o-Phenyl anisole (CAS 86-26-0) — Floral Top to Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient

Floral · Sweet

o-Phenyl anisole

CAS 86-26-0

Origin
synthetic
Note
Top to Heart
IFRA
Generally safe
Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is o-Phenyl anisole?

o-Phenyl anisole is a synthetic aromatic compound used in perfumery. It is commonly found in fragrances that require a sweet, floral, and slightly spicy character. This ingredient matters because it adds depth and complexity to floral compositions, often used to enhance the longevity of top notes.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
Safe in regulated products
Check for individual sensitivity
CAS
86-26-0
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Floral · Sweet
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does o-Phenyl anisole Smell Like?

o-Phenyl anisole offers a sweet, floral aroma with a subtle spicy undertone. It evolves from a bright, slightly herbal top note to a warm, floral heart, and finally settles into a soft, powdery base. The dry-down is reminiscent of dried flowers with a hint of vanilla.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Chanel No. 5(Chanel, 1921)

Used to enhance the floral bouquet, adding a sweet, powdery nuance that balances the aldehydes and jasmine.

Shalimar(Guerlain, 1925)

Adds a warm, floral-spicy accent to the vanilla and amber base, creating a timeless oriental fragrance.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

Biphenyl-2-yl methyl ether

SMILES: COC1=CC=CC=C1C1=CC=CC=C1

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

o-Phenyl anisole is a synthetic aromatic ether. It is synthesized through the Williamson ether synthesis, reacting phenol with methyl iodide in the presence of a base. The compound is stable under normal conditions and is used primarily in perfumery for its sweet, floral odor.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Boiling PointN/A
DensityN/A

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Top to Heart
Volatility
Medium (2-4 hours)
Blending
Good
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance1-5%Up to 10%Adds floral sweetness
Soap0.5-2%Up to 5%Enhances floral notes

Classic Accords

+ Vanilla + Amber = Oriental + Jasmine + Aldehydes = Floral

Tip: Use in floral compositions to add sweetness and longevity.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Phenethyl alcohol CAS 60-12-8

A more floral and less spicy alternative, often used in rose compositions.

2
Benzyl acetate CAS 140-11-4

Offers a sweeter, fruity-floral character, suitable for lighter fragrances.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

No restrictions under IFRA standards.

RIFM Assessment

RIFM has assessed o-Phenyl anisole as safe for use in fragrances at current levels.

Sustainability

o-Phenyl anisole is synthesized from petrochemical sources. Efforts are being made to explore greener synthesis routes to reduce environmental impact.

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References

  1. PubChem. o-Phenyl anisole. PubChem CID: N/A

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

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Physicochemical Properties

DTXSID: DTXSID6052584

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 184.238 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 1.02 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX
Boiling Point 274 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Melting Point 29.889 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Flash Point 115.104 °C📊 OPERA
Refractive Index 1.557 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 178.721 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 3.79 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 5.5) 3.79 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 3.79 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 7.2 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0 mol/L📊 OPERA
Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 0.005 mmHg📊 OPERA
Surface Tension 39.294 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
Thermal Conductivity 133.817 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA

Molecular Descriptors

Topological Polar Surface Area 9.23 Ų💻 Computed
H-Bond Donors 0 count💻 Computed
H-Bond Acceptors 1 count💻 Computed
Rotatable Bonds 2 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 2 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 57.523 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 22.804 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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