Carvyl acetate (CAS 97-42-7) — Green Top-middle Note Fragrance Ingredient

ByThe Good Scents
Green · Woody

Carvyl acetate

CAS 97-42-7

Origin
synthetic
Note
Top-middle
IFRA
Generally safe
Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is Carvyl acetate?

Carvyl acetate is a synthetic fragrance ingredient with a fresh, herbaceous scent reminiscent of spearmint and caraway. It’s commonly found in household cleaners, air fresheners, and some masculine fragrances. This versatile molecule adds crispness to compositions, particularly useful for creating ‘green’ or ‘outdoorsy’ olfactory effects without using natural mint oils that can be unstable.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
✓ IFRA unrestricted
⚠ Potential mild sensitizer at high concentrations
CAS
97-42-7
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Green · Woody
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Carvyl acetate Smell Like?

Carvyl acetate bursts with an invigorating coolness—imagine crushed spearmint leaves blended with the earthy sharpness of freshly split caraway seeds. The opening is brisk and slightly metallic, like morning dew on stainless steel garden tools. As it evolves, a subtle sweetness emerges akin to chewing gum left in a sun-warmed leather jacket. Dry-down reveals faint woody undertones that linger as ghostly mint impressions—more memory than substance.

Scent Profile
Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

Carvyl acetate

SMILES: CC(=O)OC1CC(CC=C1C)C(C)=C

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Carvyl acetate belongs to the monoterpenoid ester class, synthesized via acetylation of carvone. The molecule exhibits chirality with (R)- and (S)-enantiomers, where the (R)-form typically dominates commercial production due to its sharper olfactory profile. Industrial synthesis often starts from limonene through selective oxidation pathways. The acetate group enhances stability compared to its alcohol precursor, making it valuable for functional fragrance applications.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Top-middle
Volatility
Medium (1-3 hours)
Blending
Good
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Functional Fragrances0.5-2%Up to 5%Provides clean freshness
Fine Fragrance0.1-0.5%Up to 1%Used as green modifier

Classic Accords

Tip: Use with citrus top notes to prevent harshness in functional applications.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Menthyl acetate CAS 89-48-5

For stronger mint character without caraway nuances

2
Carvone CAS 99-49-0

When more pronounced herbal/spicy notes are desired

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.

IFRA Status

No restrictions under current IFRA standards (as of Amendment 51).

EU Allergen Declaration

Not listed in EU Annex III allergen declaration requirements.

RIFM Assessment

RIFM assessment completed in 2018 – no significant safety concerns at typical usage levels.

Sustainability

As a synthetic material, carvyl acetate avoids agricultural impacts but relies on petrochemical feedstocks. Modern production methods achieve >90% atom efficiency. Biocatalytic routes from renewable resources are under development but not yet commercially viable.

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References

    Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.

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    Ingredient Data Sheet

    CAS 97-42-7

    Physical Properties

    Molecular Weight194.27 g/mol🔬 PubChem
    LogP (Octanol-Water)2.6🔬 PubChem
    Boiling Point77.2 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
    Flash Point97.2 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
    log Kp (skin permeability)-2.039💻 Calculated
    SMILESCC1=CCC(CC1OC(=O)C)C(=C)C🔬 PubChem

    Volatility & Performance

    Fragrance NoteTop💻 Calculated

    Odor & Flavor

    Primary Descriptorsfruitygreenherbalsweet• leffingwell
    Functional Groupsesteretheralkene💻 RDKit
    Carvyl acetate has a characteristic odor reminiscent of spearmint.📖 Fenaroli

    Sensory Thresholds

    Odor Detection Threshold0.0015 ppm📖 van Gemert

    Regulatory Status

    IFRA ListedYes — see IFRA Standards for category limits⚖️ IFRA 51
    IOFI ClassificationNature Identical📖 Fenaroli
    Data Sources & Attribution
    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: DTXSID3024738

    Physical Properties

    Molecular Weight 194.274 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
    Density 0.972 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX
    Boiling Point 257.661 °C📊 OPERA
    Melting Point 11.107 °C📊 OPERA
    Flash Point 97.222 °C🔬 EPA CTX
    Refractive Index 1.475 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
    Molar Volume 201.035 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

    Partition & Solubility

    LogP (Octanol-Water) 3.757 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogD (pH 5.5) 3.757 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogD (pH 7.4) 3.757 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 5.72 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    Water Solubility 0.009 mol/L📊 OPERA
    Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

    Transport Properties

    Vapor Pressure 0.023 mmHg📊 OPERA
    Viscosity 5.16 cP📊 OPERA
    Surface Tension 30.326 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
    Thermal Conductivity 129.258 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA

    Molecular Descriptors

    Topological Polar Surface Area 26.3 Ų💻 Computed
    H-Bond Donors 0 count💻 Computed
    H-Bond Acceptors 2 count💻 Computed
    Rotatable Bonds 2 count💻 Computed
    Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
    Molar Refractivity 56.595 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
    Polarizability 22.436 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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