Carveol (CAS 99-48-9) — Minty Top Note Fragrance Ingredient
Carveol
CAS 99-48-9
What Is Carveol?
Carveol is a naturally occurring compound found in essential oils like caraway and dill. People encounter it in herbal teas, spice blends, and some perfumes. It contributes a fresh, minty-herbal character to these products. This ingredient matters because it adds a crisp, green dimension to fragrances and flavors, bridging herbal and citrus notes in a unique way that enhances complexity.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Carveol Smell Like?
Carveol bursts with a vibrant minty-herbal freshness, like crushed caraway seeds mingled with a dewy morning garden. The top note is crisp and slightly camphoraceous, evolving into a heart of green, almost citrus-like brightness. As it dries down, it reveals a subtle woody undertone, leaving a clean, aromatic trail. The overall effect is uplifting yet grounded, like walking through an herb garden after rain.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Carveol’s green mintiness enhances the carrot seed accord, creating an earthy yet fresh vegetal effect that defines this unconventional fragrance.
Used sparingly to add a crisp counterpoint to the leather-chypre base, preventing the composition from becoming too heavy.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC(=C)C1CC=C(C)C(O)C1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Carveol is a monoterpenoid alcohol, specifically a cyclohexenol derivative. It exists naturally in caraway (Carum carvi) and dill (Anethum graveolens) essential oils. The compound has two stereoisomers (R- and S-), with the R-form being more common in nature. Industrial production typically involves the oxidation of limonene or the reduction of carvone. Its molecular structure features a hydroxyl group attached to a cyclohexene ring, which contributes to both its solubility properties and aromatic character.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | Colorless to pale yellow liquid |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | Approx. 210-215°C (estimated) |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Used as fresh modifier |
| Functional Fragrance | 0.1-1% | Up to 3% | In soaps and detergents |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use carveol to brighten heavy herbal compositions without adding sweetness.
Alternatives & Comparisons
The ketone version of carveol, more minty and less green, useful when a sharper effect is desired.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. IFRA, REACH, EU Cosmetics Regulation standards update periodically. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating. Not legal or regulatory advice.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions currently apply to carveol (as of 2023).
RIFM Assessment
RIFM has evaluated carveol and found it safe for current fragrance use levels.
Sustainability
Carveol is typically sourced from renewable plant materials like caraway seeds, making it a sustainable choice when derived naturally. Synthetic production from limonene (a byproduct of citrus processing) also represents efficient resource use. The compound is biodegradable and not known to bioaccumulate, presenting minimal environmental risk at typical usage levels.
Explore Carveol
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References
- Burdock, G.A. (2010). Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. CRC Press.
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 99-48-9Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 152.23 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.1🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 226.1 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Flash Point | 91.2 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -2.138💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC1=CCC(CC1O)C(=C)C🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | sweet• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | alcoholalkene💻 RDKit |
| Carveol has spearmint-like odor.📖 Fenaroli | |
Regulatory Status
| 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: DTXSID3024736
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 152.237 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.223 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 227.056 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 97.778 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 91.275 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.498 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 160.25 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.12 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.003 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.003 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 7.37 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.019 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.028 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Viscosity | 10.255 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 31.448 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 135.804 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 | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 46.945 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 18.611 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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