Lactoscatone (CAS 21280-29-5) — Sweet Base Note Fragrance Ingredient

ByThe Good Scents
Sweet · Musky

Lactoscatone

CAS 21280-29-5

Origin
synthetic
Note
Base
IFRA
Use with awareness
Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is Lactoscatone?

Lactoscatone is a synthetic fragrance ingredient that creates a soft, milky, and slightly animalic scent. It’s often used in perfumes and body care products to add a creamy, skin-like quality. This molecule is prized for its ability to blend seamlessly with florals and woods, adding a subtle warmth and complexity that enhances the overall fragrance composition.

Safety Profile

USE WITH AWARENESS
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
✓ Safe in regulated concentrations
⚠ Potential sensitizer – use with caution
CAS
21280-29-5
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Sweet · Musky
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Lactoscatone Smell Like?

Lactoscatone unfolds with an initial soft, milky sweetness reminiscent of warm skin and fresh cream. As it develops, a subtle animalic warmth emerges, like the comforting scent of a baby’s head or sun-warmed wool. The dry-down reveals a delicate muskiness that lingers close to the skin, blending beautifully with floral and woody notes. Its evolution is smooth and linear, maintaining a creamy, slightly lactonic character throughout.

Scent Profile
Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

Lactoscatone

SMILES: CC1(C)CCCC23CCC(C)(CC12)C(=O)O3

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Lactoscatone belongs to the class of macrocyclic lactones, known for their musky and animalic olfactory properties. While its exact molecular structure isn’t publicly documented, compounds in this class typically feature large ring structures that provide stability and longevity in fragrance applications. Synthetic production likely involves ring-closing metathesis or other cyclization techniques common for macrocyclic musks. The lactone functional group contributes to its characteristic milky, creamy odor profile.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Base
Volatility
Low (6+ hours)
Blending
Good
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance0.5-2%Up to 5%Adds creamy muskiness
Body Care0.1-1%Up to 2%Skin-scent enhancer
Detergents0.05-0.5%Up to 1%Subtle fabric softener effect

Classic Accords

Tip: Use Lactoscatone to soften harsh woody notes and add a natural skin-like quality to musky compositions.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Ethylene Brassylate CAS 105-95-3

A more affordable macrocyclic musk with similar longevity but less lactonic character.

2
Pantolactone CAS 599-04-2

For a brighter, more pronounced lactonic effect without the muskiness.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

Not currently restricted by IFRA. Generally recognized as safe at typical usage levels.

RIFM Assessment

No specific RIFM assessment found for this material. Considered safe at industry-standard usage levels.

Sustainability

As a synthetic material, Lactoscatone’s environmental impact is limited to its production process. It offers an animal-friendly alternative to natural animalic materials like musk or ambergris. Being produced in controlled laboratory settings allows for consistent quality and reduces the variability associated with natural sourcing.

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References

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

    Report a data error

    Perfumer’s Notes

    MW: 222.32

    LogP: 3.4

    Ingredient Data Sheet

    CAS 21280-29-5

    Physical Properties

    Molecular Weight222.32 g/mol🔬 PubChem
    LogP (Octanol-Water)3.4🔬 PubChem
    Boiling Point268 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
    Vapor Pressure0.0017 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
    Flash Point121 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
    Involatility Index0.0001💻 Calculated
    log Kp (skin permeability)-1.642💻 Calculated
    SMILESCC1(CCCC23C1CC(CC2)(C(=O)O3)C)C🔬 PubChem

    Volatility & Performance

    Fragrance NoteBase💻 Calculated
    Volatility ClassVery slow💻 Calculated
    Persistence Score5.7 / 5💻 Calculated

    Odor & Flavor

    Functional Groupsesterether💻 RDKit
    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: DTXSID60864983

    Physical Properties

    Molecular Weight 222.328 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
    Density 1.053 g/cm^3📊 OPERA
    Boiling Point 281.242 °C📊 OPERA
    Melting Point 86.043 °C📊 OPERA
    Flash Point 139.859 °C📊 OPERA
    Refractive Index 1.512 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
    Molar Volume 208.463 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

    Partition & Solubility

    LogP (Octanol-Water) 3.445 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogD (pH 5.5) 3.445 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogD (pH 7.4) 3.445 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 6.91 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    Water Solubility 0.001 mol/L📊 OPERA
    Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

    Transport Properties

    Vapor Pressure 0.001 mmHg📊 OPERA
    Surface Tension 37.135 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 0 count💻 Computed
    Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
    Molar Refractivity 62.599 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
    Polarizability 24.816 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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