Damascone Alpha (CAS 43052-87-5) — Floral Top Note Fragrance Ingredient
Damascone Alpha
CAS 43052-87-5
What Is Damascone Alpha?
Damascone Alpha is a powerful fragrance molecule that creates rich, fruity-rosy scents. You’ll find it in luxury perfumes, especially those with rose or berry accents. This ingredient matters because it’s one of the most potent aroma chemicals – a tiny amount transforms a fragrance, adding depth and longevity to floral compositions.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESSWhat Does Damascone Alpha Smell Like?
Damascone Alpha bursts with an intense, jammy rose character – imagine crushed raspberries steeping in black tea with honey. The top note has a wine-like richness that evolves into velvety rose petals dusted with powdered sugar. As it dries down, it reveals a sophisticated tobacco-amber warmth, leaving a trail of fruity musk that lingers for hours. The scent oscillates between fresh-picked rosehips and dried potpourri, with a subtle green stemminess that prevents it from becoming cloying.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used as a rosy counterpoint to the citrus-chypre structure, adding fruity depth that balances the crisp lemon and oakmoss.
Modernizes the classic aldehydic bouquet with Damascone Alpha’s juicy rose facets, creating a brighter, more contemporary interpretation.
Amplifies the rose core with Damascone Alpha’s berry-like richness, contrasting beautifully with the woody-cumin base.
Forms the fruity-rosy heart alongside lychee and peony, giving the fragrance its distinctive jammy rose character.
Provides radiant rose facets that cut through the dense patchouli-amber base, creating luminous contrast.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC=CC(=O)C1C(C)=CCCC1(C)C
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Damascone Alpha belongs to the ionone family of ketones, structurally related to beta-damascone but with greater olfactory potency. This cyclic ketone occurs naturally in rose oil and tobacco at trace levels. Industrial synthesis typically involves condensation of citral with acetone followed by cyclization. The alpha isomer exhibits particular stereochemical constraints that enhance its fruity-rosy character compared to beta-damascone. Its molecular structure allows excellent substantivity on skin while maintaining diffusion.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | ~250 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.93 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | 1.495 |
| Flash Point | >100 °C |
| Solubility | Insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Extremely potent – use sparingly |
| Cosmetics | 0.01-0.1% | Up to 0.2% | Skin sensitization concerns |
| Functional Products | 0.001-0.01% | Up to 0.05% | Masking applications only |
Classic Accords
Tip: Always pre-dilute to 1% or lower when working with Damascone Alpha due to its extreme potency.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Less potent with greener, more tea-like rose character. Use when needing softer rosy effects.
Milder fruity-woody alternative for applications requiring lower sensitization risk.
Synthetic rose ketone with excellent stability for functional products.
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
IFRA restricted to 0.2% in leave-on products (Amendment 49). No restrictions for rinse-off.
EU Allergen Declaration
Must be declared when present above 0.001% in leave-on products (Annex III of EU Cosmetics Regulation).
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
RIFM assessment confirms safe use at IFRA-recommended levels with proper precautions for sensitization.
Sustainability
Most Damascone Alpha is synthesized from petrochemical precursors, though some producers are developing bio-based routes using fermentation-derived intermediates. The extreme potency means minimal quantities are needed per formulation, reducing overall environmental impact compared to less powerful alternatives.
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References
- Bickers et al. (2003). A safety assessment of damascones as fragrance ingredients. Food and Chemical Toxicology. PMID 14505838
- Sell C. (2006). The Chemistry of Fragrances. RSC Publishing.
- IFRA Standards (Amendment 49) IFRA
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 43052-87-5Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 192.3 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.2🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 252 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0407 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 105.7 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0032💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.601💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC1=CCCC(C1C(=O)CC=C)(C)C🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 2.7 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Functional Groups | ketonealkene💻 RDKit |
| a -Damascone has a pleasant fruity, rosy odor.📖 Fenaroli | |
Regulatory Status
| IFRA Listed | Yes — see IFRA Standards for category limits⚖️ IFRA 51 |
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: DTXSID0052097
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 192.302 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.925 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 257.509 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | 34.611 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 102.937 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.471 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 214.024 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.943 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.943 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.943 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 6.12 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.002 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.027 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 29.69 dyn/cm📊 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 | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 59.828 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 23.718 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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