Saccharine, sodium salt (CAS 128-44-9) — Sweet N/A Note Fragrance Ingredient
Saccharine, sodium salt
CAS 128-44-9
What Is Saccharine, sodium salt?
Sodium saccharin is an artificial sweetener commonly found in diet foods, beverages, and pharmaceuticals. It provides intense sweetness without calories, making it popular for sugar-free products. While primarily used for taste, its sweet character can influence fragrance perception by masking bitter notes or enhancing fruity accords in perfumes and flavored products.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Saccharine, sodium salt Smell Like?
Sodium saccharin itself is odorless but profoundly impacts fragrance perception through its intensely sweet taste. In fragrance applications, it can create a lingering sweet impression that modifies how other notes are perceived, particularly in gourmand and fruity compositions. The effect is more gustatory than olfactory, acting as a sensory enhancer that amplifies sweetness perception without adding actual scent molecules.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: [Na+].O=C1[N-]S(=O)(=O)C2=CC=CC=C12
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Sodium saccharin is the sodium salt of saccharin, a synthetic organic compound in the benzosulfimide class. It’s produced through the oxidation of o-toluene sulfonamide or phthalic anhydride. The molecule features a cyclic imide structure with a sulfonyl group, creating an intensely sweet taste receptor agonist. Its sodium salt form enhances water solubility while maintaining heat stability, making it useful in various applications where non-caloric sweetness is desired.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Melting Point | 228-230 °C (decomposes) |
|---|---|
| Solubility | Freely soluble in water |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flavored Products | 0.001-0.1% | Up to 0.2% | Sweetness enhancer |
| Oral Care | 0.05-0.5% | Up to 1% | Mask bitter flavors |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use minimal quantities to avoid metallic aftertaste while enhancing sweet perception.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Chlorinated sucrose derivative with cleaner sweet profile and no bitter aftertaste, better for high-end applications.
Heat-stable sweetener with faster onset of sweetness, useful in baked fragrance applications.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
Not restricted by IFRA, but not recommended for dermal applications.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
Not evaluated by RIFM as it’s primarily a food additive rather than fragrance material.
Sustainability
As a synthetic compound, sodium saccharin production requires petrochemical inputs but achieves high sweetness intensity at minimal dosage. Its environmental impact is comparatively low due to small usage quantities, though manufacturing involves sulfonation processes requiring proper waste management.
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References
- FDA. (2018). Food Additive Status List. FDA Guidance
- Arnold, D.L. (1984). Saccharin: A Toxicological and Historical Perspective. Toxicology, 27(3-4), 179-256. Toxicology Review
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPerfumers Notes
Regulatory Status
FEMA GRAS #2997
Standard Dilution
10% in DPG (standard dilution for most fragrance materials)
Typical Usage Levels
FEMA GRAS (#2997) — typical use 0.01-5% in fragrance.
Ingredient Data Sheet
CAS 128-44-9Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 205.17 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 272 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| SMILES | C1=CC=C2C(=C1)C(=O)[N-]S2(=O)=O.[Na+]🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Base💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 9.1 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Functional Groups | aromatic💻 RDKit |
| Saccharine sodium salt has no odor but has an intensly sweet taste.📖 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: DTXSID5021253
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 205.16 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.001 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 272 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | 229.15 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 220 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | -1.652 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | -5.8 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | -7.7 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 8.48 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.007 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 65.31 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 3 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 41.32 cm^3/mol💻 Computed |
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.
