Geranyl benzoate (CAS 94-48-4) — Sweet Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient
Geranyl benzoate
CAS 94-48-4
What Is Geranyl benzoate?
Geranyl benzoate is a synthetic fragrance ingredient primarily used in perfumes and scented products. It contributes a sweet, floral, and slightly balsamic aroma. You’ll encounter it in fine fragrances, body lotions, and candles. This ester is valued for its ability to enhance floral compositions while adding warmth and staying power.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Geranyl benzoate Smell Like?
Geranyl benzoate offers a rich, honeyed floral character with a subtle balsamic undertone. Imagine the sun-warmed petals of roses blended with a whisper of benzoin resin. Initially bright and slightly fruity, it evolves into a velvety heart reminiscent of vintage perfumes, with excellent tenacity that lingers as a soft, powdery trail.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC(C)=CCC\C(C)=C\COC(=O)C1=CC=CC=C1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Geranyl benzoate is an ester formed from geraniol and benzoic acid. It belongs to the terpenoid class and is typically synthesized via Fischer esterification. The compound exhibits good stability and is valued for its resistance to oxidation, making it useful in long-lasting fragrance formulations.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 305 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.978 g/cm³ |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 2-5% | Up to 10% | Adds floral warmth |
| Body Care | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Enhances sweetness |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use to round off sharp floral notes and add a honeyed richness to oriental compositions.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Brighter, more citrusy alternative when a fresher floral tone is desired.
For similar balsamic qualities but with less floral character and more fixative properties.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
Not restricted by IFRA.
EU Allergen Declaration
Not listed as an EU allergen.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM assessment confirms safe use at current levels in fragrance applications.
Sustainability
Synthetic production avoids resource-intensive plant extraction. Manufacturing processes can be optimized for energy efficiency, and the compound’s stability reduces waste in formulations.
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References
- PubChem: Geranyl benzoate PubChem CID
- IFRA Standards Library IFRA
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 94-48-4Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 258.35 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 5.1🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 305 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 165.6 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -0.655💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC(=CCCC(=CCOC(=O)C1=CC=CC=C1)C)C🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Base💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 12.6 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | floralrose• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | esteretheralkenearomatic💻 RDKit |
| “Faint-rosy, very tenacious, overall mildly floral odor with Ambre-like undertones.”📖 Arctander | |
| Geranyl benzoate has a sweet, light odor reminiscent of ylang-ylang. -📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “Sweet, generally fruity, overall Apple-like taste in extreme dilution. It is a powerful flavor, pleasant only in concentrations below 2 ppm. The ester is also used in a few flavor types, mainly fruity and so-called floral flavors. It is a useful fixative for Mint flavors in chewing gum compositions,”📖 Arctander |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2511⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| GRAS Status | Generally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
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: DTXSID4052637
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 258.361 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.985 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 305 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 10.96 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 154.654 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.517 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 262.719 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4.99 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 4.99 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 4.99 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 8.22 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Viscosity | 9.143 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 32.592 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 138.799 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 | 6 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 79.523 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 31.525 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.
