Myristic acid (CAS 544-63-8) — Woody Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Myristic acid
CAS 544-63-8
What Is Myristic acid?
Myristic acid is a fatty acid found naturally in nutmeg butter, coconut oil, and palm kernel oil. It’s commonly used in soaps, cosmetics, and food flavorings. While not a primary fragrance ingredient, it serves as a base in many personal care products where subtle fatty notes are desired.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Myristic acid Smell Like?
Myristic acid has a faint, waxy odor reminiscent of old candles or soap bars. It lacks the sharpness of shorter-chain fatty acids, presenting instead as a nondescript fatty background note. In formulations, it serves more as a textural element than an aromatic one, adding body to compositions without asserting distinct character.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCCCCCCCCCC(O)=O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Myristic acid is a saturated 14-carbon fatty acid (tetradecanoic acid) classified as a carboxylic acid. It occurs naturally as glycerides in many plant and animal fats, particularly in nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), from which it derives its name. Industrially, it’s produced through hydrolysis of triglycerides followed by fractional distillation. The pure compound forms white crystalline flakes at room temperature.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Melting Point | 54.4 °C |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | 326.2 °C |
| Density | 0.862 g/cm³ (60 °C) |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soaps | 5-15% | Up to 25% | Adds hardness and lather stability |
| Cosmetics | 1-5% | Up to 10% | Emulsifying and texturizing agent |
| Food Flavorings | 0.1-2% | To QS | Carrier for lipid-soluble flavors |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use to modify the melt point of wax-based fragrance carriers.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Similar functionality with slightly higher melt point (63°C) and less solubility in ethanol-based systems.
Shorter carbon chain (C12) with more pronounced waxy odor and higher solubility in polar solvents.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions. Listed on IFRA Transparency List.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
RIFM evaluation confirms safe use at current levels in cosmetic applications.
Sustainability
Most commercial myristic acid is derived from sustainable palm or coconut oil sources through certified supply chains. Synthetic production routes exist but are less common due to the abundance of natural precursors. Biodegradability is excellent (OECD 301 standards).
Explore Myristic acid
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for Myristic acid CID 11005
- EFSA Panel on Food Additives (2017). Re-evaluation of fatty acids (E 570) as a food additive. EFSA Journal. EFSA Journal 15(5)
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPhysicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID6021666
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 228.376 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.906 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 326.133 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 54.302 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 173 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.451 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 254.256 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 6.11 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 5.509 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.747 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 8.54 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 19.194 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 31.365 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 151.962 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 37.3 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 12 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 68.474 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 27.145 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.
