Butyl butyryllactate (CAS 7492-70-8) — Sweet Top-Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient
Butyl butyryllactate
CAS 7492-70-8
What Is Butyl butyryllactate?
Butyl butyryllactate is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used to add fruity, creamy nuances to perfumes and flavored products. It’s often found in gourmand fragrances and tropical fruit flavorings. This ester provides a diffusive, mouthwatering quality that bridges fruity top notes with richer base accords, making it popular in modern fragrance design.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Butyl butyryllactate Smell Like?
Butyl butyryllactate offers an olfactory paradox – simultaneously crisp and creamy. The initial burst suggests pineapple chunks dipped in condensed milk, with a lactonic smoothness that prevents excessive sweetness. As it evolves, the aroma develops a buttery undertone reminiscent of warm croissants, while maintaining a clean, almost citrusy brightness. The drydown reveals subtle woody nuances that anchor the fruitiness without becoming cloying.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used to enhance the cognac illusion with its boozy, lactonic character – bridges the gap between the citrus top and vanilla base.
Provides subtle fruity creaminess to contrast the sharp saffron and woody notes, adding mouthfeel to the scent.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCOC(=O)C(C)OC(=O)CCC
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Butyl butyryllactate is an ester formed through Fischer esterification between butyric acid and butyl lactate. This bifunctional ester contains both butyrate and lactate moieties, creating unique olfactory properties. Industrial synthesis typically employs acid catalysis with continuous removal of water to drive the equilibrium. The molecule’s compact structure gives it excellent volatility and diffusion properties.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 188.22 g/mol |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | ~220°C (estimated) |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-3% | Up to 5% | Fruity modifier |
| Flavorings | 10-50 ppm | Up to 100 ppm | Creamy fruit effects |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use with citrus bases to prevent excessive sweetness in fruity compositions.
Alternatives & Comparisons
More volatile with sharper fruitiness, better for top note applications requiring immediate impact.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No restrictions under IFRA 49th Amendment.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM has reviewed this material and found no significant safety concerns at current use levels.
Sustainability
Synthesized from petrochemical feedstocks, but production requires relatively mild conditions with good atom economy. Biotechnological routes using engineered enzymes are being explored to improve sustainability.
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References
- Burdock, G.A. (2010). Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. CRC Press. ISBN 9781420090772
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 7492-70-8Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 216.27 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.5🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 241.7 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0285 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 114 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0021💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -2.244💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCCCOC(=O)C(C)OC(=O)CCC🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 2.8 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | butteryfruitysweet• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | esterether💻 RDKit |
| “Sweet-sour "Buttermilk" type odor with a mild-fruity undertone. Not used in perfumery.”📖 Arctander | |
| Butyl butyryllactate has a taste similar to milk, mild cheese, butter, and cream.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “Used in flavor compositions for imitation Butter, Butterscotch, Fruit (including Tuttifrutti and the like), Nut, Vanilla and other flavors.”📖 Arctander |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2190⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| GRAS Status | Generally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| IOFI Classification | Artificial📖 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: DTXSID3044831
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 216.277 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.975 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 241.7 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -35.209 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 114 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.433 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 217.451 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.294 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 2.294 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 2.294 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 5.79 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.007 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.022 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 2.659 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 30.161 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 142.662 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 52.6 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 4 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 7 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 56.519 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 22.406 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.
