11-Oxahexadecanolide (CAS 3391-83-1) — Musky Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
11-Oxahexadecanolide
CAS 3391-83-1
What Is 11-Oxahexadecanolide?
11-Oxahexadecanolide is a synthetic musk used in perfumes and personal care products. It provides a clean, powdery scent often found in laundry detergents and fabric softeners. This ingredient matters because it mimics natural musks without relying on animal sources, making it a sustainable choice for modern fragrance formulations.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does 11-Oxahexadecanolide Smell Like?
11-Oxahexadecanolide offers a soft, powdery musk with a clean laundry-like freshness. It evolves subtly on the skin, starting with a faintly sweet, slightly floral impression before settling into a comforting, intimate dry-down. The scent is reminiscent of sun-dried linen, with a smooth, non-animalic character that blends seamlessly with other notes.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used here to enhance the fabric-softener accord, providing a lingering muskiness that mimics freshly laundered clothes.
Adds a subtle powdery depth to the vanilla and citrus notes, creating a skin-like sensuality.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: O=C1CCCCCCCCCOCCCCCO1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
11-Oxahexadecanolide is a macrocyclic lactone, part of the synthetic musk family. It is synthesized through ring-closing metathesis or lactonization of hydroxy acids. Unlike nitro musks, it is photostable and less likely to bioaccumulate, making it a preferred choice in modern perfumery.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | N/A |
|---|---|
| Density | N/A |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-5% | Up to 10% | Adds powdery depth |
| Laundry Care | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Enhances clean scent |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use to add a clean, powdery muskiness without overwhelming other notes.
Alternatives & Comparisons
A stronger synthetic musk with similar clean characteristics, often used in higher concentrations.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions. Approved for use in all categories.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM has assessed this ingredient as safe for current use levels.
Sustainability
Synthetic musks like 11-Oxahexadecanolide are preferred over animal-derived musks for ethical and sustainability reasons. They are produced in controlled environments, reducing environmental impact compared to traditional musk harvesting.
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References
- PubChem: 11-Oxahexadecanolide PubChem
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 3391-83-1Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 256.38 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 343 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0001 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 166 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.424💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | C1CCCCC(=O)OCCCCCOCCCC1🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Base💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 9 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Functional Groups | esterether💻 RDKit |
| “The title material is an outstanding fixative and an exquisite musk odor with a pleasant note resembling Ambrette-seed oil. The effect of this musk is only fully understood after evaluation of a perfume solution in which the musk has been used, or an evaluation of a "pre-fixed" perfume alcohol with 0.01% of the title material.”📖 Arctander | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “The use of this material in minute traces in beverages, chewing gum and other flavored products is known, but the correct dosage in flavors is much more important than in perfumes, in fact, the effective level and the "pleasant-level" constitute extremely narrow limits for its application in flavors”📖 Arctander |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 0.0399 ppm (n=2)📖 van Gemert |
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: DTXSID2052023
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 256.386 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.01 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 343 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 34 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 166 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.431 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 280.158 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.655 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.655 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.655 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 8.98 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 6.156 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 28.482 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 35.53 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 3 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 72.517 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 28.748 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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