Nonadecane (CAS 629-92-5) — Woody Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Nonadecane
CAS 629-92-5
What Is Nonadecane?
Nonadecane is a synthetic hydrocarbon rarely encountered in consumer products. It’s primarily used in industrial applications and specialized fragrance formulations. While not a common scent ingredient, it serves as a subtle fixative in some perfumes, helping to stabilize more volatile fragrance components.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Nonadecane Smell Like?
Nonadecane is nearly odorless to most individuals, presenting only a faint waxy or paraffin-like character at high concentrations. Its primary value in perfumery lies in its physical properties rather than olfactive contribution – acting as an invisible backbone that subtly extends the life of surrounding fragrance materials without altering their scent profiles.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Nonadecane is a straight-chain alkane with 19 carbon atoms (C19H40). As a saturated hydrocarbon, it lacks functional groups and exists as a colorless liquid at room temperature. Industrially produced through petroleum distillation and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, its high molecular weight contributes to low volatility. The molecule’s simplicity and symmetry make it chemically inert, serving primarily as a solvent or diluent in specialized applications.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 268.52 g/mol |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | 330 °C |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Functional Fragrance | <1% | 0.1-2% | Fixative for industrial applications |
| Fine Fragrance | Trace | 0.01-0.5% | Rarely used in artistic perfumery |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use micro-quantities to extend dry-down without adding detectable scent.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Shorter carbon chain with similar fixative properties but slightly higher volatility.
Natural-derived alternative with superior skin-feel properties for cosmetic applications.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions apply to nonadecane (IFRA 49th Amendment).
RIFM Assessment
RIFM considers nonadecane safe for current fragrance uses based on structural analogs.
Sustainability
As a petroleum-derived material, nonadecane’s environmental impact depends on production methods. While not biodegradable, its extreme chemical stability means minimal environmental release in typical applications. Some manufacturers are exploring bio-based production routes from renewable feedstocks.
Explore Nonadecane
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for Nonadecane CID 12401
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorLayer 3 · Practical
- Molecular Weight: 268.50 g/mol
- LogP (XLogP): 9.90
Ingredient Data Sheet
CAS 629-92-5Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 268.5 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 9.9🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 329.7 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 4.9 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 100 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.3223💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | 2.691💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Moderate💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 0.5 / 5💻 Calculated |
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: DTXSID9047170
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 268.529 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.786 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 329.946 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 32.406 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 153.62 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.439 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 342.164 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 9.702 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 9.702 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 9.702 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 8.95 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 3.8 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 27.299 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 142.503 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 0 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 16 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 90.073 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 35.708 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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