Phenyl salicylate (CAS 118-55-8) — Sweet Middle to base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Phenyl salicylate
CAS 118-55-8
What Is Phenyl salicylate?
Phenyl salicylate is a synthetic fragrance ingredient with a sweet, powdery scent reminiscent of old-fashioned perfumes and medicinal ointments. You’ll find it in some vintage-style floral perfumes and certain sunscreen formulations. This chemical matters because it bridges the gap between functional and fragrant – originally developed as a UV absorber, its pleasant aroma made it popular in perfumery where it adds warmth and tenacity to floral compositions.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Phenyl salicylate Smell Like?
Phenyl salicylate opens with a medicinal sweetness like cherry cough drops dissolving into warm milk, then evolves into a powdery floral heart reminiscent of antique sachets. Its dry-down reveals a subtle phenolic edge softened by vanillic undertones, leaving a persistent skin-scent that clings to fabrics for days. The aroma profile sits between wintergreen and heliotropin – simultaneously fresh and cozy, with a nostalgic quality that perfumers describe as ‘grandmother’s dressing table in a molecule’.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used as a subtle modifier in the vanilla base, adding phenolic depth that prevents the sweetness from becoming cloying. Its medicinal quality bridges the citrus top to balsamic base.
Contributes to the powdery orris-anisic accord, enhancing the vintage cosmetic quality without overwhelming the delicate floral heart.
Works with the coumarin-vanilla base to create a sweet phenolic effect that balances the herbal lavender top notes.
Used sparingly to accentuate the narcotic floralcy of the orange blossom, adding a faint medicinal edge that makes the composition more complex.
Helps create the powdery tobacco-vanilla drydown, smoothing the transition between smoky and sweet elements with its persistent warmth.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: OC1=C(C=CC=C1)C(=O)OC1=CC=CC=C1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Phenyl salicylate is an aromatic ester formed by the condensation of salicylic acid and phenol. Industrially synthesized through esterification under acidic conditions, this white crystalline solid was originally developed as ‘Salol’ – a UV-absorbing compound for sunscreens. The benzene ring and phenolic hydroxyl group make it relatively stable, while the ester linkage contributes to its moderate volatility. Unlike many fragrance esters, phenyl salicylate lacks chirality due to its symmetrical structure, making synthetic production straightforward without need for enantiomeric separation.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Melting Point | 41-43 °C |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | 172-173 °C at 12 mmHg |
| Flash Point | >110 °C |
| Appearance | White crystalline powder |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 3% | For vintage floral effects |
| Soap | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Provides lasting powdery notes |
| Detergents | 0.05-0.2% | Up to 0.3% | Used sparingly for fabric substantivity |
| Cosmetics | 0.1-0.3% | Up to 0.5% | Combines well with UV filters |
Classic Accords
Tip: Dissolve in ethanol before adding to oil-based compositions to prevent crystallization.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Less phenolic and more floral, preferred when a softer, sweeter salicylate character is needed without medicinal connotations.
For similar powdery effects but with a more pronounced cherry-almond character and better floral blending properties.
More volatile with a greener, fresher profile suitable for top notes while maintaining some salicylate character.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions. Listed as safe up to 100% in fragrance compounds (IFRA 49th Amendment).
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
RIFM considers phenyl salicylate safe for current fragrance use levels based on repeated dose toxicity data.
Sustainability
As a fully synthetic material, phenyl salicylate production avoids natural resource depletion. The manufacturing process uses phenol derivatives from petrochemical feedstocks, with typical esterification byproducts that are routinely recovered. While not biodegradable, its low usage levels in fragrances minimize environmental impact. Some producers now offer bio-based phenol precursors to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
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References
- Arctander S. (1969). Perfume and Flavor Chemicals. Allured Publishing.
- Burdock G.A. (2010). Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. CRC Press.
- IFRA Standards Library. 49th Amendment. IFRA Website
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 118-55-8Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 214.22 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.8🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 172.5 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 137.3 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.309💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | C1=CC=C(C=C1)OC(=O)C2=CC=CC=C2O🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Base💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 10.8 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | balsamicfloralfruityhoneywoody• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | esterphenoletheraromatic💻 RDKit |
| “Very mild and sweet, fruity-balsamic odor, like very subdued Wintergreen, also reminiscent of Benzyl salicylate, but not as floral. Impure material usually carries a phenolic note, overriding all sweet and pleasant notes.”📖 Arctander | |
| Phenyl salicylate has a distinctive aromatic odor and taste.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “Almost insoluble in cold water, slightly soluble in hot water, 17% soluble in alcohol, 10% in mineral oil, soluble in most perfume and flavor materials. Sweet, mildly medicinal taste at concentrations near 50 ppm. The medicinal taste is most conceivably derived from hydrolyzed ester. This material, ”📖 Arctander |
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: DTXSID6021957
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 214.22 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.254 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 318.818 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | 54.173 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 137.35 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.615 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 171.28 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.667 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.666 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.646 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 8.89 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.001 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 19.997 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 47.014 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 141.582 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 46.53 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 3 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 59.779 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 23.698 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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