Methyl 3-nonenoate (CAS 13481-87-3) — Citrus Top to mid Note Fragrance Ingredient
Methyl 3-nonenoate
CAS 13481-87-3
What Is Methyl 3-nonenoate?
Methyl 3-nonenoate is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used to create fresh, fruity, and slightly green notes in perfumes and scented products. You’ll encounter it in body sprays, fabric softeners, and some citrus-forward fragrances. This ester adds a crisp, modern edge to compositions, bridging the gap between citrus top notes and floral heart accords.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Methyl 3-nonenoate Smell Like?
Methyl 3-nonenoate bursts with a crisp, dewy freshness reminiscent of just-peeled green apples and underripe melon rinds. The initial impression is sharply fruity with a subtle cucumber-like aqueous quality that evolves into a softer, pear-like sweetness. As it dries down, a faint herbal undertone emerges – imagine crushed galbanum leaves blended with white grape juice. The overall effect is bright yet sophisticated, with excellent diffusion that makes it particularly useful in modern aquatic and citrus compositions where traditional citrus oils might fade too quickly.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used here to amplify the sparkling citrus opening while adding depth to the violet leaf accord, creating a seamless transition between top and heart notes.
Provides the crisp apple-like facet that complements the lemon top notes and prevents the composition from becoming too sweet.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCC=CCC(=O)OC
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Methyl 3-nonenoate belongs to the ester class, specifically an unsaturated methyl ester with a C9 backbone. Industrially produced via esterification of 3-nonenoic acid with methanol, typically using acid catalysis. The double bond at position 3 creates geometric isomers (E/Z) that influence odor profile – commercial material usually contains both forms. Unlike many fruity esters, its relatively long carbon chain provides both volatility for top-note performance and sufficient persistence to bridge into mid-notes.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | Colorless to pale yellow liquid |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | ~210 °C (estimated) |
| Density | ~0.89 g/cm³ (estimated) |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Fresh top note modifier |
| Functional Fragrance | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Freshness booster |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use with hedione to extend freshness and prevent harshness in citrus top notes.
Alternatives & Comparisons
More intense melon character with less greenness, useful when a riper fruity effect is desired.
Longer-lasting with a waxy, tropical fruit character for base note applications.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
Not restricted under current IFRA standards (Amendment 49).
RIFM Assessment
Considered safe for current fragrance use levels based on RIFM evaluation.
Sustainability
As a synthetic material, production avoids agricultural land use. Typical synthesis from petrochemical feedstocks raises carbon footprint concerns, though newer routes from bio-based 3-nonenoic acid are being developed. Biodegradation studies show moderate environmental persistence.
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References
- Bauer et al. (2001). Common Fragrance and Flavor Materials. Wiley-VCH.
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPhysicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID1047659
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 170.252 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.89 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 211.024 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | -44.849 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 85.806 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.44 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 190.7 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.639 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.639 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.639 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 5.06 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.002 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.145 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Viscosity | 1.47 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 27.921 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 139.05 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 | 6 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 50.21 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 19.905 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.
