Ethyl cinnamate (CAS 103-36-6) — Sweet Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient

ByThe Good Scents
Sweet · Balsamic

Ethyl cinnamate

CAS 103-36-6

Origin
synthetic
Note
Middle
IFRA
Generally safe
Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is Ethyl cinnamate?

Ethyl cinnamate is a synthetic fragrance ingredient commonly found in perfumes, soaps, and flavored products. It imparts a sweet, balsamic aroma reminiscent of cinnamon and honey. This ester is valued for its warm, spicy character that adds depth to fragrances and enhances sweetness in food flavorings.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
✓ Safe in regulated products
⚠ Potential skin sensitizer – check concentrations
CAS
103-36-6
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Sweet · Balsamic
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Ethyl cinnamate Smell Like?

Ethyl cinnamate opens with a burst of warm, sweet cinnamon that evolves into a rich, balsamic heart with hints of honey and vanilla. The dry-down reveals a soft, powdery amber quality that lingers close to the skin. Like liquid Christmas spices bottled with a drop of golden sunlight.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Opium(Yves Saint Laurent, 1977)

Used for its warm, spicy-sweet character that blends with amber and vanilla to create the iconic oriental accord.

Cinnabar(Estée Lauder, 1978)

Provides the cinnamon-like spice that harmonizes with clove and patchouli in this rich oriental fragrance.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

Ethyl cinnamate

SMILES: CCOC(=O)C=CC1=CC=CC=C1

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Ethyl cinnamate is an ester formed from cinnamic acid and ethanol. It can be synthesized via Fischer esterification or extracted from natural sources like storax resin. The trans-isomer is most common in fragrances, exhibiting greater stability and more desirable olfactory properties than the cis-form.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Boiling Point271 °C
Density1.05 g/cm³
Flash Point>110 °C
Refractive Index1.559-1.561

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Middle
Volatility
Moderate (2-4 hours)
Blending
Good
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance1-3%Up to 5%Adds warmth to oriental accords
Soap/Detergent0.1-0.5%Up to 1%Provides lasting spicy character

Classic Accords

+ Vanilla + Benzoin = Oriental + Citrus + Oakmoss = Chypre

Tip: Use to anchor citrus top notes in spicy compositions.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Cinnamyl acetate CAS 103-54-8

For a brighter, more floral cinnamon effect with similar tenacity.

2
Methyl cinnamate CAS 103-26-4

When a sharper, more pronounced cinnamon note is desired.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

No IFRA restrictions. Approved for use in all fragrance categories.

GHS Classification

H315 Causes skin irritation H319 Causes serious eye irritation

RIFM Assessment

RIFM-reviewed with no significant safety concerns at current usage levels.

Sustainability

Synthetic production avoids harvesting of natural cinnamon resources. Most commercial ethyl cinnamate is petroleum-derived, though bio-based routes from fermented cinnamic acid are being developed.

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References

  1. PubChem Compound Summary for Ethyl cinnamate Link
  2. Bauer et al. (2001). Common Fragrance and Flavor Materials.

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

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Ingredient Data Sheet

CAS 103-36-6

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight176.21 g/mol🔬 PubChem
LogP (Octanol-Water)3🔬 PubChem
Boiling Point271.6 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Vapor Pressure0.0033 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
Flash Point132.5 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Involatility Index0.0003💻 Calculated
log Kp (skin permeability)-1.645💻 Calculated
SMILESCCOC(=O)C=CC1=CC=CC=C1🔬 PubChem

Volatility & Performance

Fragrance NoteHeart💻 Calculated
Volatility ClassVery slow💻 Calculated
Persistence Score4.5 / 5💻 Calculated

Odor & Flavor

Primary Descriptorsbalsamiccinnamonhoneyplum• leffingwell
Functional Groupsesteretheralkenearomatic💻 RDKit
“Sweet-balsamic, fruity-honey-like odor of excellent tenacity. Undertones of Orange (rather Orange-preserve) or Grape-like character, and considerable overall power.”📖 Arctander
Ethyl cinnamate has a pleasant, faint cinnamon-like, balsamic, honey-like odor and sweet, peach/apricot-like taste.📖 Fenaroli

Flavor Notes (Arctander)

“Sweet-fruity, Plum-Cherry-like taste of considerable power. This ester is used sparingly in perfume compositions ranging from Rose and fresh Ambre-like Citrus types to Chypres The ester is used widely in flavor compositions for imitation Cherry, Cinnamon, Grape, Peach, Plum, Raspberry, Spice, Strawb”📖 Arctander

Sensory Thresholds

Odor Detection Threshold0.3475 ppm (n=7)📖 van Gemert

Regulatory Status

FEMA NumberFEMA 2430⚖️ FEMA GRAS
GRAS StatusGenerally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS
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: DTXSID9022520

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 176.215 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 1.048 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX
Boiling Point 271.275 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Melting Point 7.833 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Flash Point 141.225 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Refractive Index 1.55 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 166.905 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 2.992 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX
LogD (pH 5.5) 2.918 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 2.918 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 5.74 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0.001 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX
Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 0.024 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX
Surface Tension 37.701 dyn/cm📊 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 3 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 1 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 53.183 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 21.083 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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