Vetiverol (CAS 89-88-3) — Woody Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
Vetiverol
CAS 89-88-3
What Is Vetiverol?
Vetiverol is a key component of vetiver oil, giving it that distinctive earthy, woody aroma. You’ll find it in high-end perfumes, candles, and even some grooming products for men. This molecule matters because it adds depth and longevity to fragrances, acting like nature’s own fixative to make scents last longer on your skin.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFE
What Does Vetiverol Smell Like?
Vetiverol delivers a rich, multifaceted aroma that evolves beautifully on the skin. Initially earthy and slightly damp – like freshly turned soil after rain – it gradually reveals smoky, leathery undertones. The dry-down is where it shines, developing a warm, ambery sweetness reminiscent of fine cigar boxes. Unlike simpler woody notes, vetiverol has a distinctive mineral quality, like the scent of wet stones in a sun-warmed forest. Its tenacity makes it a perfumer’s secret weapon, lingering for hours as a skin-scent that feels both primal and sophisticated.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Vetiverol’s smoky facets are amplified here, creating a velvety contrast to the citrus top notes. It provides the fragrance’s signature ‘grey vetiver’ effect – neither too green nor too sweet.
Dominique Ropion uses vetiverol to achieve an unprecedented clarity in vetiver’s earthy character, making it smell almost luminous despite its deep woody nature.
Here vetiverol’s mineral quality is emphasized, creating an ink-like effect that’s both modern and timeless. Its dryness balances the cypress and cashmeran.
Jean-Claude Ellena uses vetiverol’s earthy facets to ground the citrus-flint accord, creating his signature ‘mineral vetiver’ effect that feels like walking through a sun-baked landscape.
The vetiverol here is polished to a sleek, metallic sheen, demonstrating how this molecule can be tailored for contemporary masculine fragrances while retaining its natural depth.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC1CC(O)C=C(C)C2CC(CC12)=C(C)C
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Vetiverol is a sesquiterpenoid alcohol, specifically a vetispirane derivative. While it occurs naturally in vetiver oil (Vetiveria zizanioides), most commercial vetiverol is now produced synthetically for consistency. The synthesis typically involves the oxidation of vetivene or hydrogenation of vetivone. What makes vetiverol particularly interesting is its stereochemistry – the molecule has multiple chiral centers that influence its odor profile. The (-)-isomer is considered more valuable in perfumery, possessing the characteristic woody-earthy notes, while the (+)-isomer tends to have greener, more camphoraceous characteristics.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | Colorless to pale yellow viscous liquid |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | ~285 °C |
| Density | ~0.98 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | ~1.515 |
| Solubility | Soluble in alcohol, oils; insoluble in water |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Adds depth and fixation |
| Home Fragrance | 1-3% | Up to 8% | Provides grounding woody notes |
| Personal Care | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Used sparingly for masculine accords |
| Functional Products | 0.01-0.1% | Up to 0.5% | Masking agent for technical odors |
Classic Accords
+ Grapefruit + Pink Pepper = Modern masculine
+ Iris + Ambroxan = Textured skin scent
+ Oakmoss + Coumarin = Classic fougère
Tip: Pre-dilute to 10% in DEP or TEC to improve blending and prevent crystallization in alcohol bases.
Alternatives & Comparisons
A more diffusive alternative with similar woody character but less earthy depth. Preferred when a lighter, more transparent vetiver effect is desired.
Offers some smoky-woody facets without vetiverol’s earthy qualities. Useful when you need wood support without the distinctive vetiver signature.
A synthetic alternative that provides extreme woody persistence. Lacks vetiverol’s natural complexity but useful for modern woody-ambery bases.
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
No IFRA restrictions. Vetiverol is considered safe at all typical usage levels in fragrance applications.
GHS Classification
H319 Eye irritation
RIFM Assessment
RIFM assessment confirms vetiverol’s safety profile for current fragrance use patterns. No sensitization concerns at standard concentrations.
Sustainability
While natural vetiverol comes from vetiver grass – a sustainable crop that prevents soil erosion – most commercial material is now synthetic. The synthetic route reduces pressure on agricultural land and ensures consistent quality. Modern green chemistry approaches are improving the environmental profile of vetiverol production, with some manufacturers now using renewable feedstocks and catalytic processes that minimize waste.
Explore Vetiverol
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Industry & Science Data
References
- Sell, C. (2006). The Chemistry of Fragrances. RSC Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85404-824-3
- Bauer, K. et al. (2001). Common Fragrance and Flavor Materials. Wiley-VCH. ISBN 978-3-527-30364-6
- Arctander, S. (1969). Perfume and Flavor Chemicals. Allured Publishing.
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Ingredient Data Sheet
CAS 89-88-3Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 220.35 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 286 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0008 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 132.7 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0001💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.914💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC1CC(C=C(C2C1CC(=C(C)C)C2)C)O🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Base💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 6 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | vetiver• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | alcoholalkene💻 RDKit |
| “- 1) by isolation from Vetiver oil, by fractionated vacuumdistillation. - 2) by isolation from saponified Vetiver oil, by fractionated vacuumdistillation. - 3) by treatment of Vetiver oil with Acetic anhydride, thereby acetylating the primary alcohols, and dehydrating the tertiary alcohols to hydrocarbons. Fractionated distillation isolates Vetiver acetate from primary alcohols exclusively, and subsequent saponification yields Vetiverol consisting almost exclusively of the two above named alcoho”📖 Arctander | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “Minor amounts of the material are used in flavors, where imitation Asparagus and Cucumber may benefit from the peculiar taste of this item. The author would however, by far recommend the lower boiling fractions of Vetiver oil for this purpose. They have an interesting green-vegetable, earthy and fre”📖 Arctander |
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: DTXSID70861680
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 220.356 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.951 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 298.349 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | 56.15 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 129.693 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.509 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 228.568 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.872 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.872 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.872 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 8.83 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.001 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Viscosity | 38.388 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 32.398 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 126.872 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 | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 68.254 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 27.058 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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