Hexadecanal (CAS 629-80-1) — Base Note Fragrance Ingredient

ByThe Good Scents



aldehydic

Hexadecanal

CAS 629-80-1

Note
base
Volatility
low
MW
240.4
Data as of: Jun 2026

What Is Hexadecanal?

Hexadecanal (CAS 629-80-1) is an aroma chemical used as a fragrance and flavour ingredient. Its odour is described as waxy, fatty and citrus, placing it within the aldehydic family as a base note with low volatility. With a molecular weight of 240.4 (formula C16H32O), it is handled by perfumers as a building block for compositions where a waxy character is desired. The data below is compiled from public chemical and regulatory sources.

Safety Profile

USE WITH AWARENESS

Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
CAS
629-80-1
Formula
C16H32O
MW
240.4
InChIKey
NIOYUNMRJMEDGI-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Hexadecanal 2D structure

Hexadecanal
C16H32O
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Hexadecanal Smell Like?

The odour profile of Hexadecanal is reported as waxy, fatty, citrus, meaty, cardboard, oily, aldehydic, soapy. The dominant facet is its waxy character, with the remaining notes adding nuance and complexity. As a base note it contributes to the dry-down of a fragrance. Perceived intensity and exact character depend on concentration, the carrier and the surrounding accord.

Scent Profile

Profile derived from public odour-descriptor data; relative, not absolute.

Layer 2

Chemistry & Properties

The Chemistry

Hexadecanal has the molecular formula C16H32O and a molecular weight of 240.4 g/mol. Its canonical SMILES representation is CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC=O. Its reported log P (XLogP) of 5.67 indicates a lipophilic, oil-soluble molecule, which informs how it partitions in a formula. Physical constants below are drawn from PubChem and EPA CompTox public datasets.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Molecular Weight 240.4 g/mol
Boiling Point 292.3 °C
Melting Point 35.00 °C
Flash Point 125.8 °C
Density 0.6224 g/cm³
Vapor Pressure 0.0007762 mmHg
Water Solubility 7.625e-07 g/L
XLogP 5.67

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Base
Volatility
Low
Primary Odour
Waxy

Alternatives & Comparisons

Ingredients occupying a similar odour space — useful as substitutes or companions when Hexadecanal is unavailable or restricted.

1
Sorbitan Monooleate CAS 1338-43-8

Shares fatty, oily, waxy character — a candidate substitute or companion in the same odour space.

2
trans-2-trans-4-Nonadiene CAS 56700-78-8

Shares citrus, fatty, green character — a candidate substitute or companion in the same odour space.

3
8-Nonenal CAS 39770-04-2

Shares citrus, fatty, floral character — a candidate substitute or companion in the same odour space.

Layer 3

Safety & Regulatory

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

General reference only. IFRA, REACH and EU Cosmetics Regulation standards update periodically. Consult the current IFRA Standards Library before formulating. Not legal or regulatory advice.

IFRA Status

No IFRA restriction recorded in the data set. This is not a guarantee of unrestricted status — always confirm against the current IFRA Standards Library.

GHS Classification

Signal word: Warning

H315H319H335
Formulating with Hexadecanal?

Open Hexadecanal in Fragrance Studio (Pro) for the calibrated vapour-pressure curve, the modelled odour-threshold estimate, and the substitute-matching engine across 2,900+ aromachemicals.

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References & Sources

  1. PubChem Compound Summary (NIH) — search by InChIKey
  2. EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard — physicochemical & fate data
  3. IFRA Standards Library (49th / 51st Amendment)
Sources: PubChem (NIH) · EPA CompTox · IFRA Standards Library · public GHS classification. Odour descriptors are original editorial summaries of public profiles, not reproduced from any single proprietary source.

Data: PubChem (NIH), EPA CompTox, IFRA. Last reviewed: Jun 2026.

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