beta-Methylphenethyl alcohol (CAS 1123-85-9) — Floral Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
beta-Methylphenethyl alcohol
CAS 1123-85-9
What Is beta-Methylphenethyl alcohol?
beta-Methylphenethyl alcohol is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used in perfumes and personal care products. It adds a floral, slightly sweet character to fragrances. Found in soaps, lotions, and fine perfumes, it helps create balanced floral bouquets. This compound is valued for its ability to enhance floral notes while adding subtle sweetness without being cloying. It blends well with many fragrance families.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does beta-Methylphenethyl alcohol Smell Like?
beta-Methylphenethyl alcohol offers a delicate, floral aroma with a subtle honey-like sweetness. Initially, it presents a fresh, green floral character reminiscent of lily of the valley, which gradually softens into a warm, rosy heart. The dry-down reveals a clean, slightly powdery muskiness that adds depth without heaviness. Its balanced profile makes it versatile, neither too sharp nor too sweet, with excellent diffusion that lifts floral compositions.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used to enhance the floral bouquet, adding a soft, honeyed floral facet that complements the aldehydic top and powdery base.
Contributes to the radiant floral heart, blending with ylang-ylang and rose for a luminous, feminine character.
Adds a fresh floral sweetness that balances the chypre structure, modernizing the classic green floral accord.
Supports the powdery violet and rose notes, creating a soft, airy floral effect with subtle sweetness.
Helps bridge the fruity top notes and floral heart, adding a warm, honeyed floral dimension.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC(CO)C1=CC=CC=C1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
beta-Methylphenethyl alcohol is a secondary alcohol with a phenyl ring and a methyl group at the beta position. This structure contributes to its floral character while providing stability in formulations. Synthesized through Grignard reactions or reduction of corresponding ketones, it offers perfumers a cost-effective floral modifier. The methyl group enhances its tenacity compared to simpler phenethyl alcohols, while maintaining good solubility in both polar and non-polar solvents.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | Not available |
|---|---|
| Density | Not available |
| Vapor Pressure | Not available |
| Solubility | Soluble in alcohol and oils |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-5% | Up to 10% | Floral heart note modifier |
| Soap | 0.5-2% | Up to 3% | Adds floral character with good stability |
| Detergents | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Cost-effective floral note |
| Candles | 0.5-3% | Up to 5% | Good thermal stability |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use to soften harsh floral notes and add natural sweetness to rose and lily accords.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Simpler structure with more pronounced rosy character but less tenacity.
More woody-floral with better longevity, useful for richer compositions.
Greener, more diffusive floral note with hyacinth character.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
Not currently restricted by IFRA.
RIFM Assessment
Considered safe for use in fragrance by RIFM based on current data.
Sustainability
As a synthetic material, beta-Methylphenethyl alcohol offers consistent quality without natural resource depletion. Production typically uses petrochemical feedstocks, though green chemistry approaches are being explored. Its efficiency in formulations means lower usage rates compared to some natural extracts, reducing overall environmental impact.
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References
- Burdock, G.A. (2010). Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. CRC Press. ISBN 9781420090772
- Arctander, S. (1969). Perfume and Flavor Chemicals. Online reference
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 1123-85-9Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 136.19 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.4🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 113 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.019 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 108 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0018💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.827💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC(CO)C1=CC=CC=C1🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 2.7 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | floralsweet• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | alcoholaromatic💻 RDKit |
| “Sweet-floral, but rather heavy odor of Lilac-Hyacinth type. Commercial products are rarely of high olfactory purity and may show variable amounts of harsh or "gassy" or Acetophenone-like topnotes which partly or wholly ruin the overall odor impression. This may also be the reason why perfumers generally do not even carry this material on their shelf - a simple objection to the material as it was first presented to them. Truly, an olfactory pure grade of Hydratropyl alcohol shows quite interestin”📖 Arctander | |
| b-Methylphenethyl alcohol has a faint odor reminiscent of hyacinth.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “This alcohol is occasionally used in flavor compositions, usually as a trace component in Berry, Melon, Honey and Nut compositions, or in rare floral flavor types. Its taste is rather heavy-sweet, woody-floral, but pleasant in concentrations below 20 ppm. Common use level is 0.5 to 1.5 ppm.”📖 Arctander |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2732⚖️ 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: DTXSID8037756
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 136.194 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.975 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 230.341 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | -13 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 100.563 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.525 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 137.012 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.02 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 1.845 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 2.015 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 6.56 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.076 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.019 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 6.106 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 35.931 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 146.151 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 | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 41.973 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 16.639 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.
