Cyclopentadecanone (CAS 502-72-7) — Musky Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Cyclopentadecanone
CAS 502-72-7
What Is Cyclopentadecanone?
Cyclopentadecanone is a synthetic musk compound used in perfumery. It’s found in many modern fragrances, particularly those aiming for a clean, musky base note. This ingredient matters because it provides long-lasting warmth and depth to perfumes without the animalic qualities of traditional musks, making it versatile for both masculine and feminine compositions.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Cyclopentadecanone Smell Like?
Cyclopentadecanone delivers a soft, powdery musk with remarkable tenacity. Imagine freshly laundered linen warmed by skin – it’s clean yet intimate, with a subtle sweetness reminiscent of distant candle wax. Unlike animal musks, it lacks sharpness, instead offering a rounded, velvety texture that blends seamlessly into compositions. As a base note, it emerges gradually, first as a faint whisper of warmth before developing into a comforting embrace that lingers for hours on skin.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used here to soften the animalic musk core, providing a clean counterpoint to the civet notes while extending the fragrance’s longevity.
Forms the musky foundation that makes this modern floral feel both sophisticated and skin-like, blending with patchouli for depth.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: O=C1CCCCCCCCCCCCCC1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Cyclopentadecanone belongs to the macrocyclic ketone class of musks, characterized by their large ring structures. Unlike nitro musks, these compounds are more environmentally stable. Synthesized through cyclization of long-chain fatty acids or via intramolecular condensation reactions, its 15-membered ring structure provides optimal musk odor properties. The molecule’s conformational flexibility allows it to bind effectively to olfactory receptors while maintaining volatility suitable for perfumery applications.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | ~300 °C (estimated) |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | ~65 °C |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Musky foundation |
| Detergents | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Fabric conditioner effect |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use cyclopentadecanone to anchor floral compositions without overpowering delicate top notes.
Alternatives & Comparisons
A more affordable synthetic musk with similar odor profile but slightly sweeter character, often used as partial replacement.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
Not currently restricted under IFRA standards. Approved for use in all categories.
RIFM Assessment
Evaluated by RIFM with no significant safety concerns at typical usage levels.
Sustainability
As a synthetic musk, cyclopentadecanone avoids the ecological concerns associated with animal-derived musks. Its production from petrochemical feedstocks raises some environmental considerations, but its high potency means relatively small quantities are needed compared to older musk varieties. The compound’s biodegradability profile is favorable compared to nitro musks.
Explore Cyclopentadecanone
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References
- Bajgrowicz, J.A. & Frater, G. (2000). Chiral Recognition of Sandalwood Odorants. Helvetica Chimica Acta. DOI:10.1002/hlca.200000083
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 502-72-7Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 224.38 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 5.8🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 246 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 139 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | 0.049💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | C1CCCCCCCC(=O)CCCCCC1🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Base💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 12.7 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Functional Groups | ketone💻 RDKit |
| “Powerful musky odor, very similar to that of Muscone (Methylcyclopentadecanone) and, in the opinion of many perfumers, superior in type and beauty.”📖 Arctander | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “Without being a flavor material, – it actually has a rather perfumy and undesirable taste – it has the ability of improving the acceptability of flavors to a remarkable degree. If the flavor is already agreeable and acceptable, the correct amount of Cyclopentadecanone added can eventually bring this”📖 Arctander |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 0.0297 ppm (n=4)📖 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: DTXSID2047141
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 224.388 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.945 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 183 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 63.583 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 136.856 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.441 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 262.595 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 5.6 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 5.589 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 5.589 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 8.41 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Viscosity | 6.465 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 29.701 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 145.614 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 17.07 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 69.307 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 27.475 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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