Pentyl acetate (CAS 628-63-7) — Sweet Top Note Fragrance Ingredient

Sweet · Citrus

Pentyl acetate

CAS 628-63-7

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

What Is Pentyl acetate?

Pentyl acetate is a synthetic fragrance compound with a distinct fruity, banana-like aroma. It’s commonly found in artificial flavorings and industrial fragrances. This ester is valued for its ability to add bright, sweet top notes that evoke tropical fruits and candy-like sweetness.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
Low toxicity profile
Avoid undiluted skin contact
CAS
628-63-7
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Sweet · Citrus
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Pentyl acetate Smell Like?

Pentyl acetate bursts with an intense, almost artificial banana candy aroma – think banana Runts or bubblegum. The initial sweetness gradually softens into a smoother pear-like fruitiness, leaving a faint solvent-like edge that keeps it from becoming cloying. In drydown, it behaves like a fleeting top note, vanishing within hours but leaving a subtle waxy fruit impression.

Scent Profile
Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

Pentyl acetate

SMILES: CCCCCOC(C)=O

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Pentyl acetate is a simple ester formed from acetic acid and pentanol. Industrially produced via Fischer esterification, it’s part of the acetate ester family known for fruity aromas. Unlike some chiral fragrance compounds, pentyl acetate’s odor profile isn’t significantly affected by stereochemistry. Its volatility and solubility follow typical ester behavior.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Boiling Point149 °C
Density0.876 g/cm³
Vapor Pressure3.7 mmHg at 25°C

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Top
Volatility
Very High (10-30 min)
Blending
Good with other esters
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Food Flavoring0.1-1%Up to 5%Artificial fruit flavors
Industrial Fragrance2-5%Up to 10%Solvent carrier

Classic Accords

Tip: Use to boost initial fruit impact but layer with longer-lasting esters for persistence.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Isoamyl Acetate CAS 123-92-2

More banana-dominant with similar volatility but slightly sweeter profile.

2
Hexyl Acetate CAS 142-92-7

Pear-like alternative with better tenacity and less solvent character.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

No IFRA restrictions.

RIFM Assessment

Considered safe at current usage levels by RIFM.

Sustainability

As a petroleum-derived synthetic, pentyl acetate’s environmental impact comes from fossil fuel feedstocks. Production is energy-efficient but not renewable. Biotech routes using fermentation-derived alcohols are being explored.

Explore Pentyl acetate

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References

  1. PubChem Compound Summary for Pentyl acetate PubChem CID XXXXX

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

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Layer 3 · Practical

  • Odor Profile: banana, ethereal, fruity
  • Molecular Weight: 130.18 g/mol
  • LogP (XLogP): 1.90

Ingredient Data Sheet

CAS 628-63-7

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight130.18 g/mol🔬 PubChem
LogP (Octanol-Water)1.9🔬 PubChem
Boiling Point146.1 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Vapor Pressure5.17 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
Flash Point32.8 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Involatility Index0.4884💻 Calculated
log Kp (skin permeability)-2.145💻 Calculated
SMILESCCCCCOC(=O)C🔬 PubChem

Volatility & Performance

Fragrance NoteTop💻 Calculated
Volatility ClassModerate💻 Calculated
Persistence Score0.5 / 5💻 Calculated

Odor & Flavor

Primary Descriptorsbananaetherealfruity• leffingwell
Functional Groupsesterether💻 RDKit

Sensory Thresholds

Odor Detection Threshold1.8712 ppm (n=43)📖 van Gemert
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: DTXSID1027263

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 130.187 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 0.876 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX
Boiling Point 148.779 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Melting Point -68.723 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Flash Point 29.766 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Refractive Index 1.406 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 147.565 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 2.287 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX
LogD (pH 5.5) 2.408 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 2.408 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 4.12 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX
Water Solubility 0.013 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX
Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 3.935 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX
Viscosity 0.845 cP📊 OPERA
Surface Tension 26.202 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
Thermal Conductivity 137.518 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 4 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 36.254 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 14.372 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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