Phenylacetic acid (CAS 103-82-2) — Honey Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Phenylacetic acid
CAS 103-82-2
What Is Phenylacetic acid?
Phenylacetic acid is a naturally occurring compound found in honey, flowers like jasmine and orange blossoms, and some essential oils. You might recognize its sweet, honey-like scent in perfumes, candles, and even some food flavorings. This ingredient matters because it adds a warm, animalic sweetness to fragrances, helping to create depth and longevity in perfumes, particularly in floral and oriental compositions.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESSWhat Does Phenylacetic acid Smell Like?
Phenylacetic acid delivers an intense, honeyed sweetness with a slightly animalic, musky undertone. It opens with a rich, almost syrupy honey note, reminiscent of warm beehives and golden nectar. As it evolves, it reveals a floral heart with hints of jasmine and orange blossom, adding complexity. The dry-down is deep and persistent, with a subtle leathery nuance that lingers on the skin. Its scent profile bridges the gap between sweet florals and animalic bases, making it a versatile and powerful perfumery ingredient.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Phenylacetic acid contributes to Jicky’s iconic honeyed, animalic base, blending with lavender and vanilla for a warm, sensual dry-down.
Used to enhance the oriental sweetness, pairing with vanilla and benzoin for a rich, honeyed depth.
Amplifies the opulent floral bouquet, adding a narcotic honeyed warmth to the tuberose and berries.
Phenylacetic acid is the star, creating an ultra-realistic honey note balanced by vanilla and jasmine.
Used to craft the photorealistic honeycomb effect, mingling with beeswax and orange blossom.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: OC(=O)CC1=CC=CC=C1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Phenylacetic acid is an aromatic carboxylic acid with the formula C8H8O2, consisting of a phenyl group attached to an acetic acid moiety. It occurs naturally in honey, jasmine, and orange blossoms. Industrially, it’s synthesized via the hydrolysis of benzyl cyanide or through microbial fermentation. The compound is chiral, though most commercial forms are racemic. Its key functional groups—the aromatic ring and carboxylic acid—contribute to both its scent profile and reactivity.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 265-266 °C |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | 76-78 °C |
| Density | 1.091 g/cm³ |
| Solubility | Slightly soluble in water, soluble in alcohol and ether |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Adds honeyed depth |
| Soaps/Detergents | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Used sparingly due to strength |
| Candles | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Creates warm honey accord |
| Flavorings | 10-100 ppm | Up to 200 ppm | Food-grade applications |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use in trace amounts to avoid overpowering; it’s excellent for rounding off sharp floral notes.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Offers similar honeyed floral notes but with less animalic intensity, better for lighter compositions.
Provides a sweeter, fruitier alternative without the musky depth of phenylacetic acid.
Esterified form with a softer honey scent and better solubility in alcohol bases.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. IFRA, REACH, EU Cosmetics Regulation standards update periodically. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating. Not legal or regulatory advice.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions. Generally recognized as safe at typical usage levels.
EU Allergen Declaration
Not listed as an EU allergen.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
RIFM assessment confirms safety at current industry usage levels.
Sustainability
Phenylacetic acid can be sourced naturally from honey or produced synthetically. Synthetic production is more sustainable, avoiding bee-derived resources. Modern fermentation methods offer eco-friendly alternatives to traditional chemical synthesis. The compound is biodegradable and poses minimal environmental risk at typical concentrations.
Explore Phenylacetic acid
Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.
Browse on iHerb →Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
References
- Arctander, S. (1969). Perfume and Flavor Chemicals. Allured Publishing.
- Burdock, G.A. (2010). Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. CRC Press.
- EPA Chemical Data Access Tool (CDAT). Link
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 103-82-2Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 136.15 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 1.4🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 265.5 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0038 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 55.6 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0004💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -2.537💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | C1=CC=C(C=C1)CC(=O)O🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 3.2 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | animalichoneysweet• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | aromatic💻 RDKit |
| “Its fixative effect is often underestimated, and unpleasant or undesirable terminal notes may appear in a fragrance, particularly in presence of high-boiling Butyrates and iso-butyrates. The title material is, in the author's experience, one of the most tenacious odorants of all known and used perfumery materials. It will outlast Vanillin on a "blotter test" and a 5% solution of Phenylacetic acid may last more than 3 years on a blotter under normal laboratory air-room conditions. Tiny crystal sc”📖 Arctander | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “In aqueous dilution the taste is, like the odor, quite pleasant at extremely low concentrations, e.g. less than 1 ppm, while the more pronounced honey-like notes dominate the taste impression at higher levels. This acid is one of the most important perfumery acids, and it is widely used, although on”📖 Arctander |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 0.5796 ppm (n=19)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2878⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| GRAS Status | Generally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
Trade Names
| Cinnamalva (IFF).📖 Surburg |
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: DTXSID2021656
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 136.15 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.75 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 257 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 79.518 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 123.389 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.552 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 116.876 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 1.264 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 0.128 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | -1.706 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 6.52 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.118 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.004 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 5.726 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 42.649 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 148.739 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 | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 37.367 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 14.813 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.
Related Research
- Dimethyl sulfide (CAS 75-18-3) — Green Top Note Fragrance Ingredient
- 2-Methoxy-3-(1-methylpropyl)pyrazine (CAS 24168-70-5) — Green Top-Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient
- Benzaldehyde glyceryl acetal (CAS 1319-88-6) — Sweet Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
- Dihydromyrcene (CAS 2436-90-0) — Citrus Top Note Fragrance Ingredient
