1-Decanol (CAS 112-30-1) — Floral Middle to Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
1-Decanol
CAS 112-30-1
What Is 1-Decanol?
1-Decanol is a fatty alcohol used in perfumes to add waxy, floral, and slightly citrusy undertones. It’s found in laundry detergents, soaps, and some fine fragrances. This ingredient helps create a smooth, creamy texture in scents, acting as a fixative that makes other notes last longer while contributing its own mild, clean aroma.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does 1-Decanol Smell Like?
1-Decanol presents a dual character – initially waxy and slightly citrusy, like the rind of an orange blended with paraffin. As it evolves, a clean floral heart emerges reminiscent of diluted rosewater. The dry-down reveals a soft, creamy muskiness that acts as an invisible backbone, subtly amplifying adjacent notes without overpowering them. Its low volatility makes it particularly useful for rounding off sharp edges in fragrance compositions.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used as a smoothing agent to blend the aldehydic top with floral heart notes, adding creaminess to the iconic jasmine-rose accord.
Provides the clean, slightly waxy laundry-like freshness that defines this fragrance’s crisp character.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCCCCCCO
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
1-Decanol is a straight-chain fatty alcohol with ten carbon atoms (C10), classified chemically as a primary alcohol. Industrially produced via the Ziegler process or through hydrogenation of decanal. While naturally occurring in small quantities in some citrus oils, virtually all perfumery use comes from synthetic production for consistency. The molecule lacks chirality, eliminating stereochemical considerations in formulation.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | Colorless liquid |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | 232-233 °C |
| Melting Point | 7 °C |
| Flash Point | 108 °C |
| Density | 0.829 g/cm³ |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.01 mmHg at 20°C |
| Solubility | Insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Used as fixative and modifier |
| Soaps/Detergents | 0.5-2% | Up to 3% | Adds clean, fresh character |
| Cosmetics | 0.1-1% | Up to 2% | Emollient properties |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use to soften harsh synthetic musks and add body to citrus colognes.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Longer chain (C12) alcohol with similar but more subdued odor profile, useful when needing less volatility.
Shorter chain (C8) alcohol with more pronounced citrus character, for brighter compositions.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions. Listed as safe for use in all fragrance categories.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM evaluation confirms safety at current usage levels in fragrances.
Sustainability
Synthetically produced from petrochemical feedstocks, though some bio-based production routes exist using renewable resources. Biodegradability is excellent (OECD 301D), with low potential for bioaccumulation. The synthetic production process is energy intensive but results in consistent quality with minimal batch variation.
Explore 1-Decanol
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for 1-Decanol CID 8174
- Bickers et al. (2003). Safety assessment of alcohol in fragrances. PMID 14705841
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 112-30-1Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 158.28 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4.6🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 230 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0085 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 82.2 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0007💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -0.4💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCCCCCCCCCO🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 4.4 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | fattyfloralsweetwaxy• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | alcohol💻 RDKit |
| “Sweet, slightly fatty-oily odor, waxy and floral, mainly rosy, also reminiscent of Lily and Orangeblossom, but fresher, in the same way as Citronellol is fresh.”📖 Arctander | |
| 1-Decanol has a floral odor resembling orange flowers and a slight, characteristic fatty taste.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “The taste is floral, oily, mainly citrusy. Used in flavor compositions, mainly in imitation Butter, Orange, Coconut, Lemon and various combination fruit flavor types.”📖 Arctander |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 4.5784 ppm (n=2)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2365⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| GRAS Status | Generally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| IOFI Classification | Nature Identical📖 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.
Physicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID7021946
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 158.285 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.831 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 230.464 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 6.276 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 95.526 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.435 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 191.109 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4.526 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 4.45 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 4.45 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 7.5 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.008 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 11.096 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 29.008 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 155.101 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 20.23 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 8 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 49.912 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 19.787 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.
