Ethyl decanoate (CAS 110-38-3) — Sweet Middle/Top Note Fragrance Ingredient
Ethyl decanoate
CAS 110-38-3
What Is Ethyl decanoate?
Ethyl decanoate is a fruity ester commonly used in perfumes and food flavorings. You’ll encounter it in tropical fruit fragrances, apple flavors, and some alcoholic beverages. This versatile ingredient matters because it adds realistic, juicy fruitiness to scents without being overpowering. It’s a workhorse molecule that helps create convincing fruit accords from pineapple to pear.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Ethyl decanoate Smell Like?
Ethyl decanoate bursts with a bright, waxy fruitiness reminiscent of overripe apples and pineapple cores. The initial impression is intensely sweet, like fruit leather drying in the sun, with a subtle fermented quality that adds complexity. As it dries, the waxy character becomes more pronounced, evoking beeswax candles dipped in pear nectar. The dry-down reveals a clean, almost soapy fruitiness that lingers softly without becoming cloying.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Provides the juicy, sun-warmed pear note that balances the ambergris and woods. Creates the illusion of fruit skins glistening with salt spray.
Used sparingly to enhance the crisp apple top note, adding a rounded, ripe quality that prevents the citrus from being too sharp.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCCCCCC(=O)OCC
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Ethyl decanoate belongs to the ester family, formed by the condensation of ethanol and decanoic acid. Industrially produced via Fischer esterification with acid catalysis, it’s a staple in both flavor and fragrance chemistry. The molecule’s ten-carbon chain gives it moderate volatility and excellent blending properties. Unlike shorter-chain esters, ethyl decanoate delivers fruity notes without excessive volatility or harshness.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 243-245 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.862 g/cm³ |
| Flash Point | >100 °C |
| Refractive Index | 1.423-1.427 |
| Solubility | Insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-3% | Up to 5% | Fruit accord modifier |
| Functional Fragrance | 0.1-1% | Up to 2% | Soap and detergent fruity notes |
| Flavor | 10-50 ppm | Up to 100 ppm | Apple and pear flavors |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use as a bridge between citrus top notes and lactonic base notes to create seamless fruit transitions.
Alternatives & Comparisons
More volatile with sharper fruitiness, better for top notes when a quicker evaporation is desired.
Longer-lasting with waxy character, used when more persistence is needed in the dry-down.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No restrictions under IFRA standards.
RIFM Assessment
Evaluated by RIFM and found safe for current use levels in fragrance applications.
Sustainability
Synthetically produced from petrochemical feedstocks, ethyl decanoate has minimal environmental impact at current usage levels. Production is energy-efficient with high yields. No known issues with biodegradation or bioaccumulation.
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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 110-38-3Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 200.32 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4.6🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 241 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.018 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 218.5 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0014💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -0.656💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCCCCCCCCC(=O)OCC🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 4 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | fattynuttysweet• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | esterether💻 RDKit |
| “probably one chemical that can recall the odor of the common Gardentulip flower best, out of all single chemicals.”📖 Arctander | |
| Ethyl decanoate has a fruity odor reminiscent of grape (cognac). It has been also reported to have an oily, brandy-like odor.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “Sweet, oily-nutlike odor with a rich, wine-yeast type background. Oily, "Brandy-rose"-like flavor. The subject material is widely used in flavor compositions, for imitation Arak, Rum, Brandy, Whisky, Cognac, and in Peach, Strawberry, Grape (white and green Grapes), Cherry, Pineapple, Plum, etc. as w”📖 Arctander |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 0.0082 ppm (n=7)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2432⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| GRAS Status | Generally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| 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: DTXSID0044363
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 200.322 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.866 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 243.167 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -20 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 131.15 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.43 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 230.099 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4.762 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 4.762 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 4.762 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 6.08 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0.001 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.018 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 2.501 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 28.221 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 140.63 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 26.3 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 9 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 59.418 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 23.555 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.
