Hexadeca-1,5-lactone (CAS 7370-44-7) — Musky Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Hexadeca-1,5-lactone
CAS 7370-44-7
What Is Hexadeca-1,5-lactone?
Hexadeca-1,5-lactone is a synthetic musk compound used in fine fragrances and personal care products. It’s found in perfumes, lotions, and detergents where a clean, musky scent is desired. This ingredient matters because it provides long-lasting warmth and depth to fragrances without the volatility of natural musks, making scents more durable on skin and fabrics.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Hexadeca-1,5-lactone Smell Like?
Hexadeca-1,5-lactone delivers a sophisticated musk profile – imagine warm skin after a day in the sun, blended with the creamy richness of just-washed cashmere. It opens with a subtle powdery softness that gradually deepens into a velvety, animalic warmth. Unlike some musks that can overwhelm, this maintains an elegant restraint, leaving a sensual trail that lingers close to the skin for hours. The dry-down reveals a clean, almost laundry-like freshness that prevents the musk from becoming too heavy.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCCCCCCCC1CCCC(=O)O1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Hexadeca-1,5-lactone belongs to the macrocyclic lactone family, synthetic compounds designed to mimic natural musk aromas. Unlike traditional nitro musks or polycyclic musks, this 16-membered ring structure offers improved biodegradability while maintaining excellent olfactory performance. It’s typically synthesized through ring-closing metathesis or Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of appropriate cyclic ketones. The lactone’s conformational flexibility contributes to its diffusive yet tenacious scent character.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 242.4 g/mol |
|---|---|
| XLogP | 5.2 |
| Boiling Point | ~300 °C (estimated) |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Foundation for musk accords |
| Personal Care | 0.5-1% | Up to 2% | Long-lasting skin scent |
| Detergents | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Fabric substantivity |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use with ionones to create a seamless transition between floral heart notes and musky base.
Alternatives & Comparisons
A more affordable macrocyclic musk with similar tenacity but slightly sweeter profile.
Polycyclic musk alternative with stronger diffusion but greater environmental persistence concerns.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
Not currently restricted by IFRA. Approved for use in all fragrance categories.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM evaluation confirms safety at current use levels in fragrance applications.
Sustainability
As a synthetic musk, hexadeca-1,5-lactone offers an ethical alternative to animal-derived musks. Modern production methods minimize environmental impact compared to older musk compounds. While not biodegradable, its low usage levels and high efficacy reduce overall environmental load. Manufacturers are increasingly using green chemistry principles in its synthesis.
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References
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPerfumer’s Notes
Odor: [‘dairy’, ‘fatty’, ‘waxy’]
MW: 254.41
LogP: 5.8
Ingredient Data Sheet
CAS 7370-44-7Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 254.41 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 5.8🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 320 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 145.6 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -0.134💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCCCCCCCCCCC1CCCC(=O)O1🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Base💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 13.1 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | fattywaxy• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | esterether💻 RDKit |
| “that Ambrettolide and Cyclopentadecanolide Typical musky, sweet odor of great tenacity are far superior for this purpose (mellowing and fixative power.”📖 Arctander | |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 43 ppm📖 van Gemert |
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: DTXSID40864047
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 254.414 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.902 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 337.079 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | 19.257 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 147.827 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.454 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 280.128 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 5.964 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 5.964 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 5.964 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 8.95 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 | 7.189 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 31.739 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 | 10 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 75.817 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 30.056 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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