(tri-)Acetin (CAS 102-76-1) — Sweet N/A Note Fragrance Ingredient
(tri-)Acetin
CAS 102-76-1
What Is (tri-)Acetin?
Triacetin is a synthetic compound commonly used as a solvent and fixative in perfumes and cosmetics. You’ll find it in products ranging from fine fragrances to body lotions, where it helps other scents last longer. This ingredient matters because it’s both versatile and safe, serving multiple functions while maintaining stability across different formulations.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does (tri-)Acetin Smell Like?
Triacetin is nearly odorless, presenting only a faint, slightly sweet, glycerol-like character when undiluted. In perfumery, it functions primarily as a solvent rather than an aromatic contributor. Its neutral profile makes it an excellent carrier for more volatile fragrance materials, helping to stabilize compositions without interfering with their olfactory character. The complete lack of top notes or dry-down evolution allows other ingredients to shine.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC(=O)OCC(COC(C)=O)OC(C)=O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Triacetin (glyceryl triacetate) is an ester formed from glycerol and acetic acid. As a triester, it exhibits excellent stability compared to mono- or diacetin variants. Industrial production typically involves the esterification of glycerol with acetic acid in the presence of acid catalysts. The synthetic route ensures high purity and batch consistency, important for cosmetic applications where residual acetic acid or glycerol could cause formulation issues.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 258-260 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.16 g/cm³ |
| Flash Point | 138 °C |
| Solubility | Miscible with water, alcohol, ether |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 5-15% | Up to 20% | Solvent/fixative base |
| Cosmetics | 2-10% | Up to 15% | Plasticizer and carrier |
| Food Flavoring | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Flavor solvent |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use as a neutral base for tinctures or to modify the solubility of difficult materials.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Alternative solvent with higher volatility and slight sweetness, preferred when some evaporation is desired.
Higher boiling point glycol ether for heat-stable formulations requiring slower evaporation.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions – listed as generally recognized as safe.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM evaluation confirms safety at current use levels in fragrance applications.
Sustainability
Triacetin is synthesized from petrochemical feedstocks, though bio-based routes from glycerol (a biodiesel byproduct) are becoming available. The synthetic production allows for consistent quality and avoids agricultural impacts. Being readily biodegradable, it presents minimal environmental concerns post-use.
Explore (tri-)Acetin
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for Triacetin PubChem CID 5541
- FDA Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 21CFR184.1901
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 102-76-1Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 218.2 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 0.2🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 258.5 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0025 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 137.8 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0002💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -3.889💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC(=O)OCC(COC(=O)C)OC(=O)C🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Base💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 3.2 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | etherealfruity• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | esterether💻 RDKit |
| “Very faint, ethereal-fruity odor, occasionally with acetic note (partly decomposed material).”📖 Arctander | |
| Triacetin has a very faint, fruity odor. It has a mild, sweet taste that is bitter above 0.05%.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “Mild, sweet taste in concentrations lower than 500 ppm, but may appear bitter at higher concentrations. The title material is not used as a flavor chemical or perfume material, but serves mainly as a solvent, mostly in flavors. It is often used in flavor types compatible with the mild taste of Triac”📖 Arctander |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2007⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| GRAS Status | Generally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
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: DTXSID3026691
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 218.205 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.158 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 258.577 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -12.107 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 140.5 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.435 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 187.919 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 0.247 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 0.3 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 0.3 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 5.87 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.256 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.002 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 2.027 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 34.521 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 147.247 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 78.9 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 6 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 5 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 49.028 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 19.436 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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