Isobornyl propionate (CAS 2756-56-1) — Woody Top to Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient

ByThe Good Scents
Woody · Green

Isobornyl propionate

CAS 2756-56-1

Origin
synthetic
Note
Top to Middle
IFRA
Generally safe
Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is Isobornyl propionate?

Isobornyl propionate is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used to add crisp, woody-pine notes to perfumes and scented products. You’ll encounter it in masculine colognes, forest-inspired body washes, and household cleaners seeking a fresh, outdoorsy character. This versatile molecule helps bridge bright top notes with deeper woody bases, creating scents that feel simultaneously clean and rugged.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
✓ No IFRA restrictions
⚠ Potential mild skin sensitivity
CAS
2756-56-1
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Woody · Green
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Isobornyl propionate Smell Like?

Isobornyl propionate opens with a brisk, camphoraceous pine note reminiscent of freshly split lumber, quickly softening into a rounded woody character with subtle fruity undertones. As it dries, it reveals a clean, slightly sweet balsamic quality like sun-warmed tree resin, without the heaviness of traditional balsams. The dry-down maintains excellent diffusion, leaving a lingering impression of alpine air – crisp yet surprisingly smooth for such a vibrant woody note.

Scent Profile
Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

Isobornyl propanoate

SMILES: [H][C@]12CC[C@@](C)([C@H](C1)OC(=O)CC)C2(C)C

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Isobornyl propionate is an ester formed from isoborneol and propionic acid, belonging to the bicyclic monoterpenoid class. Industrially produced via esterification of isoborneol (itself derived from camphene), it lacks the variability of natural terpenes. The rigid bicyclic structure contributes to its excellent stability and resistance to oxidation compared to simpler terpene esters. While often used as a single isomer, minor impurities of related bornyl esters can influence its olfactory profile.

Physical & Chemical Properties

AppearanceColorless to pale yellow liquid
Boiling Point~230 °C (estimated)
Density~0.95 g/cm³ (estimated)

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Top to Middle
Volatility
Medium (2-4 hours)
Blending
Good
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance1-5%Up to 8%Adds woody lift to fougères
Functional Products0.5-3%Up to 5%Clean pine effect in detergents
Body Care0.2-2%Up to 3%Sporty freshness in deodorants

Classic Accords

Tip: Use with citrus top notes to prevent excessive sharpness in the dry-down.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Bornyl acetate CAS 76-49-3

Milder, more balsamic alternative with similar woody-pine character but lower odor intensity.

2
Terpinyl acetate CAS 80-26-2

Softer floral-woody profile when a less camphoraceous effect is desired.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.

IFRA Status

Not restricted under current IFRA standards (Amendment 49).

RIFM Assessment

Considered safe for current fragrance use levels based on RIFM’s 2015 evaluation.

Sustainability

As a fully synthetic material, isobornyl propionate avoids forestry impacts associated with natural pine derivatives. Its production from camphene (a turpentine byproduct) represents efficient utilization of paper industry waste streams. The esterification process typically employs green chemistry principles with high atom economy and minimal hazardous byproducts.

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References

    Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.

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    Perfumer’s Notes

    FEMA #: 2163

    Isobornyl propionate has a characteristic, definite turpentine odor but less pungent than the corresponding acetate.

    Odor: turpentine;fruit

    MW: 210.31

    LogP: 3.8

    Ingredient Data Sheet

    CAS 2756-56-1

    Physical Properties

    Molecular Weight210.31 g/mol🔬 PubChem
    LogP (Octanol-Water)3.8🔬 PubChem
    Boiling Point248.1 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
    Vapor Pressure0.0233 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
    Flash Point100 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
    Involatility Index0.0017💻 Calculated
    log Kp (skin permeability)-1.285💻 Calculated
    SMILESCCC(=O)OC1CC2CCC1(C2(C)C)C🔬 PubChem

    Volatility & Performance

    Fragrance NoteHeart💻 Calculated
    Volatility ClassVery slow💻 Calculated
    Persistence Score3.4 / 5💻 Calculated

    Odor & Flavor

    Functional Groupsesterether💻 RDKit
    “acetate. The turpentine odor type is still there, but it is softer and combined with almost Lavender-like herbaceous notes.”📖 Arctander
    Isobornyl propionate has a characteristic, definite turpentine odor but less pungent than the corresponding acetate.📖 Fenaroli

    Flavor Notes (Arctander)

    “Traces of this ester are occasionally used in flavor compositions for imitation fruit, e.g. Strawberry, Blackcurrant, etc.”📖 Arctander

    Regulatory Status

    FEMA NumberFEMA 2163⚖️ FEMA GRAS
    GRAS StatusGenerally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS
    Data Sources & Attribution
    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: DTXSID2042062

    Physical Properties

    Molecular Weight 210.317 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
    Density 0.971 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX
    Boiling Point 248.1 °C🔬 EPA CTX
    Melting Point 42.975 °C📊 OPERA
    Flash Point 100 °C🔬 EPA CTX
    Refractive Index 1.48 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
    Molar Volume 211.114 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

    Partition & Solubility

    LogP (Octanol-Water) 5 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX
    LogD (pH 5.5) 4.143 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogD (pH 7.4) 4.143 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 5.83 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    Water Solubility 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX
    Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

    Transport Properties

    Vapor Pressure 0.023 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX
    Viscosity 9.15 cP📊 OPERA
    Surface Tension 31.643 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
    Thermal Conductivity 115.809 mW/(m*K)📊 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 2 count💻 Computed
    Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
    Molar Refractivity 59.978 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
    Polarizability 23.777 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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