Retinol (CAS 68-26-8) — Citrus Top Note Fragrance Ingredient
Retinol
CAS 68-26-8
What Is Retinol?
Retinol is a synthetic form of vitamin A primarily found in skincare products, where it’s prized for its anti-aging benefits. While it has no significant fragrance role, it’s sometimes used in cosmetic formulations that combine skincare with subtle scent profiles. Though odorless itself, retinol’s presence in beauty products matters because it interacts with fragrance ingredients, requiring careful formulation to maintain stability in creams and serums with aromatic components.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESSWhat Does Retinol Smell Like?
Retinol is essentially odorless, presenting no discernible scent profile in pure form. In formulations, it may develop faint waxy or fatty undertones upon oxidation over time. Unlike traditional fragrance ingredients, it doesn’t contribute top, heart, or base notes, but its chemical instability requires careful pairing with antioxidants when used in scented products to prevent degradation that could alter a fragrance’s intended character.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: C\C(=C/CO)\C=C\C=C(/C)\C=C\C1=C(C)CCCC1(C)C
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Retinol is a diterpenoid alcohol belonging to the retinoid class, featuring a polyene chain terminated by a hydroxyl group. Commercially produced through multi-step organic synthesis from β-ionone, it undergoes isomerization to achieve the all-trans configuration. The conjugated double bond system makes retinol highly susceptible to oxidation and photodegradation. While not chiral itself, its metabolic derivatives exhibit stereochemical activity in biological systems.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 279-280 °F at 1e-06 mmHg |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | 144-147 °F |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.00000008 mmHg |
| XLogP | 5.7 |
| Appearance | Solvated crystals from polar solvents |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skincare Products | 0.1-1% | Up to 2% | Primarily functional, not olfactory |
| Fragranced Cosmetics | Trace amounts | Under 0.5% | Requires antioxidant stabilization |
Classic Accords
Tip: When formulating with retinol in scented products, always pair with antioxidants like vitamin E to prevent oxidation that could alter fragrance profiles.
Alternatives & Comparisons
More stable vitamin A ester with similar skincare benefits but lower irritation potential.
Oxidized form of retinol offering milder effects while maintaining vitamin A activity.
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
Not restricted by IFRA as it is not a fragrance material.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
RIFM has not evaluated retinol as it falls outside typical fragrance material classification.
Sustainability
Synthetic retinol production involves complex organic chemistry with significant energy inputs. While not derived from animal sources, its environmental impact comes from solvent use and purification steps. Some brands now use bioengineered production methods to reduce synthetic chemistry burdens.
Explore Retinol
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for CID 445354 PubChem 445354
- NTP (1992). National Toxicology Program Chemical Repository Database.
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 68-26-8Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 286.5 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 5.7🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 137.2 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 147.3 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -0.401💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC1=C(C(CCC1)(C)C)C=CC(=CC=CC(=CCO)C)C🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Top💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Functional Groups | alcoholalkene💻 RDKit |
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: DTXSID3023556
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 286.459 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.1 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 350.413 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | 60.516 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 147.3 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.549 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 300.031 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 5.68 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 5.845 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 5.845 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 10.79 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Surface Tension | 31.997 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 133.135 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 | 5 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 95.498 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 37.858 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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