Pentadecane (CAS 629-62-9) — Woody Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Pentadecane
CAS 629-62-9
What Is Pentadecane?
Pentadecane is a synthetic hydrocarbon occasionally used as a fixative in perfumery. It’s found in some industrial fragrances and cleaning products. While not a dominant scent itself, pentadecane helps stabilize more volatile fragrance components, extending their longevity on skin and fabrics.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESSWhat Does Pentadecane Smell Like?
Pentadecane has a faint, waxy odor reminiscent of paraffin or candle wax. It acts primarily as an odorless fixative in most applications, though at high concentrations it can impart a clean, slightly oily character that blends well with musks and woody notes. Its molecular weight gives it excellent tenacity without contributing strong olfactory interference.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Pentadecane is a straight-chain alkane with fifteen carbon atoms (C15H32). As a saturated hydrocarbon, it lacks functional groups that would make it reactive or strongly odorous. Industrially produced through petroleum refining or Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, its purity makes it valuable as an inert carrier and fixative. Being achiral, it doesn’t exhibit optical activity.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 270 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.769 g/cm³ |
| Flash Point | 110 °C |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.01 mmHg at 25°C |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Functional Fragrances | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Fixative for detergents |
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-1.5% | Up to 2% | Base note extender |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use to anchor citrus top notes without adding competing aromas.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Longer chain hydrocarbon with similar fixative properties but even lower volatility.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
Not restricted by IFRA. Listed as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) for fragrance use.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
RIFM evaluation confirms safe use at current industry levels.
Sustainability
As a petroleum-derived material, pentadecane’s environmental impact relates to fossil fuel extraction. Some manufacturers are exploring bio-based production routes from vegetable oils, though commercial availability remains limited. Its stability means minimal environmental release during product use.
Explore Pentadecane
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for Pentadecane CID 12391
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorLayer 3 · Practical
- Odor Profile: gasoline, waxy
- Molecular Weight: 212.41 g/mol
- LogP (XLogP): 7.70
Physicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID6027268
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 212.421 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.578 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 268.261 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 10.275 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 120.586 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.431 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 276.137 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 7.72 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 7.87 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 7.87 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 7.26 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 12.819 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.004 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 2.327 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 26.245 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 138.842 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 | 12 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 71.542 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 28.361 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.
