Polysantol (CAS 107898-54-4) — sandalwood base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Polysantol
CAS 107898-54-4
What Is Polysantol?
Polysantol is a synthetic sandalwood aroma molecule used in premium perfumes and personal care products. It replicates the creamy, woody depth of natural sandalwood without relying on endangered trees. This ingredient matters because it provides sustainable luxury – delivering the prized sandalwood scent profile while protecting natural resources.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Polysantol Smell Like?
Polysantol unfolds like aged sandalwood oil distilled through modern chemistry – opening with a crisp woody bite that quickly softens into velvety milkiness. The drydown reveals its true magic: a persistent warm embrace of creamy sandalwood with hints of sweet sawdust and nutty undertones. Unlike some sandalwood synthetics, it avoids harshness, instead developing richer facets over time like fine leather absorbing sunlight. The scent lingers close to skin with remarkable tenacity, making it ideal for base note foundations.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Polysantol provides the signature creamy-woody backbone that distinguishes this cult fragrance, blending seamlessly with violet and cardamom while avoiding the sharpness of some sandalwood analogs.
Used alongside natural sandalwood oils to extend their longevity and add modern polish to this woody classic, creating a smoother drydown than traditional sandalwood alone could achieve.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC(O)C(C)(C)C=CC1CC=C(C)C1(C)C
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Polysantol belongs to the santalol family of sandalwood odorants, structurally designed to mimic the key odor-active components of Santalum album oil. While its exact structure is proprietary, it shares chemical motifs with β-santalol and other sandalwood alcohols. The synthesis typically involves catalytic hydrogenation of appropriate precursors to achieve the desired stereochemistry. Unlike natural sandalwood oils which contain multiple active components, Polysantol is a single-molecule solution engineered for consistency and performance.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | Colorless to pale yellow liquid |
|---|---|
| Solubility | Soluble in alcohol and oils |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-3% | 0.5-5% | Base note woody fixative |
| Body Care | 0.2-1% | 0.1-2% | Skin-safe sandalwood effect |
Classic Accords
Tip: Combine with ambroxan to create a modern sandalwood-amber hybrid with enhanced diffusion.
Alternatives & Comparisons
More affordable sandalwood synthetic with sharper top notes but less creamy depth in drydown.
Higher-impact sandalwood molecule with greater diffusion but requires careful dosing to avoid overpowering blends.
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 currently apply to Polysantol under Amendment 49.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM has evaluated structurally similar sandalwood synthetics as safe at current usage levels.
Sustainability
As a synthetic alternative to endangered Indian sandalwood (Santalum album), Polysantol reduces pressure on wild populations while offering consistent quality. Its production avoids the 15-20 year maturation period required for natural sandalwood trees. The carbon footprint is offset by eliminating the need for long-distance transportation of natural sandalwood oils.
Explore Polysantol
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References
- Sell C. (2006). Chemistry and the Sense of Smell. Wiley.
- Bauer K. et al. (2001). Common Fragrance and Flavor Materials. Wiley-VCH.
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 107898-54-4Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 222.37 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.8🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 273 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0035 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 104.8 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0003💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.358💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC1=CCC(C1(C)C)C=CC(C)(C)C(C)O🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 5.3 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | sandalwood• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | alcoholalkene💻 RDKit |
Regulatory Status
| IFRA Listed | Yes — see IFRA Standards for category limits⚖️ IFRA 51 |
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: DTXSID7051551
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 222.372 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.9 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 273 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -18 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 113.53 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.52 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 238.252 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4.33 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 4.16 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 4.16 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 8.76 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.001 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.004 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Surface Tension | 31.36 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 123.375 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 20.23 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 3 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 72.424 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 28.711 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.
