Longifolene (CAS 475-20-7) — Woody Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Longifolene
CAS 475-20-7
What Is Longifolene?
Longifolene is a naturally occurring sesquiterpene found in pine resins and turpentine. It’s used in perfumery to add woody, pine-like notes with subtle spicy undertones. This ingredient matters because it provides a sustainable alternative to traditional woody aromatics, being derived from renewable pine sources rather than endangered woods like sandalwood.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Longifolene Smell Like?
Longifolene opens with crisp, sappy pine needles and freshly split cedarwood, like walking through a sun-warmed conifer forest. The heart reveals subtle peppery nuances and a resinous depth reminiscent of amber droplets on tree bark. Dry-down brings a clean, dry woodiness that lingers as soft as sawdust, without the heaviness of typical woody bases.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: C[C@]12CCCC(C)(C)[C@H]3[C@H](CC[C@@H]13)C2=C
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Longifolene is a tricyclic sesquiterpene (C15H24) with a unique structure containing three fused rings. It’s biosynthesized in pines via the mevalonate pathway. Industrially, it’s isolated from turpentine fractions through fractional distillation. The molecule’s rigid structure contributes to its stability and slow evaporation rate in perfumery applications.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 254-256°C |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.93 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | 1.49 |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Woody base note |
| Functional Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 3% | Pine cleaner accents |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use to extend woody notes without adding sweetness.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No restrictions under current IFRA standards.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM assessment confirms safe use at current levels.
Sustainability
As a byproduct of the paper industry’s turpentine processing, longifolene represents efficient utilization of forest resources. Synthetic production routes exist but are less common due to the availability of natural sources. Biodegradability studies show rapid environmental breakdown.
Explore Longifolene
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for CID 442402 PubChem
- Sell CS (2006). Terpenoids. In: The Chemistry of Fragrances. RSC Publishing.
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPerfumer’s Notes
MW: 204.35
LogP: 5.1
Ingredient Data Sheet
CAS 475-20-7Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 204.35 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 5.1🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 257.8 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0398 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 94.5 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.003💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -0.326💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC1(CCCC2(C3C1C(C2=C)CC3)C)C🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 3.4 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Functional Groups | alkene💻 RDKit |
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: DTXSID9047045
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 204.357 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.933 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 257.9 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 124.43 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 98.35 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.508 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 217.498 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 5 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 4.871 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 4.871 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 6.63 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0.006 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.04 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Surface Tension | 31.244 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 107.23 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 0 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 64.858 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 25.712 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.
