Ethyl phenoxyacetate (CAS 2555-49-9) — Sweet Top to middle Note Fragrance Ingredient
Ethyl phenoxyacetate
CAS 2555-49-9
What Is Ethyl phenoxyacetate?
Ethyl phenoxyacetate is a synthetic fragrance ingredient with a sweet, floral, and slightly fruity aroma. It’s commonly found in perfumes, body lotions, and soaps. This ingredient matters because it adds a fresh, spring-like quality to fragrances, enhancing floral and green notes while providing subtle sweetness without being cloying.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Ethyl phenoxyacetate Smell Like?
Ethyl phenoxyacetate opens with a bright, sweet floralcy reminiscent of fresh apple blossoms, underpinned by a crisp green steminess. As it evolves, the heart reveals a honeyed depth akin to clover fields at dusk, while the dry-down retains a clean, powdery softness like sun-warmed linen. Its moderate tenacity ensures it never overwhelms but rather weaves through compositions with elegant persistence.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used as a fresh top note modifier to enhance the naturalistic green aspects of lily-of-the-valley without synthetic harshness.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCOC(=O)COC1=CC=CC=C1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Ethyl phenoxyacetate is an ester formed from phenoxyacetic acid and ethanol. Its synthesis typically involves acid-catalyzed esterification. The molecule’s aromatic ether linkage contributes to its stability while the ester group provides volatility. Modern production often employs enzymatic methods for higher purity and greener chemistry credentials.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | Not well documented |
|---|---|
| Density | Not well documented |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 2-5% | Up to 10% | Adds fresh floralcy |
| Personal Care | 0.5-2% | Up to 3% | Light freshness booster |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use with citrus oils to prevent excessive sweetness.
Alternatives & Comparisons
When a less sweet, more herbal character is desired.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions currently apply.
EU Allergen Declaration
Not listed as an EU allergen.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM has reviewed this material and found it safe at current usage levels.
Sustainability
As a synthetic material, ethyl phenoxyacetate doesn’t require agricultural land. However, petrochemical sourcing necessitates energy-intensive processes. Some manufacturers now offer bio-based versions using fermented ethanol.
Explore Ethyl phenoxyacetate
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References
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 2555-49-9Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 180.2 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 1.8🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 265 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0043 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 97.4 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0003💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -2.521💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCOC(=O)COC1=CC=CC=C1🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 3.6 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | floralsweet• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | esteretheraromatic💻 RDKit |
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: DTXSID3062520
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 180.203 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.1 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 253.046 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | 45.82 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 101.599 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.496 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 166.438 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 1.798 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 1.798 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 1.798 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 5.81 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.011 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.011 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Viscosity | 3.405 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 35.354 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 148.01 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 35.53 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 3 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 4 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 48.605 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 19.268 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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