Tetradecane (CAS 629-59-4) — Woody Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Tetradecane
CAS 629-59-4
What Is Tetradecane?
Tetradecane is a synthetic hydrocarbon used as a solvent and fixative in perfumery. It’s found in some industrial fragrances and cleaning products. While not a primary scent ingredient, it helps stabilize volatile fragrance components and extend their longevity on skin or surfaces.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Tetradecane Smell Like?
Tetradecane is nearly odorless to most noses, functioning primarily as a neutral carrier. In high concentrations, it may exhibit a faint, waxy, paraffin-like character reminiscent of candle wax or mineral oil. Its olfactory contribution is minimal, serving mainly to modify volatility and texture rather than impart distinct scent characteristics.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCCCCCCCCCC
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Tetradecane is a straight-chain alkane with fourteen carbon atoms (C14H30). As a saturated hydrocarbon, it lacks functional groups and exists as a colorless liquid at room temperature. Industrially produced through petroleum distillation and hydrocracking processes, it’s part of the paraffin series. Its chemical inertness makes it valuable as a solvent and diluent in fragrance applications where reactivity must be minimized.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 253-257 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.763 g/cm³ |
| Flash Point | 99 °C |
| Appearance | Colorless liquid |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Functional Fragrances | 5-15% | Up to 25% | Solvent and fixative |
| Cleaning Products | 1-5% | Up to 10% | Carrier for actives |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use to reduce volatility of top notes without adding olfactory interference.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Shorter hydrocarbon chain with slightly higher volatility, useful when faster evaporation is desired.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions apply to tetradecane.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM considers tetradecane safe for current fragrance use levels.
Sustainability
As a petroleum-derived material, tetradecane’s environmental impact stems from fossil fuel extraction. Synthetic production allows consistent quality control but lacks biodegradability advantages of some natural alternatives. The fragrance industry is exploring bio-based hydrocarbon alternatives with similar performance profiles.
Explore Tetradecane
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for Tetradecane PubChem CID 12391
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPerfumers Notes
Odor Profile
Gasoline.
Standard Dilution
10% in DPG (standard dilution for most fragrance materials)
Physicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID1027267
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 198.394 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.764 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 253.499 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 5.832 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 102.014 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.429 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 259.63 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 7.6 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 7.715 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 7.715 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 6.7 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 6.737 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.012 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 1.841 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 25.957 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 136.97 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 0 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 11 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 66.909 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 26.525 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.
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