Dibenzyl ether (CAS 103-50-4) — Floral Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Dibenzyl ether
CAS 103-50-4
What Is Dibenzyl ether?
Dibenzyl ether is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used as a fixative in perfumes and scented products. It helps other scents last longer on skin and fabrics. This subtle ingredient works behind the scenes in many floral and oriental fragrances.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Dibenzyl ether Smell Like?
Dibenzyl ether presents a delicate, slightly sweet floral character with subtle almond undertones. Its odor is mild yet persistent, acting primarily as a fixative that enhances longevity rather than dominating a composition. The scent evolves subtly from a faint floral whisper to a soft, powdery drydown reminiscent of antique linens.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used as a subtle fixative to enhance the floral bouquet’s longevity without altering its iconic character.
Helps anchor the vanilla and amber base notes while maintaining transparency in this oriental classic.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: C(OCC1=CC=CC=C1)C1=CC=CC=C1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Dibenzyl ether is an aromatic ether formed by the condensation of two benzyl alcohol molecules. It’s produced synthetically through Williamson ether synthesis or catalytic dehydration of benzyl alcohol. The molecule features two benzene rings connected by an oxygen bridge, contributing to its stability and fixative properties.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 298 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.042 g/cm³ |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Fixative for floral compositions |
| Soaps | 0.5-1% | Up to 2% | Enhances scent longevity |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use sparingly as it can become heavy in high concentrations.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Offers similar fixative properties with a lighter, more transparent character.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions currently apply.
RIFM Assessment
Considered safe for current fragrance use levels by RIFM.
Sustainability
Synthesized from petroleum-derived precursors. Production has moderate environmental impact but requires minimal quantities in formulations.
Explore Dibenzyl ether
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References
- Bauer et al. (2001). Common Fragrance and Flavor Materials. Wiley-VCH. ISBN 9783527619580
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 103-50-4Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 198.26 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.3🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 297.8 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 1 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 135 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0765💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.566💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | C1=CC=C(C=C1)COCC2=CC=CC=C2🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 0.5 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | almondearthymushroomrosesweet• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | etheraromatic💻 RDKit |
| “: Faint, sweet odor of Anisaldehyde charact- 1) by heating Benzylalcohol with dilute sul- er, but much weaker. have “Almond” odor, but the author believes 2) by heating Benzyl chloride with aqueous this may be decomposition product (Benzalde- alkali. aqueous media to Benzaldehyde, It finds some use in perfume compositions, 421 ; 5-224; 2f#30; 31-145; 68-502; 8ti3 ; particularly in low cost floral ”📖 Arctander | |
| Dibenzyl ether has a slightly earthy, mushroom-like odor with a rosy undertone.📖 Fenaroli | |
Regulatory Status
| IFRA Listed | Yes — see IFRA Standards for category limits⚖️ IFRA 51 |
| IOFI Classification | Artificial📖 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: DTXSID5025819
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 198.265 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.031 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 297.2 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 3.424 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 135.333 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.569 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 189.315 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.32 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.458 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.458 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 7.56 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.168 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 5.047 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 39.246 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 138.939 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 9.23 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 4 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 62.035 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 24.592 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.
