Lauryl acetate (CAS 112-66-3) — Sweet Middle to base Note Fragrance Ingredient

Sweet · Floral

Lauryl acetate

CAS 112-66-3

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

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 SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
No significant safety concerns
Not classified as an allergen
CAS
112-66-3
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Sweet · Floral
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What 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.

Scent Profile
Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

Dodecyl acetate

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

AppearanceColorless liquid
Boiling Point~250 °C (estimated)
Density~0.86 g/cm³ (estimated)

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Middle to base
Volatility
Moderate (2-4 hours)
Blending
Good
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance1-3%Up to 5%Freshness enhancer
Soap0.5-2%Up to 3%Clean note stabilizer
Detergents0.1-0.5%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

1
Lauryl alcohol CAS 112-53-8

When a less fruity, more waxy character is desired. Lacks the acetate’s fresh top note but provides similar substantivity.

2
Decyl acetate CAS 112-17-4

For a similar but more volatile fruity note in top-heavy compositions where faster evaporation is needed.

Layer 3

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.

Explore Lauryl acetate

Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.

Browse on iHerb →

Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

References

  1. Burdock, G.A. (2010). Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. CRC Press.
  2. IFRA Standards Library (2023). Ester Group Evaluation. IFRA

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

Report a data error

Perfumer’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

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.

Similar Posts