Sorbitan monooleate (CAS 1338-43-8) — Citrus N/A Note Fragrance Ingredient
Sorbitan monooleate
CAS 1338-43-8
What Is Sorbitan monooleate?
Sorbitan monooleate is a synthetic emulsifier commonly found in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food products. It helps blend oil and water components in creams, lotions, and processed foods. While not a fragrance ingredient itself, it plays a crucial role in stabilizing scented products. This ingredient ensures your favorite perfumes and lotions maintain their texture and scent consistency over time.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Sorbitan monooleate Smell Like?
Sorbitan monooleate is odorless and does not contribute directly to fragrance profiles. As an emulsifier, it functions behind the scenes to stabilize scent compositions without altering their olfactory characteristics. Its molecular structure allows it to bind both hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds, creating uniform dispersions that maintain fragrance integrity in complex formulations.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCCCC\C=C/CCCCCCCC(=O)OC[C@@H](O)[C@H]1OC[C@H](O)[C@H]1O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Sorbitan monooleate is a nonionic surfactant derived from sorbitol and oleic acid through esterification. This amphiphilic molecule contains both hydrophilic sorbitol groups and hydrophobic oleic acid chains, giving it excellent emulsifying properties. Industrially produced through controlled reactions between sorbitol and fatty acids, it’s part of the broader sorbitan ester family widely used in food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | Amber viscous liquid |
|---|---|
| Solubility | Soluble in oils, dispersible in water |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emulsions | 1-5% | 0.5-10% | Primary emulsifier |
| Fragrance Fixatives | 0.5-2% | 0.1-5% | Stabilizes volatile compounds |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use with polysorbates for optimal HLB balance in fragrance emulsions.
Alternatives & Comparisons
More water-soluble alternative when higher HLB values are needed in fragrance formulations.
Shorter chain length provides different emulsification properties for specific fragrance systems.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
Not restricted by IFRA – classified as processing aid rather than fragrance ingredient.
RIFM Assessment
Not evaluated by RIFM as it’s not a direct fragrance material.
Sustainability
Sorbitan monooleate is petroleum-derived but considered environmentally benign due to its biodegradability. Current production relies on conventional chemical synthesis, though some manufacturers are exploring bio-based sorbitol routes. Its efficient usage levels and non-toxic profile make it a relatively sustainable choice for emulsion stabilization.
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References
- European Food Safety Authority. (2015). Scientific Opinion on sorbitan esters. EFSA Journal. EFSA Journal 13(5)
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPhysicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID6027397
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 428.61 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.077 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 483.503 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | 73.859 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 206.092 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.506 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 401.06 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 5.485 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 5.33 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 5.48 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 9.36 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Viscosity | 180.829 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 40.89 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 182.027 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 96.22 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 3 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 6 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 18 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 119.224 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 47.264 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.
