Lauryl acetate (CAS 112-66-3) — Sweet Middle to base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Lauryl acetate
CAS 112-66-3
What Is Lauryl acetate?
Lauryl acetate is a synthetic fragrance ingredient commonly used in perfumes, soaps, and household products for its fresh, fruity, and slightly floral aroma. You’ll encounter it in personal care items where a light, clean scent is desired. This ester is valued for its ability to add a subtle yet long-lasting freshness to fragrances without overwhelming the composition. It blends seamlessly with other ingredients to create balanced, approachable scents for everyday products.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Lauryl acetate Smell Like?
Lauryl acetate presents a delicate bouquet that unfolds like morning dew on citrus peel – initially bright and slightly tart, then softening into a creamy, fruity heart reminiscent of pear drops and fresh laundry. The dry-down reveals a whisper of floral character, like distant gardenias, before settling into a clean, musky base that lingers close to the skin. Its volatility creates a gentle diffusion rather than sharp projection, making it ideal for intimate fragrances where subtlety is key.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCCCCCCCCOC(C)=O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Lauryl acetate is a straight-chain fatty acid ester formed by the condensation of lauryl alcohol and acetic acid. As a synthetic material, it’s typically produced through esterification under acid catalysis. The molecule’s twelve-carbon chain provides excellent substantivity on skin while the acetate group contributes volatility. Its linear structure lacks chirality, ensuring consistent olfactory properties across production batches. The ester’s hydrophobicity (predicted XLogP ~4.5) makes it particularly useful in oil-based fragrance formulations.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | Colorless liquid |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | ~250 °C (estimated) |
| Density | ~0.86 g/cm³ (estimated) |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Freshness enhancer |
| Soap | 0.5-2% | Up to 3% | Clean note stabilizer |
| Detergents | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Linen accord component |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use as a bridge between citrus top notes and floral heart notes to prevent harsh transitions.
Alternatives & Comparisons
When a less fruity, more waxy character is desired. Lacks the acetate’s fresh top note but provides similar substantivity.
For a similar but more volatile fruity note in top-heavy compositions where faster evaporation is needed.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No restrictions under current IFRA standards.
RIFM Assessment
Considered safe for current fragrance uses based on RIFM’s 2020 ester group evaluation.
Sustainability
As a fully synthetic material, lauryl acetate’s production avoids agricultural impacts but depends on petrochemical feedstocks. Modern manufacturing employs green chemistry principles to minimize waste and energy use. Being biodegradable and of low aquatic toxicity, it poses minimal environmental risk at typical usage levels.
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References
- Burdock, G.A. (2010). Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. CRC Press.
- IFRA Standards Library (2023). Ester Group Evaluation. IFRA
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPerfumer’s Notes
FEMA #: 2616 | IOFI #: Nature Identical
Lauryl acetate has a characteristic citrus-rose odor. The corresponding flavor develops only on dilution.
Odor: [‘citrus’, ‘fresh’, ‘fruity’, ‘rose’, ‘waxy’]
MW: 228.37
LogP: 5.6
Ingredient Data Sheet
CAS 112-66-3Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 228.37 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 5.6🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 150 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0005 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -0.117💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCCCCCCCCCCCOC(=O)C🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 8.7 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | citrusfreshfruityrosewaxy• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | esterether💻 RDKit |
| “Useful in perfume formulations, particularly as a toprate ingredient – in spite of its high boiling point. In fact, the performance of odor, shown by this chemical, is quite remarkable. A lasting odor from the very toprate throughout the various stages of evaporation”📖 Arctander | |
| Lauryl acetate has a characteristic citrus-rose odor. The corresponding flavor develops only on dilution.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “Dodecyl acetate is also used in flavor compositions for imitation Butter, Lemon, Orange, Peach, Pineapple, etc. and in various meat flavor bases.”📖 Arctander |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2616⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| GRAS Status | Generally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| 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: DTXSID7047641
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 228.376 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.864 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 265 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 1.3 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 115.626 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.435 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 263.112 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 5.805 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 5.805 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 5.805 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 7.25 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.002 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 3.157 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 28.744 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 147.325 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 | 11 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 68.684 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 27.228 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.
