Ionone (CAS 8013-90-9) — violet heart Note Fragrance Ingredient

ByThe Good Scents
violet woody

Ionone

CAS 8013-90-9

Origin
synthetic
Note
heart
IFRA
Generally safe
Data as of: Mar 2026

What Is Ionone?

Ionone is a synthetic fragrance molecule that creates violet-like floral notes with woody undertones. It’s found in perfumes, soaps, and candles. This versatile ingredient bridges floral and woody accords, allowing perfumers to create sophisticated scents that evolve beautifully on skin.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
✓ Safe in regulated products
⚠ Check concentration limits in final products
CAS
8013-90-9
Formula
C11H18O2
MW
182.26
Odor Family
violet woody
Ionone 2D structure
Ionone
C11H18O2
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Ionone Smell Like?

Ionone opens with an intense violet burst reminiscent of crushed flower petals, quickly revealing a suede-like softness. The heart develops woody facets resembling freshly sharpened pencils and orris root, while the dry-down lingers as a delicate skin scent with whispers of raspberry jam and cedar shavings. Its unique property is a scent threshold phenomenon where high concentrations paradoxically smell less intense.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Après l'Ondée(Guerlain, 1906)

Uses ionone to create its signature melancholy violet-iris accord that floats like mist over woody base notes.

Insolence(Guerlain, 2006)

Amplifies ionone’s violet character with red berries and powdery orris for a bold, modern interpretation.

Grey Flannel(Geoffrey Beene, 1975)

Pairs ionone with galbanum and oakmoss for a violet leaf effect in this classic fougère structure.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

Ionone

SMILES: CC(=O)C=CC1C(C)=CCCC1(C)C

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Ionone belongs to the cyclic terpenoid class, specifically a cyclic ketone derived from citral. Commercial production typically involves acid-catalyzed cyclization of pseudoionone. The alpha and beta isomers differ in double bond position, with beta-ionone being more common in perfumery. Chirality significantly impacts odor: (R)-(-)-alpha-ionone smells more floral while (S)-(+)-alpha-ionone leans woody.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Molecular Weight192.30 g/mol
Boiling Point266-267 °C
Density0.93 g/cm³
Refractive Index1.497-1.502
Solubility1:3 in 70% alcohol

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Heart
Volatility
Medium (2-6 hours)
Blending
Excellent
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance1-5%Up to 10%Core floral modifier
Soap0.1-0.5%Up to 1%Provides violet character
Candles0.5-2%Up to 3%Good heat stability

Classic Accords

+ Orris = Powdery violet + Sandalwood = Velvety woods + Rose = Vintage floral

Tip: Use ionone to add diffusion and lift to heavy floral bases without increasing sweetness.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Methyl Ionone CAS 127-51-5

More intense violet character with better stability in soap applications.

2
Irones CAS 68991-20-4

Natural alternative from orris root, more expensive but adds preciousness.

Layer 3

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 restrictions under current IFRA standards (as of 49th Amendment).

EU Allergen Declaration

Not listed in EU allergen regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.

RIFM Assessment

RIFM assessment completed – safe for current use levels in fragrance applications.

Sustainability

Synthetic ionone production avoids overharvesting of natural sources like orris root. Modern catalytic processes have reduced environmental impact compared to traditional methods. Biotech routes using engineered yeast show promise for sustainable future production.

Explore Ionone

Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.

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References

  1. Burdock, G.A. (2010). Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. CRC Press. ISBN 9781420090772
  2. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 5282109 PubChem
  3. Sell, C. (2006). The Chemistry of Fragrances. RSC Publishing. ISBN 9780854048243

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

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Ingredient Data Sheet

CAS 8013-90-9

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight192.3 g/mol🔬 PubChem
LogP (Octanol-Water)3🔬 PubChem
Boiling Point252 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Vapor Pressure0.0174 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
Flash Point118.1 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Involatility Index0.0014💻 Calculated
log Kp (skin permeability)-1.743💻 Calculated
SMILESCC1=CCCC(C1C=CC(=O)C)(C)C🔬 PubChem

Volatility & Performance

Fragrance NoteHeart💻 Calculated
Volatility ClassVery slow💻 Calculated
Persistence Score3.3 / 5💻 Calculated

Odor & Flavor

Primary Descriptorsvioletwoody• leffingwell
Functional Groupsketonealkene💻 RDKit
“Ionone-like odor, but more floral than alpha-Ionone. However, it is weaker than 4-Methyl ionone and 6-Methylionone (Irone).”📖 Arctander
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: DTXSID7044477

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 192.302 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 0.934 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX
Boiling Point 257.334 °C📊 OPERA
Melting Point 24.638 °C📊 OPERA
Flash Point 118.1 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Refractive Index 1.512 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 205.659 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 3.854 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 5.5) 3.854 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 3.854 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 6.12 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0.018 mol/L📊 OPERA
Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 0.014 mmHg📊 OPERA
Surface Tension 32.095 dyn/cm📊 OPERA

Molecular Descriptors

Topological Polar Surface Area 17.07 Ų💻 Computed
H-Bond Donors 0 count💻 Computed
H-Bond Acceptors 1 count💻 Computed
Rotatable Bonds 2 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 61.708 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 24.463 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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