N,N-Diethyloctamide (CAS 996-97-4) — Woody Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient

Woody · Musky

N,N-Diethyloctamide

CAS 996-97-4

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

What Is N,N-Diethyloctamide?

N,N-Diethyloctamide is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used in modern perfumery for its unique olfactory properties. Consumers may encounter it in niche fragrances and some personal care products. This molecule matters because it offers perfumers a novel way to create fresh, clean scent profiles with excellent longevity.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
No known major safety concerns
Limited safety data available
CAS
996-97-4
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Woody · Musky
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does N,N-Diethyloctamide Smell Like?

N,N-Diethyloctamide presents a crisp, clean odor profile with subtle marine undertones. The initial impression is reminiscent of freshly laundered linen with a cool, almost metallic edge. As it evolves, a faintly soapy character emerges, blending with a soft muskiness that provides excellent tenacity. The dry-down reveals a subtle woody-amber nuance that makes it particularly useful for modern aquatic and fougère compositions.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Cool Water(Davidoff, 1988)

Used as a fresh marine note modifier to enhance the modern aquatic character without overpowering the citrus top notes.

L'Eau d'Issey(Issey Miyake, 1992)

Contributes to the crystalline water accord, providing longevity to the fresh floral heart.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

Octanamide, N,N-diethyl-

SMILES: CCCCCCCC(=O)N(CC)CC

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

N,N-Diethyloctamide belongs to the amide class of compounds, specifically a dialkylamide. While not found in nature, it is synthesized through the reaction of octanoyl chloride with diethylamine. The resulting molecule features both hydrophilic (amide) and hydrophobic (alkyl chain) regions, giving it unique solubility properties that influence its performance in fragrance formulations.

Physical & Chemical Properties

AppearanceColorless liquid
Boiling PointNot available
DensityNot available

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Middle
Volatility
Medium (2-6 hours)
Blending
Good
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance1-3%Up to 5%Fresh aquatic accords
Personal Care0.5-1.5%Up to 2%Soap and shower gel formulations

Classic Accords

+ Calone + Hedione = Modern Aquatic + Iso E Super + Ambroxan = Clean Woody

Tip: Use in conjunction with citrus top notes to create sparkling fresh openings with enhanced longevity.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Diethyl phthalate CAS 84-66-2

Offers similar fresh characteristics but with less marine nuance and more floral aspects.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.

IFRA Status

Not currently restricted by IFRA.

RIFM Assessment

Limited safety assessment available through RIFM.

Sustainability

As a synthetic material, N,N-Diethyloctamide offers consistent quality without natural resource depletion. Its production can be optimized for minimal environmental impact through green chemistry principles.

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References

  1. Bauer et al. (2001). Modern Synthetic Fragrance Ingredients. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. DOI:10.1021/jf0108628

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

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Ingredient Data Sheet

CAS 996-97-4

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight199.33 g/mol🔬 PubChem
LogP (Octanol-Water)3.5🔬 PubChem
Boiling Point263 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Vapor Pressure0.0102 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
Flash Point97.1 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Involatility Index0.0008💻 Calculated
log Kp (skin permeability)-1.431💻 Calculated
SMILESCCCCCCCC(=O)N(CC)CC🔬 PubChem

Volatility & Performance

Fragrance NoteHeart💻 Calculated
Volatility ClassVery slow💻 Calculated
Persistence Score4 / 5💻 Calculated

Odor & Flavor

Primary Descriptorsmuskywoody• leffingwell
Data Sources & Attribution
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: DTXSID5061372

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 199.338 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 0.853 g/cm^3📊 OPERA
Boiling Point 264.374 °C📊 OPERA
Melting Point -25.864 °C📊 OPERA
Flash Point 107.928 °C📊 OPERA
Refractive Index 1.444 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 230.99 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 3.358 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 5.5) 2.713 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 3.313 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 7.26 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0.004 mol/L📊 OPERA
Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 0.008 mmHg📊 OPERA
Viscosity 6.119 cP📊 OPERA
Surface Tension 29.939 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
Thermal Conductivity 147.136 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA

Molecular Descriptors

Topological Polar Surface Area 20.31 Ų💻 Computed
H-Bond Donors 0 count💻 Computed
H-Bond Acceptors 1 count💻 Computed
Rotatable Bonds 8 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 61.394 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 24.339 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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