Propyl alcohol (CAS 71-23-8) — Sweet Carrier Note Fragrance Ingredient
Propyl alcohol
CAS 71-23-8
What Is Propyl alcohol?
Propyl alcohol is a simple alcohol used as a solvent and preservative in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. You’ll find it in hand sanitizers, aftershaves, and some fragrance bases. While not a primary scent ingredient, it influences how other fragrance components behave and how long they last on your skin.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Propyl alcohol Smell Like?
Propyl alcohol has a sharp, slightly sweet odor reminiscent of rubbing alcohol with a faint fruity undertone. It lacks the complexity of fragrance alcohols, presenting a straightforward, clean scent that dissipates quickly. In formulations, it acts more as a carrier than a featured note, subtly enhancing the volatility of top notes.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCO
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Propyl alcohol (1-propanol) is a primary alcohol with the formula CH3CH2CH2OH. It’s produced industrially via hydroformylation of ethylene or fermentation of sugars. Unlike its isomer isopropanol, it has limited antimicrobial properties but superior solvent capabilities for fragrance compounds. Its simple structure lacks chiral centers.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 97 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.803 g/cm³ |
| Flash Point | 15 °C |
| Vapor Pressure | 14.1 mmHg at 25°C |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solvent Systems | 10-30% | Up to 50% | Primary carrier for fragrance oils |
| Sanitizers | 5-10% | 1-30% | Co-solvent with ethanol |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use as a neutral carrier for highly concentrated fragrance oils to improve sprayability.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions. Generally recognized as safe for use in fragrances.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
Not evaluated by RIFM as it’s primarily a solvent rather than fragrance ingredient.
Sustainability
Propyl alcohol is typically synthesized from petrochemical feedstocks, though bio-based production via fermentation is possible. Its environmental impact is moderate – highly biodegradable but requires energy-intensive distillation for purification.
Explore Propyl alcohol
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for 1-Propanol CID 1031
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 71-23-8Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 60.1 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 0.3🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 97.2 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 44.98 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 25 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 6.2533💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -2.854💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCCO🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Top💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very fast💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 0.5 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | alcoholicsweet• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | alcohol💻 RDKit |
| “Furthermore in various berry compositions Peculiar fruity-floral odor with Jasmin-like and fruit complexes.”📖 Arctander | |
| Propyl alcohol has an alcoholic odor and a characteristic ripe, fruity flavor.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “It is used occasionally in flavor compositions, mainly in fruit flavors to introduce part of a "ripe" or "fermented" note or part of a winy flavor. The concentration is normally as low as 0.5 to 1 ppm in the finished product, actually mere traces of questionable flavor value – in the author's opinio”📖 Arctander |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 46.1084 ppm (n=44)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2928⚖️ 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: DTXSID2021739
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 60.096 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.803 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 97.144 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -126.589 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 21.631 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.38 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 75.562 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 0.314 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 0.276 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 0.276 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 3.71 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| Water Solubility | 7.68 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 22.146 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 1.662 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 24.57 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 152.74 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 20.23 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 17.482 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 6.931 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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