Hydroxycitronellol (CAS 107-74-4) — Floral Top to Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
Hydroxycitronellol
CAS 107-74-4
What Is Hydroxycitronellol?
Hydroxycitronellol is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used to add fresh, floral, and citrusy notes to perfumes and personal care products. It’s commonly found in shampoos, lotions, and fine fragrances. This ingredient matters because it provides a long-lasting, natural-like floral character without the variability of natural extracts, making formulations more consistent and reliable.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Hydroxycitronellol Smell Like?
Hydroxycitronellol offers a bright, fresh floral-citrus aroma with a subtle rosy undertone. Imagine dew-covered rose petals blended with a squeeze of lemon zest—it opens with a sparkling citrus top note that mellows into a soft, sweet floral heart. The dry-down is clean and slightly green, reminiscent of freshly cut stems. Its tenacity is moderate, making it a versatile blender that bridges top and heart notes without overpowering.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used here to enhance the fruity-floral character, adding a fresh, dewy quality that balances the sweetness of quince and jasmine.
Provides a crisp, citrusy lift to the top notes, complementing the Sicilian lemon and apple accords.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC(CCO)CCCC(C)(C)O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Hydroxycitronellol is a monoterpenoid alcohol, structurally related to citronellol with an added hydroxyl group. It is typically synthesized from citronellal via hydroformylation or oxidation routes. The compound exists in enantiomeric forms, with the (R)-enantiomer being more prevalent in nature. Its polar hydroxyl group enhances water solubility compared to its parent compound, making it useful in aqueous formulations.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | Not specified |
|---|---|
| Density | Not specified |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-5% | Up to 10% | Adds freshness and floralcy |
| Personal Care | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Provides clean, floral notes |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use in citrus-floral blends to add natural freshness without excessive sweetness.
Alternatives & Comparisons
More rosy but less fresh, used when a stronger floral character is desired.
Offers a honeyed rose note, better for warmer, denser floral compositions.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
Not restricted by IFRA. Safe for use in all categories.
EU Allergen Declaration
Not listed as an EU allergen.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM assessment confirms safety at current usage levels.
Sustainability
Synthetic production ensures consistent quality and reduces pressure on natural resources. The manufacturing process is optimized for minimal environmental impact, with low waste generation and energy use.
Explore Hydroxycitronellol
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References
- PubChem: Hydroxycitronellol PubChem CID: N/A
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 107-74-4Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 174.28 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 1.9🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 269 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0001 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 108.5 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -2.414💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC(CCCC(C)(C)O)CCO🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Base💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 5.9 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | floralrosesweet• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | alcohol💻 RDKit |
| “However, there are other uses for this alcohol, not always obvious from a brief glimpse at the odor, which is, truly, not immediately impressive. It has an excellent fixative effect upon many types of delicate floral fragrance, and as a blender/modifier for other types.”📖 Arctander | |
| Hydroxycitronellol has an odor reminiscent of rose and grape hyacinth.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “The alcohol is used sparingly in flavor compositions, mainly for imitation Lemon, Lime, Cherry and in various floral flavor themes. The concentration in the finished product may be about 0.3 up to 4 ppm. Sweet floral taste in dilutions below 10 ppm.”📖 Arctander |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2586⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| GRAS Status | Generally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
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: DTXSID6044513
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 174.284 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.91 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 267 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 12.621 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 108.55 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.456 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 189.04 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 1.59 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 2.523 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 2.523 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 7.84 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.019 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 28.471 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 31.53 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 157.728 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 40.46 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 2 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 6 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 51.372 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 20.365 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.
