Amyl alcohol (CAS 71-41-0) — Sweet Top Note Fragrance Ingredient
Amyl alcohol
CAS 71-41-0
What Is Amyl alcohol?
Amyl alcohol is a synthetic alcohol commonly used as a solvent and fragrance ingredient. You might encounter it in industrial cleaners, paints, and some perfumes. While not a star ingredient, it plays a supporting role in creating certain fruity or fermented notes.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESSWhat Does Amyl alcohol Smell Like?
Amyl alcohol presents a sharp, pungent aroma reminiscent of fusel oils with distinct banana-like overtones. The initial blast is alcoholic and slightly harsh, evolving into a fermented fruity character that recalls overripe pears or amyl acetate. The dry-down reveals a lingering warmth with a faintly oily, solvent-like undertone that blends well with other fruity or woody materials.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCO
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Amyl alcohol (pentanol) is a primary alcohol with five carbon atoms. Industrially produced via hydroformylation of butene followed by hydrogenation. Exists as several isomers including n-pentanol (1-pentanol) and isoamyl alcohol (3-methyl-1-butanol). The branched isomers are more commonly used in fragrance applications due to their more pleasant odor profiles.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 137-138 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.81 g/cm³ |
| Flash Point | 49 °C |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Used for solvent effects |
| Functional Products | 0.1-1% | Up to 3% | Masking agent |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use sparingly in fruity compositions to add fermented depth without overwhelming the blend.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
Not restricted by IFRA standards.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
Not currently evaluated by RIFM for fragrance use.
Sustainability
Primarily produced from petrochemical feedstocks. Considered a high-volume chemical with established production infrastructure. Limited environmental impact when properly handled, but not derived from renewable resources.
Explore Amyl alcohol
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for Pentan-1-ol CID 8003
- Burdock, G.A. (2010). Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. CRC Press.
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 71-41-0Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 88.15 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 1.6🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 137.8 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 1 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 32.8 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.1148💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -2.102💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCCCCO🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Top💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Moderate💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 0.5 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | alcoholicsolvent• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | alcohol💻 RDKit |
| “Somewhat harsh, chemical odor, reminiscent of Fusel oil, but not as heavy, however, more penetrating, nauseating, cough-provoking. Only in high dilution fairly pleasant.”📖 Arctander | |
| Amyl alcohol has a characteristic fusel-like sweet and pleasant odor and burning taste. It is somewhat more toxic than ethyl alcohol.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “Used in flavor composition for imitation Berry, Apple, Banana, Chocolate, Pineapple, Rum and various types of Liqueur flavors, Brandy flavors, etc.”📖 Arctander |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 5.0162 ppm (n=10)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2056⚖️ 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: DTXSID6021741
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 88.15 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.812 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 137.76 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -80.286 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 44.328 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.407 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 108.575 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 1.502 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 1.563 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 1.563 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 4.69 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| Water Solubility | 0.249 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 2.377 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 2.191 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 26.265 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 153.9 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 | 3 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 26.748 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 10.604 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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