Methyl Eugenol (CAS 93-15-2) — Spicy Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Methyl Eugenol
CAS 93-15-2
What Is Methyl Eugenol?
Methyl eugenol is a naturally occurring aromatic compound found in essential oils like basil, clove, and cinnamon. People encounter it in flavored foods, perfumes, and some herbal products. This molecule contributes warm, spicy-sweet nuances to fragrances and flavors. While valued for its rich olfactory profile, methyl eugenol requires careful formulation due to safety considerations at higher concentrations.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESS
What Does Methyl Eugenol Smell Like?
Methyl eugenol presents an intensely warm, clove-like aroma with honeyed sweet undertones. The initial impression is powerfully spicy – reminiscent of carnation buds and allspice berries – which gradually softens into a velvety balsamic character. In dry-down, it reveals subtle woody facets that blend seamlessly with oriental bases. The scent profile lingers tenaciously, adding depth and persistence to compositions with its narcotic, almost hypnotic quality.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used sparingly to amplify the clove-cinnamon accord, contributing to the fragrance’s legendary spicy warmth and addictive quality.
Provides a honeyed spice counterpoint to the aldehydic top notes, enhancing the oriental character.
Forms part of the balsamic foundation, lending persistent warmth to this pioneering oriental.
Contributes to the vanilla-amber drydown with its sweet, narcotic undertones.
Used judiciously to reinforce the clove-coriander heart notes with rich balsamic depth.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: COC1=CC=C(CC=C)C=C1OC
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Methyl eugenol (4-allyl-1,2-dimethoxybenzene) belongs to the phenylpropanoid class of aromatic compounds. Naturally occurring as a minor constituent in many essential oils, it’s biosynthesized from coniferyl alcohol via enzymatic methylation. Industrially, it’s produced by alkylation of eugenol with dimethyl sulfate. The molecule’s structure features an allyl group para to two methoxy groups on a benzene ring, explaining both its volatility and affinity for olfactory receptors. While not chiral itself, its metabolic products can exhibit stereospecific activity in biological systems.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 248-249 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.04 g/cm³ |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.016 mmHg at 25°C |
| Refractive Index | 1.534 |
| Solubility | Slightly soluble in water, miscible with organic solvents |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 0.5% | IFRA restricted |
| Soap | 0.05-0.2% | Up to 0.2% | Heat-stable but restricted |
| Cosmetics | 0.01-0.1% | Up to 0.1% | Rinse-off products only |
| Household | 0.5-1% | Up to 1% | Non-skin contact applications |
Classic Accords
+ Cinnamon + Clove = Spice
+ Rose + Ylang = Carnation
+ Oakmoss + Labdanum = Chypre
Tip: Use below 0.5% in skin-contact products and balance with fresh top notes to prevent heaviness.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Less restricted, similar clove character but more phenolic and less sweet.
Similar profile with slightly floral nuance and lower safety concerns.
Less potent but permitted at higher levels in fragrances.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. IFRA, REACH, EU Cosmetics Regulation standards update periodically. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating. Not legal or regulatory advice.
IFRA Status
Restricted to 0.0004% in leave-on products and 0.04% in rinse-off products (IFRA 49th Amendment). Prohibited in products for children under 6.
EU Allergen Declaration
Not listed as EU allergen but requires declaration under IFRA restrictions.
GHS Classification
H315 Causes skin irritation
H319 Causes serious eye irritation
H351 Suspected of causing cancer
RIFM Assessment
Classified as a weak hepatocarcinogen in rodent studies; RIFM recommends strict adherence to IFRA limits.
Sustainability
While naturally occurring in many plants, commercial methyl eugenol is typically synthesized from petrochemical precursors. Sustainable production routes using bio-based eugenol from clove leaf oil are being developed. Environmental impact is mitigated through strict usage controls in consumer products.
Explore Methyl Eugenol
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Industry & Science Data
References
- National Toxicology Program (2000). Methyl Eugenol Report. NTP Report
- IFRA Standards (2022). 49th Amendment. IFRA 49
- Smith et al. (2015). Metabolism of Phenylpropanoids. Chem. Res. Toxicol. DOI:10.1021/acs.chemrestox.5b00322
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Ingredient Data Sheet
CAS 93-15-2Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 178.23 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.5🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 254.7 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.02 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 98.9 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0016💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -2.012💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | COC1=C(C=C(C=C1)CC=C)OC🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 2.9 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | herbalspicytea• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | etheralkenearomatic💻 RDKit |
| “Peculiar musty-tealike, warm and mildly spicy, slightly earthy, tenacious odor. The warm notes are mostly herbaceous, the spicy notes very subdued, and there is an overall resemblance to notes of Ginger and Tea.”📖 Arctander | |
| Eugenyl methyl ether has a delicate clove-carnation odor with a bitter, burning taste.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “The taste is somewhat dry, tealike, warm and mildly spicy. It blends well with the "carbinols", herbaceous oils, spice oils, etc. and does not tend to discolor under normal composition conditions. The material is also used in flavor compositions, mainly as a modifier in spice blends, to support Ging”📖 Arctander |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 3.3052 ppm (n=6)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| IFRA Listed | Yes — see IFRA Standards for category limits⚖️ IFRA 51 |
| EU Annex III | Listed (restricted)⚖️ IFRA 51 |
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2475⚖️ 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: DTXSID5025607
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 178.231 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.036 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 254.954 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 0.889 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 107.288 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.5 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 181.856 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.57 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 2.588 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 2.588 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 5.78 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.003 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 4.807 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 2.679 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 31.646 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 139.967 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 18.46 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 4 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 53.517 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 21.216 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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