Linalyl Acetate (CAS 115-95-7) — Floral Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
Linalyl Acetate
CAS 115-95-7
What Is Linalyl Acetate?
Linalyl acetate is a floral-scented compound found naturally in lavender and bergamot oils, commonly encountered in perfumes, soaps, and aromatherapy products. It’s what gives these products their fresh, sweet floral character with a fruity twist. This ingredient matters because it provides the clean, uplifting top notes in many fragrances while being gentle enough for skin contact products. Its natural occurrence in lavender makes it a key component of relaxation-focused products.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFE
What Does Linalyl Acetate Smell Like?
Linalyl acetate bursts with a bright, sweet lavender character that’s softer and fruitier than linalool alone. The opening is like biting into a bergamot orange dipped in honey, with the crispness of fresh lavender stems. As it evolves, it reveals a delicate floral heart reminiscent of lily-of-the-valley with a whisper of pear-like juiciness. The dry-down maintains a clean, slightly woody floral aura that lingers close to the skin. Unlike sharper lavender components, linalyl acetate has a rounded, almost creamy quality that prevents it from becoming harsh or camphoraceous.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
The lavender heart is softened by linalyl acetate’s fruity sweetness, creating the signature gentle masculinity of this classic. It bridges the herbal lavender to vanilla base notes.
Linalyl acetate provides the refined citrus-lavender accord that defines this fresh fougère, adding floral depth without heaviness.
Showcases linalyl acetate’s full spectrum from bright top notes to creamy dry-down in a soliflore structure.
The ingredient’s natural lavender character is amplified with pepper for a modern Provençal interpretation.
Linalyl acetate creates the smooth, comforting lavender bouquet that made this a bath product staple.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC(C)=CCCC(C)(OC(C)=O)C=C
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Linalyl acetate is a monoterpenoid ester formed by the acetylation of linalool. In nature, it’s biosynthesized in lavender flowers through enzymatic esterification. Industrially, it’s produced either by extraction from lavender/bergamot oils or by chemical synthesis from β-pinene-derived linalool. The molecule contains a chiral center, with the (R)-enantiomer being more common in nature and having a slightly sweeter odor profile than its (S)- counterpart. The ester linkage makes it more stable than free linalool, contributing to its longevity in fragrances while maintaining good solubility in alcohol bases.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 220 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.895 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | 1.450-1.455 |
| Flash Point | 98 °C |
| Solubility | Soluble in alcohol, oils; insoluble in water |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 5-12% | Up to 20% | Core floral modifier |
| Soaps/Detergents | 0.5-3% | Up to 5% | Provides stable lavender character |
| Aromatherapy | 2-8% | Up to 10% | Key relaxing component |
| Candles | 3-7% | Up to 15% | Good thermal stability |
Classic Accords
+ Vanilla + Coumarin = Soft Oriental
+ Oakmoss + Geranium = Fougère Heart
Tip: Use to soften harsh herbal notes or add floral depth to citrus blends without excessive sweetness.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Natural alternative with similar linalyl acetate content plus complementary herbal notes, but more variable composition.
For brighter lavender effect without the fruity ester character, though less stable in formulations.
Provides similar fruity-floral facets but with additional citrus top notes and phototoxicity concerns.
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 restrictions under IFRA standards. Considered safe at all typical usage levels (IFRA 49th Amendment).
EU Allergen Declaration
Not listed as an EU allergen. May be present in natural oils that contain other allergens.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM assessment confirms safety for current use levels in fragrance (2003 evaluation, reaffirmed 2019).
Sustainability
Most commercial linalyl acetate is synthesized from renewable turpentine feedstocks, reducing pressure on natural lavender crops. Synthetic production avoids seasonal variability and land use issues associated with lavender farming. However, sustainably sourced natural linalyl acetate from organic lavender supports traditional agriculture in Provence.
Explore Linalyl Acetate
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Industry & Science Data
References
- Bickers et al. (2003). Safety assessment of linalool and related esters. Food and Chemical Toxicology. PMID 12804650
- Boelens (1994). Chemical and sensory evaluation of lavandula oils. Perfumer & Flavorist. Industry Journal
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Ingredient Data Sheet
CAS 115-95-7Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 196.29 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.3🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 221 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.11 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 34.4 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0085💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.554💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC(=CCCC(C)(C=C)OC(=O)C)C🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 1.9 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | citrusfloralfruitypearsweet• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | esteretheralkene💻 RDKit |
| “Sweet, floral-fruit odor recalling Bergamot and Pear. The tenacity is moderate to poor. Synthetic Linalylacetate displays an overall "cleaner", less complex odor than the Acetates produced from natural Linalool (from Bois de Rose oil, Ho leaf oil, etc.).”📖 Arctander | |
| Linalyl acetate has a characteristic bergamot–lavender odor and persistent sweet, acrid taste.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “The taste is sweet, fruity, Pear-like with a faintly floral note. It finds some use in flavor compositions for Berry complexes, Citrus flavors, Pineapple, Gooseberry, Peach or Pear imitations, Ginger spice blends, etc. The concentration is normally about 2 to 15 ppm in the finished product.”📖 Arctander |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 1.3451 ppm (n=4)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| EU Annex III | Listed (restricted)⚖️ IFRA 51 |
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2636⚖️ 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: DTXSID7026946
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 196.29 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.901 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 220.167 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -29.928 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 87.5 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.452 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 218.656 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4.052 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.927 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.927 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 5.86 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.086 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 1.561 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 26.792 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 132.285 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 | 5 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 59.01 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 23.393 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.
