Ethyl methacrylate (CAS 97-63-2) — Citrus Top Note Fragrance Ingredient

ByThe Good Scents
Citrus · Sweet

Ethyl methacrylate

CAS 97-63-2

Origin
synthetic
Note
Top
IFRA
Professional use
Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is Ethyl methacrylate?

Ethyl methacrylate is a synthetic compound primarily used in industrial applications like plastics and adhesives. Most consumers encounter it in acrylic nails or dental materials. In perfumery, it’s a niche ingredient that provides sharp, fruity-ester notes when used in trace amounts.

Safety Profile

PROFESSIONAL USE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
⚠ Skin sensitizer – requires special handling
✗ Not for home perfumery
CAS
97-63-2
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Citrus · Sweet
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Ethyl methacrylate Smell Like?

Ethyl methacrylate delivers an intensely sharp, fruity ester character reminiscent of unripe pineapple or green apple skins with a vinyl-like edge. The top note is piercingly bright, evolving into a synthetic fruitiness that lacks natural roundness. In dry-down, it leaves a faint plasticky residue. Best used in micro-doses to add modern, industrial fruit facets to avant-garde compositions.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Synthetic Jungle(Frederic Malle, 2021)

Used minimally to amplify the hyper-realistic green apple effect, contributing to the fragrance’s artificial nature theme.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

Ethyl methacrylate

SMILES: CCOC(=O)C(C)=C

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Ethyl methacrylate is an ester of methacrylic acid, belonging to the acrylate family. Industrially produced via esterification of methacrylic acid with ethanol. The molecule’s reactivity comes from its conjugated double bond system, making it valuable for polymerization. In perfumery, the monomeric form is used at very low concentrations due to its potency and potential sensitization.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Boiling Point118-119 °C
Flash Point20 °C
Density0.913 g/cm³

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Top
Volatility
Very high (10-30 min)
Blending
Difficult
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance0.01-0.1%Max 0.5%Extreme caution required
Functional FragranceNot usedNot usedAvoid due to sensitization risk

Classic Accords

+ Galbanum + Calone = Futuristic green + Aldehyde C-10 + Strawberry furanone = Sci-fi fruit

Tip: Always dissolve in ethanol first before adding to main composition to ensure even distribution.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Ethyl acrylate CAS 140-88-5

Less reactive alternative with similar fruity character but lower sensitization potential. Still requires caution.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.

IFRA Status

Not specifically restricted by IFRA but falls under general acrylate restrictions (Amendment 49).

EU Allergen Declaration

Not currently listed as EU allergen but may require declaration due to sensitization potential.

GHS Classification

H315 Skin irritation H317 Skin sensitization H335 Respiratory irritation

RIFM Assessment

RIFM classifies as moderate sensitizer; not recommended for leave-on products.

Sustainability

Petrochemical-derived with significant environmental impact during production. Not biodegradable. Synthetic alternatives exist but share similar ecological concerns. Closed-loop manufacturing is recommended for industrial use.

Explore Ethyl methacrylate

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References

  1. IFRA Standards (Amendment 49). Acrylate restrictions. IFRA
  2. ECHA Substance Information. Ethyl methacrylate. ECHA

Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.

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Ingredient Data Sheet

CAS 97-63-2

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight114.14 g/mol🔬 PubChem
LogP (Octanol-Water)1.9🔬 PubChem
Boiling Point117.2 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Vapor Pressure14 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
Flash Point15.6 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Involatility Index1.4123💻 Calculated
log Kp (skin permeability)-2.047💻 Calculated
SMILESCCOC(=O)C(=C)C🔬 PubChem

Volatility & Performance

Fragrance NoteTop💻 Calculated
Volatility ClassFast💻 Calculated
Persistence Score0.5 / 5💻 Calculated

Odor & Flavor

Primary Descriptorsapplepungent• leffingwell
Functional Groupsesteretheralkene💻 RDKit
“Very diffusive and penetrating, gassy-herbaceous, warm odor of very poor tenacity.”📖 Arctander

Sensory Thresholds

Odor Detection Threshold0.0171 ppm (n=3)📖 van Gemert
Data Sources & Attribution
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: DTXSID1025308

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 114.144 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 0.913 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX
Boiling Point 117.324 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Melting Point -70.313 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Flash Point 20.047 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Refractive Index 1.41 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 125.953 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 1.832 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX
LogD (pH 5.5) 1.903 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 1.903 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 3.7 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0.049 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX
Henry's Law Constant 0.001 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 20.655 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX
Surface Tension 24.697 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
Thermal Conductivity 137.289 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 2 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 31.189 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 12.364 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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