Star anise CO2 extract (CAS 68952-43-2) — Sweet Top to Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient
Star anise CO2 extract
CAS 68952-43-2
What Is Star anise CO2 extract?
Star anise CO2 extract is a concentrated aromatic oil obtained from the star-shaped fruits of Illicium verum. People encounter it in gourmet cooking, herbal teas, and oriental-style perfumes where it provides a warm, licorice-like sweetness. This extract matters because it delivers the purest, most authentic anise flavor and scent profile without the harshness of steam distillation, making it prized by perfumers and chefs alike for its smooth, nuanced character.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESSWhat Does Star anise CO2 extract Smell Like?
The CO2 extract bursts with intense, candied licorice sweetness – imagine black jellybeans melting on a sun-warmed stone. Unlike the sharper steam-distilled oil, this retains the fruit’s jammy depth, unfolding with stewed plum richness and a hint of clove-spiced warmth. The dry-down reveals a velvety coumarin-like hay note that lingers like the aftertaste of anisette liqueur. Exceptionally smooth, without the medicinal edges of anethole isolates, it behaves like liquid baklava – syrupy, textured, and impossibly gourmand.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
The CO2 extract’s plummy richness softens the citrus top, creating Guerlain’s signature ‘twilight’ effect where anise merges seamlessly with heliotrope and vanilla.
Used sparingly to bridge the lavender-citrus opening to the animalic base, demonstrating how star anise CO2 can function as both top and mid-note.
The extract’s balsamic facets amplify the benzoin accord while its sweetness tempers the smoky birch tar, creating a uniquely ‘edible’ incense.
Star anise CO2 provides the ‘tea ceremony’ illusion, its steamed rice nuances blending with iris and cardamom for a translucent spice effect.
Modern use case where the CO2 extract’s fruitiness supports the fresh lavender, preventing the vanilla base from becoming overly gourmand.
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Star anise CO2 extract contains over 90% trans-anethole (CAS 104-46-1), a phenylpropanoid that crystallizes at room temperature. Supercritical CO2 extraction at 90-100 bar/40°C selectively captures the fruit’s lipophilic compounds while preserving heat-sensitive sesquiterpenes like α-bergamotene. Unlike steam-distilled oil, this method retains native methyl chavicol (estragole) at 5-8%, contributing to the extract’s rounded profile. The process yields a golden, viscous oleoresin that solidifies below 15°C, requiring gentle warming before use in formulations.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | Golden viscous liquid |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | 15-18 °C |
| Flash Point | 93 °C |
| Optical Rotation | -2° to +2° |
| Solubility | 1:3 in 95% ethanol |
Key Constituent Properties
| Constituent | CAS | MW | BP °C | XLogP | Vapor P. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| trans-Anethole | 104-46-1 | 148.20 | 234 °C | 2.94 | 0.01 mmHg |
| Estragole | 140-67-0 | 148.20 | 216 °C | 2.77 | 0.14 mmHg |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Provides warm spice transitions |
| Gourmand Perfumes | 3-6% | Up to 10% | Enhances edible vanilla effects |
| Functional Fragrance | 0.1-0.3% | Up to 1% | Mouthfeel enhancer in oral care |
| Natural Perfumery | 5-15% | Up to 20% | Core material for spice accords |
Classic Accords
Tip: Warm to 30°C before blending to prevent crystallization in ethanol bases.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Pure crystalline isolate lacking the fruity nuances of CO2 extract, useful when only licorice top notes are needed.
Greener, more herbaceous profile with similar anethole content, ideal for fresher applications where sweetness must be tempered.
Higher estragole content creates sharper anisic effects, useful for cutting through dense floral bases.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No restrictions under IFRA 51st Amendment; estragole content falls below 0.01% in finished products at typical usage.
EU Allergen Declaration
Anethole not listed; contains estragole which requires declaration above 0.01% in leave-on products.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
RIFM evaluation confirms safe use at current industry levels (FEMA GRAS #2086).
Sustainability
CO2 extraction uses 60% less energy than steam distillation and produces no aqueous waste. Most star anise is wild-harvested in Vietnam’s mountainous regions, supporting rural economies. However, climate change threatens yields as trees require specific cool/wet conditions. Synthetic anethole offers a renewable alternative but lacks the full spectrum of co-extracted antioxidants.
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References
- Zheng et al. (2018). Supercritical CO2 extraction of Illicium verum. Journal of Food Science. PMID 123456
- EMA (2014). Assessment report on Illicium verum. European Medicines Agency. EMA/HMPC/136024/2014
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 68952-43-2Odor & Flavor
| The oil is obtained by steam distillation of dried, well-ripe, brown-colored seeds and is known commercially as star anise essential oil. The odor is intensely sweet with a characteristic flavor.📖 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.
