Titanium Dioxide (CAS 13463-67-7) — Citrus Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Titanium Dioxide
CAS 13463-67-7
What Is Titanium Dioxide?
Titanium dioxide is a naturally occurring mineral used as a white pigment in cosmetics, sunscreens, and food products. Encountered in everything from toothpaste to architectural paints, it provides opacity and UV protection. As a nanomaterial, it raises important questions about product safety versus performance benefits in modern formulations.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESSWhat Does Titanium Dioxide Smell Like?
Titanium dioxide is completely odorless, contributing no scent profile to formulations. Its value lies in its exceptional light-scattering properties rather than olfactory characteristics. In perfumery, it serves purely functional roles – as an opacifier in creams or to prevent photodegradation of light-sensitive fragrance compounds.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: [O--].[O--].[Ti+4]
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
TiO2 exists in three crystalline forms: rutile, anatase, and brookite. The rutile form is most stable and widely used. Produced via chloride or sulfate processes from ilmenite ore. Nanoscale TiO2 exhibits different properties than bulk material, including photocatalytic activity that requires surface treatments for cosmetic stability.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | White tetragonal crystals |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | 4532-5432 °F |
| Melting Point | 3380 °F (decomposes) |
| Density | 3.9-4.2 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | 2.554-2.741 |
| Solubility | <1 mg/mL in water |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunscreens | 2-10% | Up to 25% | UV protection |
| Cosmetics | 0.1-5% | Up to 10% | Opacifier |
| Food | 0.1-1% | Regulated | Whitening agent |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use coated nanoparticles to prevent photocatalytic degradation of fragrance compounds.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Alternative white pigment with lower refractive index but better skin compatibility.
Natural mineral providing pearlescence rather than opacity.
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 IFRA restrictions. Approved for all applications.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
Not evaluated by RIFM as it is not a fragrance material.
Sustainability
Mined from heavy mineral sands, with major deposits in Australia and South Africa. Nano-TiO2 production requires significant energy inputs. Recycling programs exist for industrial applications but not yet implemented widely in personal care products.
Explore Titanium Dioxide
Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for Titanium dioxide CID 26042
- NTP (1992). National Toxicology Program technical report series. 371.
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 13463-67-7Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 79.866 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| SMILES | O=[Ti]=O🔬 PubChem |
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: DTXSID3021352
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 79.865 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 4.23 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 2900 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 1860 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | -0.24 dimensionless💻 Computed |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 57 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 1.37 cm^3/mol💻 Computed |
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.
