Vetiveryl Acetate (CAS 62563-80-8) — Woody Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
Vetiveryl Acetate
CAS 62563-80-8
What Is Vetiveryl Acetate?
Vetiveryl acetate is a refined, modern interpretation of vetiver’s earthy depth, often found in high-end perfumes and luxury skincare. It offers a smoother, more approachable woody character than raw vetiver oil. This ingredient matters because it bridges classic and contemporary fragrance design, adding sophisticated woodiness without overwhelming other notes.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Vetiveryl Acetate Smell Like?
Vetiveryl acetate unfolds like sun-warmed teakwood polished with citrus oil – a radiant woody core wrapped in bright, almost fizzy top notes. The initial impression is cleaner than natural vetiver, with a champagne-like effervescence that settles into velvety sandalwood tones. Over hours, it develops a skin-hugging warmth reminiscent of fine leather goods, with faint whispers of fresh-cut grass and wet stones in the dry-down.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Provides polished woodiness that grounds the flinty mineral accord, creating the scent’s signature ‘walking through an orchard after rain’ effect.
Used as an airier counterpoint to the dark vetiver heart, adding luminous texture to the ink-black wood theme.
Forms the scent’s metallic sheen, bridging the citrus top to earthy base with its polished wood character.
Provides the ‘extraordinary’ brightness that lifts Dominique Ropion’s vetiver pyramid into crystalline clarity.
Creates the illusion of sunlit spaces between smoky vetiver notes, like light through forest canopy.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC1CC(C=C(C2C1CC(=C(C)C)C2)C)OC(=O)C
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Vetiveryl acetate is a semi-synthetic ester derived from vetiver oil’s complex sesquiterpene alcohols, primarily through acetylation of vetiverols. The process typically involves reacting vetiver oil with acetic anhydride, followed by molecular distillation to isolate the desired fraction. This creates a more volatile and top-note active version of vetiver’s woody character. The exact composition varies by manufacturer but generally contains a mix of vetivenyl and other sesquiterpene acetates.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | Pale yellow to amber viscous liquid |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | ~250 °C (estimated) |
| Density | 0.96-0.98 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | 1.505-1.515 |
| Solubility | Soluble in alcohol, oils; insoluble in water |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-5% | Up to 10% | Woody anchor for modern compositions |
| Home Care | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Adds premium woody character |
| Personal Care | 0.05-0.3% | Up to 0.5% | Skin-safe woody enhancement |
| Functional | 0.01-0.1% | Up to 0.2% | Masking agent for technical products |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use to ‘polish’ rough woody bases – start at 0.5% and adjust upwards to avoid flattening the blend.
Alternatives & Comparisons
The alcohol precursor with more earthy depth but less diffusion power. Choose when needing more naturalistic vetiver character.
Synthetic alternative with similar dry wood effect but less natural complexity. Useful for cost-sensitive applications.
More aggressive dry wood effect. Use when maximal projection and woodiness are required.
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 restrictions under IFRA 51st Amendment. Classified as non-sensitizing at current use levels.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
RIFM assessment confirms safe use up to 3.8% in fine fragrance based on complete toxicological profile.
Sustainability
Sourcing typically begins with sustainable vetiver cultivation in Haiti or Indonesia. The acetylation process reduces environmental impact compared to full vetiver oil production by requiring less raw material per olfactory impact. Some manufacturers now use green chemistry approaches with enzyme-catalyzed reactions at lower temperatures.
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References
- Sell C. (2019). The Chemistry of Fragrances. Royal Society of Chemistry. ISBN 9781788012139
- Arctander S. (1969). Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin. ASIN B0006BZ1VW
- Bickers D. et al. (2003). The safety assessment of fragrance materials. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. DOI 10.1016/S0273-2300(03)00003-6
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 62563-80-8Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 262.4 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.6🔬 PubChem |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.745💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC1CC(C=C(C2C1CC(=C(C)C)C2)C)OC(=O)C🔬 PubChem |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | vetiver• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | esteretheralkene💻 RDKit |
| “Sweet-and-dry, fresh-woody and exceptionally tenacious odor. Poorer grades display conspicuous notes of Vetiver oil (green, earthy, rooty notes, etc.). The beauty of the odor is only fully appreciated when the material is incorporated in a suitable perfume. The peculiar dry-sweet note does not appear with a woody tone, but it gives fresh lift, yet outstanding tenacity and warmth to a fragrance. Although this ester can be used in almost any type of perfume, it has its most attractive effect in Ch”📖 Arctander | |
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: DTXSID201057385
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 262.4 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.6 Log10 unitless🔬 PubChem |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 26.3 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 77.68 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.
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