Nonanoic acid (CAS 112-05-0) — Musky Middle to Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Nonanoic acid
CAS 112-05-0
What Is Nonanoic acid?
Nonanoic acid is a fatty acid found naturally in some plants and dairy products. It’s also synthetically produced for use in perfumes and flavorings. This ingredient contributes a distinctive waxy, cheesy, or even sweaty odor at high concentrations, but in tiny amounts it adds animalic depth to fragrances. In perfumery, nonanoic acid is valued for its ability to create realistic animalic accords when carefully dosed. It helps replicate the musky warmth of natural animal secretions without using actual animal-derived materials.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESSWhat Does Nonanoic acid Smell Like?
Nonanoic acid presents an intensely fatty, waxy aroma at full strength, reminiscent of aged cheese or goat hair. When diluted, it reveals a more complex character – slightly sweet, animalic, and musky with a persistent leathery undertone. The odor evolves from an initial sharp, almost rancid top note to a warmer, skin-like base that lingers for hours. This transformation makes it valuable for creating naturalistic animalic effects in perfumery, though it requires expert blending to avoid overwhelming compositions.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCCCCC(O)=O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Nonanoic acid (pelargonic acid) is a nine-carbon straight-chain fatty acid (C9H18O2). While it occurs naturally in some plants and dairy products, the perfumery grade is typically synthesized through ozonolysis of oleic acid or oxidation of nonanal. The molecule lacks chirality but its odor perception changes dramatically with concentration. At high purity, it’s a colorless oily liquid with low water solubility but good alcohol solubility. Its carboxylic acid group makes it more polar than typical fragrance molecules, contributing to its distinctive waxy character.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 254 °C |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | 12.5 °C |
| Density | 0.905 g/cm³ |
| Flash Point | 132 °C |
| Solubility | Slightly soluble in water, soluble in alcohol |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.01-0.1% | Up to 0.5% | Used sparingly for animalic effects |
| Functional Fragrance | 0.001-0.01% | Up to 0.05% | Strictly limited due to strong odor |
| Flavor | 1-10 ppm | Up to 50 ppm | Cheese and dairy flavor applications |
Classic Accords
Tip: Always pre-dilute to 1% or lower in alcohol before incorporating into blends to avoid overpowering effects.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Similar fatty character but less intense, with a cleaner waxy profile. Useful when a softer effect is desired.
Branched chain version with less cheesy odor and more refined animalic character.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No specific IFRA restrictions. General guidelines recommend keeping concentrations below 0.5% in finished products.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
RIFM considers nonanoic acid safe for use in fragrance at current levels, with no significant sensitization risk when properly diluted.
Sustainability
Synthetic production avoids reliance on animal sources, making it more sustainable than traditional animal-derived musks. The manufacturing process is well-established with good yield efficiency, though it does involve petrochemical feedstocks. Recent research explores bio-based production from vegetable oils as a more sustainable alternative.
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References
- Burdock, G.A. (2010). Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. CRC Press. ISBN 9781420090863
- Arctander, S. (1969). Perfume and Flavor Chemicals. Allured Publishing. ASIN B0006C08Q8
- PubChem Compound Summary for CID 8158 PubChem CID 8158
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPhysicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID3021641
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 158.241 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.903 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 254.62 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 11.754 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 126.85 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.441 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 171.722 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 212.3 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 2.614 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 0.817 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 7.78 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.002 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.189 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 5.554 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 30.87 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 148.937 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 | 7 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 45.309 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 17.962 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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