Maltol (CAS 118-71-8) — Sweet Middle to Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Maltol
CAS 118-71-8
What Is Maltol?
Maltol is a synthetic compound used to create sweet, caramel-like aromas in foods and fragrances. You’ll encounter it in baked goods, confections, and some perfumes. This ingredient matters because it enhances sweetness perception without adding sugar, making it valuable for both flavor and fragrance industries.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Maltol Smell Like?
Maltol delivers an intense, warm caramel sweetness with baked bread undertones. Its scent evolves from an initial sugary burst to a lingering, creamy vanilla-like drydown. Imagine toasted marshmallows meeting fresh-baked cookies – this is maltol’s olfactory signature. The aroma persists remarkably well for a synthetic molecule, behaving like a base note despite its moderate molecular weight.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC1=C(O)C(=O)C=CO1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Maltol (3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyrone) is a pyranone derivative synthesized from kojic acid or through various condensation reactions. This white crystalline powder exhibits remarkable stability and solubility in both water and alcohol. Its structure allows for strong hydrogen bonding, contributing to its persistence in fragrance formulations. While naturally occurring in some foods (like roasted malt), commercial production is entirely synthetic for consistency.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Melting Point | 160-164 °C |
|---|---|
| Solubility | 1g/82ml water, freely soluble in alcohol |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Flavors | 10-100 ppm | Up to 500 ppm | Sweetener enhancer |
| Fragrances | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Sweet accent note |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use maltol to add warmth and sweetness to oriental and gourmand compositions.
Alternatives & Comparisons
More potent version with similar profile, used when stronger sweetening effect is needed.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions. Generally recognized as safe for fragrance use.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM has evaluated maltol as safe for current fragrance use levels.
Sustainability
As a synthetic material, maltol production avoids agricultural impacts but requires petrochemical feedstocks. Its high potency means small quantities are needed, reducing overall environmental footprint compared to some natural alternatives. Manufacturing processes have become increasingly efficient with reduced waste generation.
Explore Maltol
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for Maltol CID 8369
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorLayer 3 · Practical
- Odor Profile: berry, caramellic, fruity, strawberry, sweet
- FEMA GRAS: 2656
- Molecular Weight: 126.11 g/mol
- LogP (XLogP): 0.40
Physicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID0025523
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 126.111 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.44 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 200.4 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 157.593 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 127.41 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.561 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 93.546 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 0.336 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 0.055 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 0.034 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 4.53 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.08 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.001 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Surface Tension | 51.792 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 50.44 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 3 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 30.292 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 12.009 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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