides a creamy counterpoint that prevents the peach accord from becoming too sharp or candied.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCCC1CCC(=O)O1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Gamma-Decalactone belongs to the class of gamma-lactones, cyclic esters formed through intramolecular esterification of 5-hydroxypentanoic acid. Naturally occurring in many stone fruits, it’s typically synthesized via cyclization of 10-hydroxydecanoic acid or through biotechnological routes using yeast fermentation. The gamma position of the lactone ring creates its characteristic fruity odor, distinguishing it from delta-lactones which have creamier profiles.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 281 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.95 g/cm³ |
| Flash Point | >110 °C |
| Refractive Index | 1.446 |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-3% | Up to 5% | Fruity heart note |
| Functional Fragrance | 0.1-1% | Up to 2% | Gourmand modifier |
Classic Accords
+ Osmanthus + Honey = Stone fruit nectar
Tip: Use with bergamot to brighten or with sandalwood to deepen the peach character.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Provides a more intense, coconut-peach character with greater tenacity for tropical compositions.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. IFRA, REACH, EU Cosmetics Regulation standards update periodically. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating. Not legal or regulatory advice.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions. Listed as safe for use in all categories.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM evaluation confirms safe use at current industry levels.
Sustainability
Most gamma-decalactone is produced synthetically from petrochemical sources, though some is derived through sustainable fermentation processes using castor oil derivatives. The synthetic route has lower environmental impact than extraction from natural sources.
Explore Gamma-Decalactone
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Industry & Science Data
References
- Bauer, K. et al. (2001). Common Fragrance and Flavor Materials. Wiley-VCH.
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Ingredient Data Sheet
CAS 706-14-9Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 170.25 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.7🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 114 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0051 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 136 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0004💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.822💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCCCCCC1CCC(=O)O1🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 3.9 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | coconutpeach• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | esterether💻 RDKit |
| “Refined, oily-peachy and extraordinarily tenacious odor. More Peach-like, less Nut-like than Nonanolide-1,4.”📖 Arctander | |
| g-Decalactone has a pleasant, fruity, peach-like odor.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “Very powerful, creamy-fruit, Peach-like taste in concentrations below 5 ppm, perceptible well below 0.2 ppm. This Lactone is considered superior to Nonolactone ("Aldehyde C-18") and Undecalactone ("Aldehyde C-14") as a flavor material, and if it is of proper quality, it shows excellent versatility a”📖 Arctander |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 0.0625 ppm (n=11)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2360⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| GRAS Status | Generally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| IOFI Classification | Nature Identical📖 Fenaroli |
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: DTXSID4022109
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 170.252 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.953 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 283.3 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -5.553 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 142.7 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.447 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 179.856 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.755 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 2.715 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 2.715 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 5.83 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.009 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.005 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 3.041 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 31.018 dyn/cm📊 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 | 5 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 48.041 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 19.045 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.
