Succinic acid (CAS 110-15-6) — Woody Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Succinic acid
CAS 110-15-6
What Is Succinic acid?
Succinic acid is a naturally occurring dicarboxylic acid found in amber and various plants. It’s used in food as an acidity regulator and in perfumery as a subtle sour note. This ingredient matters because it bridges gourmand and woody accords, adding a unique tang without overpowering.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Succinic acid Smell Like?
Succinic acid presents a clean, slightly sour aroma reminiscent of unripe berries or fresh sweat with an underlying mineral sharpness. Unlike sharper acids, it carries a rounded quality that evolves into a faintly salty-woody drydown. The scent profile suggests crushed green stems meeting ocean air.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: OC(=O)CCC(O)=O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
A four-carbon dicarboxylic acid (HOOC-CH2-CH2-COOH) produced via hydrogenation of maleic anhydride or fermentation. Naturally occurs in plant and animal tissues as part of the Krebs cycle. The food industry uses microbial fermentation for production, while perfumery typically employs synthetic routes for purity.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Melting Point | 185-190 °C |
|---|---|
| Solubility | 58 g/L (water) |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Functional Fragrances | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Adds tactile sourness |
| Gourmand Accords | 1-3% | Up to 8% | Enhances fruity notes |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use to add naturalistic sourness without citrus top notes.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions.
RIFM Assessment
Not currently assessed by RIFM.
Sustainability
Primarily produced via sustainable fermentation processes using renewable feedstocks. Bio-based production routes are increasingly common, reducing reliance on petrochemical precursors.
Explore Succinic acid
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References
- PubChem CID 1110 Succinic acid
- EFSA Panel (2014). Scientific Opinion. EFSA Journal. Safety evaluation
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPhysicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID6023602
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 118.088 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.342 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 235 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 186.914 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 151.62 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.478 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 83.814 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | -0.59 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | -2.445 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | -4.885 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 7.21 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.615 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 6.348 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 46.439 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 164.183 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 74.6 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 2 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 3 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 23.709 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 9.399 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.
