Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (CAS 151-21-3) — Citrus Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
CAS 151-21-3
What Is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate?
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is a synthetic detergent found in shampoos, toothpastes, and cleaning products. It creates rich lather and helps remove oils. While not a fragrance ingredient, it’s included here because it’s frequently misunderstood in personal care formulations. SLS matters because it’s one of the most studied surfactants, with extensive safety data supporting its use in rinse-off products at regulated concentrations.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESSWhat Does Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Smell Like?
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate has a very faint, clean fatty odor reminiscent of soap flakes or laundry detergent. The neutral scent profile makes it ideal as a base for formulations where fragrance should dominate. In solution, it imparts no perceptible odor interference, allowing perfumers’ compositions to shine through without surfactant-related olfactory distractions.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: [Na+].CCCCCCCCCCCCOS([O-])(=O)=O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is an organosulfate compound with a 12-carbon alkyl chain. Produced via sulfation of lauryl alcohol followed by neutralization with sodium carbonate. The polar sulfate head group makes it an excellent anionic surfactant. While not chiral itself, commercial grades contain varying chain length distributions from C10-C16 depending on the lauryl alcohol source.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Melting Point | 399-405 °F |
|---|---|
| Density | >1.1 g/cm³ |
| Solubility | <1 mg/mL at 66°F |
| Appearance | White crystals/powder |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shampoos | 10-20% | 5-25% | Primary surfactant |
| Toothpastes | 1-2% | 0.5-5% | Foaming agent |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use with cationic conditioners requires careful phase balancing to avoid precipitation.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Ethoxylated version with milder irritation profile, better for sensitive skin formulations.
Higher solubility alternative for clear formulations requiring lower pH.
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’s not a fragrance material.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
Not evaluated by RIFM as it’s not a fragrance material.
Sustainability
SLS is petroleum-derived but highly efficient at low use levels. Biodegradability exceeds 90% within 28 days under aerobic conditions. Some manufacturers offer palm kernel oil-derived versions, though these raise different sustainability concerns regarding tropical agriculture.
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for CID 3423265 PubChem SLS
- NTP (1992). Report on Sodium Lauryl Sulfate NTP Report
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 151-21-3Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 288.38 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 216 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 180 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| SMILES | CCCCCCCCCCCCOS(=O)(=O)[O-].[Na+]🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
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: DTXSID1026031
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 288.38 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.63 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 216 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 203.456 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 175 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.147 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 1.04 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 1.59 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 9.71 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.433 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 66.43 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 4 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 12 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 67.49 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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