Dihydrolinalool (CAS 78-69-3) — Floral Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
Dihydrolinalool
CAS 78-69-3
What Is Dihydrolinalool?
Dihydrolinalool is a floral-scented synthetic ingredient used in perfumes and household products like detergents and air fresheners. It provides a fresh, slightly citrusy floral character that blends well with other ingredients. This versatile molecule helps create balanced floral bouquets in fragrances, making scents smell more natural and harmonious. It’s particularly valued for its ability to add depth without overpowering other notes.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Dihydrolinalool Smell Like?
Dihydrolinalool offers a delicate floral aroma with subtle citrus undertones, reminiscent of lily of the valley and orange blossoms. Its scent is cleaner and less woody than its parent molecule linalool, with a fresh, dewy quality that evokes morning gardens. The heart note develops smoothly, revealing a soft powdery character in the dry-down. It lacks the sharpness of some floral compounds, making it ideal for creating rounded, approachable floral compositions that don’t become cloying.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used to enhance the lily of the valley accord, providing a fresh floralcy that balances the more intense muguet notes.
Contributes to the soft, rounded floral character that makes this fragrance so universally appealing.
Helps create the dewy floral effect that defines this aquatic floral masterpiece.
Used in the floral bouquet to add freshness and prevent the composition from becoming too heavy.
Provides floral support to the citrus top notes, bridging to the woody base.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCC(C)(O)CCCC(C)C
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Dihydrolinalool is a saturated terpene alcohol, specifically the hydrogenated form of linalool. It belongs to the monoterpenoid class of compounds. While linalool occurs naturally in many essential oils, dihydrolinalool is primarily produced synthetically. The hydrogenation process reduces the double bonds in linalool, making it more stable to oxidation while maintaining its pleasant floral character. This modification also makes it less prone to causing skin sensitization compared to its unsaturated counterpart.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | Colorless liquid |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | 198-200 °C |
| Density | 0.865 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | 1.460-1.470 |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 5-10% | Up to 15% | Floral bouquet builder |
| Soaps | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Adds floral freshness |
| Detergents | 0.5-2% | Up to 3% | Cost-effective floralcy |
| Air Fresheners | 2-5% | Up to 8% | Clean floral character |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use to soften harsh floral notes and add diffusion to floral compositions.
Alternatives & Comparisons
The unsaturated version with more pronounced woody character and higher volatility.
Offers similar floralcy but with a more rosy, slightly citrusy character.
Provides floral freshness with more herbal-lavender aspects.
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. Dihydrolinalool is considered safe for use in all fragrance categories.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM has evaluated dihydrolinalool and found it safe for current fragrance use levels.
Sustainability
As a synthetic material, dihydrolinalool production doesn’t deplete natural resources. Its hydrogenated structure makes it more stable than natural terpenes, reducing waste from oxidation. Manufacturing processes can be optimized for energy efficiency since it’s produced from petrochemical feedstocks. The material’s stability also means it requires fewer preservatives in finished products.
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References
- Bickers et al. (2003). The safety assessment of fragrance materials. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. PMID 14550755
- Sell C. (2006). The Chemistry of Fragrances. RSC Publishing. DOI 10.1039/9781847555404
- IFRA Standards Library IFRA Official Site
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 78-69-3Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 158.28 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.3🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 197.3 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.01 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 81 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0009💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.323💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCC(C)(CCCC(C)C)O🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 3.6 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | floralsweet• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | alcohol💻 RDKit |
| “It is also used in Lavender compositions, Chypres, Fougères, etc. as a modifier/blender, and its mild odor makes it almost universally applicable.”📖 Arctander | |
| Tetrahydrolinalool has a sweet, oily, floral odor (more so than linalool) with a citrus floral taste.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “Traces of the alcohol are used in flavor plexes, berry flavors and certain Liqueur Pleasant citrusy-floral taste in concentra-”📖 Arctander |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 3060⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| GRAS Status | Generally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| 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: DTXSID7029110
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 158.285 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.829 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 196.7 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -15.833 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 79 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.434 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 191.534 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.547 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.451 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.451 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 6.42 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.002 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.043 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 5.145 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 26.385 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 131.385 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 | 5 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 49.837 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 19.757 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.
