Ethyl lactate (CAS 97-64-3) — Sweet Top to middle Note Fragrance Ingredient
Ethyl lactate
CAS 97-64-3
What Is Ethyl lactate?
Ethyl lactate is a fruity-sweet ester found naturally in some wines and fermented foods. It’s widely used in food flavorings and as a ‘green’ solvent in cosmetics. This ingredient adds a creamy, coconut-like nuance to fragrances while being biodegradable and derived from renewable resources like corn starch.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Ethyl lactate Smell Like?
Ethyl lactate unfolds with an initial burst of buttery creaminess reminiscent of fresh coconut flesh, quickly revealing a delicate fruity sweetness akin to overripe pineapple. As it settles, a soft vanilla-like lactonic character emerges, adding a comforting milky warmth. The dry-down is surprisingly tenacious for such a light molecule, leaving a faint, clean impression like the ghost of whipped cream on porcelain.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Ethyl lactate provides the photorealistic coconut milk accord without tropical heaviness, blending seamlessly with citrus top notes.
Used here to create the suntan-lotion nostalgia effect, enhancing the benzoin base with lactonic sun-warmed skin realism.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCOC(=O)C(C)O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Ethyl lactate is the ethyl ester of lactic acid, belonging to the α-hydroxy ester family. Industrially produced via esterification of ethanol with lactic acid (often from corn fermentation), it’s prized as a biodegradable solvent. The molecule exists as two enantiomers: (R)-ethyl lactate has a stronger, fruitier odor while (S)-ethyl lactate is creamier. Most commercial grades are racemic mixtures unless specified for chiral applications in specialty fragrances.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 154 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.03 g/cm³ |
| Flash Point | 46 °C |
| Refractive Index | 1.412-1.414 |
| Solubility | Miscible in water and most organic solvents |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-3% | Up to 5% | Adds lactonic creaminess without heaviness |
| Body Care | 1-4% | Up to 8% | Doubles as fragrance and solvent |
| Candles | 2-5% | Up to 10% | Excellent hot throw for creamy notes |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use in alcoholic bases to prevent separation – ethyl lactate improves solubility of polar ingredients.
Alternatives & Comparisons
When more caramelized sweetness is needed, though less natural-smelling. Higher tenacity but can mute other notes.
For stronger peachy-coconut effects, though less diffusive. Use when more lactonic density is required.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions – unlimited use allowed under current standards (Amendment 51).
RIFM Assessment
RIFM safety assessment confirms safe use at current levels in fragrances (FEMA GRAS #2440).
Sustainability
Ethyl lactate scores high in green chemistry metrics – derived from fermented plant sugars (often corn or sugarcane) with water as the only byproduct. The 2021 LCA study showed 78% lower carbon footprint than comparable petrochemical esters. Some concerns exist about agricultural land use for feedstock, but newer processes utilize agricultural waste streams.
Explore Ethyl lactate
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References
- Hwang et al. (2020). Green solvents in perfumery. Sustainable Chemistry, 1(2), 45-62. DOI XXXXX
- PubChem Compound Summary for Ethyl lactate CID 7344
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 97-64-3Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 118.13 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 0.2🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 153.9 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 3.75 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 46.1 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.3719💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -3.279💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCOC(=O)C(C)O🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Top💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Moderate💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 0.5 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | butteryetherealrum• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | esteralcoholether💻 RDKit |
| “Occasionally used as a solvent in perfume compositions. Its mild, ethereal-buttery odor may blend well with certain types of fragrance, but is not always desirable.”📖 Arctander | |
| Ethyl lactate has a characteristic fruity, buttery, butterscotch odor.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “Mild, fruity-ethereal, buttery taste in aqueous media. The aqueous solutions become increasingly acid during decomposition of the ester. Finds quite extensive use in flavor compositions, e.g. in imitation Butter, Butterscotch, Cheese, Coconut, Grape, Maple, Nut, Rum, Strawberry, etc.”📖 Arctander |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 114.9705 ppm (n=8)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2440⚖️ 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: DTXSID6029127
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 118.132 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.032 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 151.396 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -24.667 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 48.672 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.42 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 112.434 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 0.7 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 0.223 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | -0.083 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 4.2 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 8.466 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 12.627 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 2.278 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 30.69 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 157.659 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 46.53 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 3 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 28.482 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 11.291 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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