Santalol (CAS 11031-45-1) — Woody Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
Santalol
CAS 11031-45-1
What Is Santalol?
Santalol is the primary aromatic compound in sandalwood oil, responsible for its creamy, woody scent. You’ll find it in luxury perfumes, incense, and aromatherapy products. This molecule captures the essence of sandalwood forests in a bottle. Santalol matters because it’s the gold standard for woody fragrances – irreplaceable in creating warm, meditative scents with excellent longevity. Its scarcity has made it one of perfumery’s most prized ingredients.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFE
What Does Santalol Smell Like?
Santalol unfolds like polished wood warmed by skin – initially crisp with peppery facets that melt into velvety creaminess. The top has a medicinal sharpness reminiscent of pencil shavings, which rapidly softens into heart notes of milky coconut flesh and blonde tobacco. Dry-down reveals its true magic: a skin-hugging muskiness with facets of dried apricots and sweet sawdust that persists for days. When diluted, it develops suede-like softness, while concentrated versions showcase an almost animalic depth.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Santalol forms the backbone of this cult fragrance, providing the signature ‘pickle juice’ opening that transforms into addictive woody warmth. The molecule’s natural complexity allows it to shine through the minimalist composition.
Here santalol creates photorealistic sandalwood without sweetness. Perfumers leveraged its dry, pencil-like facets to evoke Buddhist temples, using cedar to amplify its structural qualities.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC(=CCCC1(C2CCC(C2)C1=C)C)CO
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Santalol is a sesquiterpene alcohol existing as α-santalol (Z) and β-santalol (E) isomers. The α-form dominates naturally (90%) and smells creamier. Modern synthesis routes start from camphene or santalene, with enzymatic resolution producing enantiopure forms. Chirality matters – (Z)-α-santalol has 10x greater odor threshold than its enantiomer. Sustainable production now uses biotech fermentation of sugar feedstocks with engineered yeast strains.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 300-302 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.971 g/cm³ |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Foundation for oriental compositions |
| Aromatherapy | 0.5-2% | Up to 3% | Meditation blends |
Classic Accords
+ Violet Leaf + Iris = Powdered wood
+ Rose + Oud = Arabian nights
Tip: Pre-dilute to 10% in DPG to prevent crystallization in ethanol bases.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Synthetic alternative with sharper woodiness but lacks santalol’s creamy depth. Use when cost prohibits natural santalol.
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 restrictions under IFRA standards. Listed in IFRA Transparency List.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM evaluation confirms safe use at current industry levels.
Sustainability
Wild sandalwood is CITES Appendix II listed due to overharvesting. Sustainable options include plantation-grown Indian sandalwood (30-year maturation) or biotech-produced santalol. Synthetic routes reduce pressure on natural stocks but cannot fully replicate the odor profile. Leading producers now use blockchain for supply chain transparency.
Explore Santalol
Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.
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Industry & Science Data
References
- Baldovini et al. (2011). Sandalwood fragrance chemistry. Flavour and Fragrance Journal. DOI 10.1002/ffj.2065
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Ingredient Data Sheet
CAS 11031-45-1Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 220.35 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4🔬 PubChem |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.204💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC(=CCCC1(C2CCC(C2)C1=C)C)CO🔬 PubChem |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | animalicwoody• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | alcoholalkene💻 RDKit |
| Santalol (a- and b-) has a sweet, sandalwood odor.📖 Fenaroli | |
Regulatory Status
| IOFI Classification | Nature Identical📖 Fenaroli |
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: DTXSID1051567
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 220.35 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| Density | 0.965 g/cm^3🔬 PubChem |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4 Log10 unitless🔬 PubChem |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 20.23 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 4 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 68.15 cm^3/mol💻 Computed |
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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