Oleic acid (CAS 112-80-1) — Musky Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Oleic acid
CAS 112-80-1
What Is Oleic acid?
Oleic acid is a fatty acid naturally found in olive oil and animal fats. In fragrances, it’s used as a subtle background note that adds creamy, waxy depth. While not a star ingredient, it helps blend other components and contributes to a fragrance’s lasting power on skin.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Oleic acid Smell Like?
Oleic acid presents a faint, fatty aroma reminiscent of old books or candle wax – a soft, slightly greasy character that lacks sharpness. At room temperature, it emits a barely perceptible odor of stale nuts and cooking oil. When warmed on skin, it develops a subtle animalic undertone akin to human sebum, blending seamlessly with other ingredients rather than asserting itself. The dry-down leaves a faint trace of waxy residue, like beeswax without the honeyed sweetness.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCCCC\C=C/CCCCCCCC(O)=O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Oleic acid is a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid with the cis configuration at its double bond, giving it a kinked molecular structure. Industrially produced by hydrolysis of olive oil triglycerides or synthesized from petrochemical sources. The cis configuration is crucial for its physical properties – the kink prevents tight packing, keeping it liquid at room temperature. Often appears as a mixture with other fatty acids like stearic and palmitic acids in natural sources.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 360 °C (dec.) |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | 13-14 °C |
| Density | 0.895 g/cm³ |
| Flash Point | 189 °C |
| Solubility | Insoluble in water |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.1-1% | Up to 3% | Used as a fixative |
| Soap | 2-5% | Up to 10% | Emollient properties |
| Candles | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Wax modifier |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use sparingly to avoid greasy feel – works best when balanced with crisp top notes.
Alternatives & Comparisons
More solid at room temperature, provides harder wax character with less oiliness.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions
RIFM Assessment
Evaluated by RIFM with no safety concerns at current usage levels.
Sustainability
Most oleic acid is derived as a byproduct of olive oil production or synthesized from renewable vegetable oils. Petrochemically-derived versions exist but are less common in fragrance applications. Biodegradable and considered environmentally benign.
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for Oleic acid CID 445639
- Gunstone, F.D. (2004). The Chemistry of Oils and Fats. Blackwell Publishing.
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorLayer 3 · Practical
- FEMA GRAS: 2815
- Molecular Weight: 282.50 g/mol
- LogP (XLogP): 6.50
Ingredient Data Sheet
CAS 112-80-1Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 282.5 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 6.5🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 286.1 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 188.9 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | 0.192💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCCCCCCCC=CCCCCCCCC(=O)O🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Base💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 18.2 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | fatty• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | alkene💻 RDKit |
| “A truly pure acid has very little odor, very little color and very little taste, but most commercial grades, even the "high-grade" materials have a faint, bland-oily odor, sweet-oily taste and usually a faint color. Only "high-grade" material, normally sold under various trade names, is suitable for perfumery purposes.”📖 Arctander | |
| Oleic acid has a faint, fatty odor. This acid darkens on oxidation with a lard-like odor and taste.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “A truly pure acid has very little odor, very little color and very little taste, but most commercial grades, even the "high-grade" materials have a faint, bland-oily odor, sweet-oily taste and usually a faint color. Only "high-grade" material, normally sold under various trade names, is suitable for”📖 Arctander |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 44 ppm📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2815⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| GRAS Status | Generally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| IOFI Classification | Nature Identical📖 Fenaroli |
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: DTXSID1025809
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 282.468 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.892 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 360 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 14.125 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 200.598 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.467 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 313.897 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 7.64 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 6.886 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 5.138 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 10.61 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 | 16.263 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 31.328 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 154.074 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 | 15 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 87.063 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 34.514 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.
