Sabinene (CAS 3387-41-5) — Citrus Top Note Fragrance Ingredient

ByThe Good Scents

Sabinene

CAS 3387-41-5

Origin
Note
IFRA
Generally safe
Data as of: Mar 2026

What Is Sabinene?

Sabinene is a natural terpene found in many essential oils, particularly in black pepper, nutmeg, and juniper. You’ll encounter its fresh, woody-spicy aroma in natural cleaning products and some citrus-forward perfumes. This molecule matters because it adds complexity to fragrances, bridging citrus top notes with deeper woody bases while being naturally derived.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
✓ No major restrictions
⚠ Potential mild irritant at high concentrations
CAS
3387-41-5
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Sabinene Smell Like?

Sabinene bursts with a crisp, peppery-citrus opening reminiscent of crushed juniper berries and freshly cracked black pepper. As it evolves, the scent reveals a heart of warm woody tones with subtle pine-like freshness. The dry-down carries a dry, slightly resinous character that lingers close to the skin. Imagine the aromatic sharpness of a Mediterranean hillside where citrus groves meet wild herbs.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Juniper Sling(Penhaligon’s, 2011)

Sabinene enhances the gin-inspired juniper theme, adding peppery sharpness that mimics botanical distillates.

Blackpepper(Comme des Garçons, 2014)

Used as a bridge between citrus top notes and woody base, amplifying the peppery illusion.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

Sabinene

SMILES: CC(C)C12CC1C(=C)CC2

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Sabinene is a bicyclic monoterpene (C10H16) occurring naturally in the Pinaceae and Rutaceae families. Its structure contains a unique cyclopropane ring fused to a cyclohexane ring. Industrially produced via fractional distillation of essential oils or synthesized from pinene precursors. The (-)-enantiomer dominates in nature, contributing to its characteristic sharpness.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Boiling Point163-165 °C
Density0.844 g/cm³
Refractive Index1.463

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Top-middle
Volatility
Medium (1-3 hours)
Blending
Good
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance0.5-2%Up to 5%Adds peppery lift
Functional Fragrance1-3%Up to 8%Freshness booster

Classic Accords

+ Citrus oils = Sparkling freshness + Cedarwood = Dry woody complexity

Tip: Use sabinene to add naturalistic ‘crushed berry’ effects in woody-citrus compositions.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
α-Pinene CAS 80-56-8

Shares woody aspects but lacks sabinene’s peppery character. Better for pure pine effects.

Layer 3

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 (as of Amendment 49).

RIFM Assessment

RIFM assessment confirms safe use at current industry levels.

Sustainability

Most commercial sabinene is derived as a byproduct of citrus oil processing, making it relatively sustainable. Synthetic production exists but is less common due to complex stereochemistry.

Explore Sabinene

Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.

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References

  1. Bauer et al. (2001). Common Fragrance and Flavor Materials. Wiley-VCH.

Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.

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Physicochemical Properties

DTXSID: DTXSID70863164

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 136.238 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 0.894 g/cm^3📊 OPERA
Boiling Point 160.529 °C📊 OPERA
Melting Point 30.131 °C📊 OPERA
Flash Point 36.961 °C📊 OPERA
Refractive Index 1.484 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 153.074 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 4.167 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 5.5) 4.167 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 4.167 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 4.48 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0 mol/L📊 OPERA
Henry's Law Constant 0.058 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 3.624 mmHg📊 OPERA
Viscosity 0.747 cP📊 OPERA
Surface Tension 28.758 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
Thermal Conductivity 114.027 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 1 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 43.76 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 17.348 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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