Isoborneol (CAS 124-76-5) — Woody Top Note Fragrance Ingredient
Isoborneol
CAS 124-76-5
What Is Isoborneol?
Isoborneol is a naturally occurring terpene alcohol found in some essential oils like valerian and ginger. People encounter it in fragrances, flavorings, and some herbal remedies. This ingredient matters because it adds a fresh, woody-camphoraceous character to scents, often used to create natural pine or herbal nuances in perfumes and household products.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Isoborneol Smell Like?
Isoborneol presents a crisp, cooling aroma that evolves from an initial medicinal-camphoraceous punch to reveal subtle woody-pine undertones. Like walking through a sun-warmed pine forest after rain, it carries both sharpness and roundness – the camphoraceous edge softens into a clean, herbal dryness. The dry-down retains a faintly balsamic, resinous quality that blends well with other woody notes.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used as a woody-modifier to enhance the sandalwood illusion, adding dry pine-like facets that complement the cardamom and violet accord.
Features isoborneol prominently to create authentic coniferous forest aromas, blending with fir balsam and cedar.
Employed for its camphoraceous edge in this dark forest scent, adding lift to the dense fir and moss notes.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC1(C)[C@@H]2CC[C@@]1(C)[C@H](O)C2
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Isoborneol is a bicyclic monoterpenoid alcohol, structurally related to borneol but with the hydroxyl group in a different position. It exists naturally as both endo- and exo- isomers, with the endo-form being more common. Industrially produced via hydrogenation of camphene or isomerization of borneol. The molecule’s rigid bicyclic structure contributes to its volatility profile and distinctive odor characteristics.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 212 °C |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | 212 °C |
| Flash Point | 93 °C |
| Density | 0.96 g/cm³ |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-3% | Up to 5% | Woody-modifier in fougères and chypres |
| Functional Fragrance | 1-5% | Up to 8% | Clean, pine-like notes in detergents |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use to add dry, woody lift to heavy base notes – excellent for preventing resinous accords from becoming cloying.
Alternatives & Comparisons
More camphoraceous with less woody character, useful when a sharper top note is desired.
Offers similar woody-herbal qualities but with a sweeter, more earthy profile.
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 with no significant sensitization risk.
Sustainability
Most commercial isoborneol is synthesized from renewable turpentine feedstocks, making it more sustainable than isolation from natural sources. The synthesis process has relatively low environmental impact compared to many fragrance ingredients.
Explore Isoborneol
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References
- Bauer et al. (2001). Common Fragrance and Flavor Materials. Wiley-VCH.
- PubChem Compound Summary for Isoborneol CID 6552009
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 124-76-5Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 154.25 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.7🔬 PubChem |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.03 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 93 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0026💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.724💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC1(C2CCC1(C(C2)O)C)C🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 2.5 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | camphoraceous• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | alcohol💻 RDKit |
| Isoborneol has a piney, camphoraceous odor.📖 Fenaroli | |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 0.0061 ppm (n=6)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| 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: DTXSID2042060
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 154.253 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.1 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 213 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 213.278 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 83.621 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.502 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 155.364 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.837 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 2.848 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 2.848 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 6.57 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.002 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.03 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 7.835 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 34.232 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 125.116 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 20.23 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 45.855 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 18.178 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.
