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patchouli alcohol
Patchouli alcohol is a natural fragrance compound with a woody, earthy aroma primarily found in patchouli oil and used extensively in perfuming agents.
General Material Description
Patchouli alcohol, also known by the trivial name patchoulol, is a tricyclic sesquiterpene alcohol with the molecular formula C15H26O. It appears as a colorless to pale yellow viscous liquid with a characteristic woody and earthy aroma, often described as camphoraceous and powdery. Its primary source is patchouli oil, extracted from the leaves of the Pogostemon cablin plant, although it is also present in smaller amounts in other essential oils such as spikenard, lemon balm, and ginger rhizome oil. The compound is catalogued in public chemical repositories such as PubChem, reflecting its significance as a natural aromatic ingredient. Patchouli alcohol is a key constituent in fragrance formulation due to its distinctive scent profile and fixative properties.
Occurrence, Applicability & Potential Uses
Patchouli alcohol naturally occurs in various plant-derived essential oils, with the highest concentrations found in patchouli oil, where it can constitute over 30% of the oil's composition. It is additionally present in lesser quantities in oils such as spikenard, lemon balm, orange peel, and ginger rhizome oils. Its principal application lies within the fragrance industry, where it is extensively used as a perfuming agent to impart woody, balsamic, and earthy notes. The compound contributes to scent compositions classified under amber, floral, herbal, moss, patchouli, and woody odor categories. Regulatory standards including the IFRA (International Fragrance Association, Global) Code of Practice govern its maximum usage levels in fragrance formulations to ensure safe consumer use.
Physico-Chemical Properties Summary
Patchouli alcohol exhibits a melting point of approximately 58.4°C and a boiling point range near 287 to 288°C at standard atmospheric pressure, indicating its solid to liquid transition at moderately elevated temperature and relatively high thermal stability. Its estimated log P value of 4.484 shows significant lipophilicity, influencing its solubility and diffusion in oils and solvents. The compound has very low vapor pressure at 25°C, contributing to its role as a fixative in fragrance blends by reducing rapid evaporation. Its limited solubility in water contrasted with good solubility in alcohols aligns with typical formulation practices in perfumery where ethanol serves as a carrier solvent. The flash point around 102°C (converted from 215°F) reflects moderate flammability precautions for handling and product development.
FAQ
What is patchouli alcohol and how is it related to patchoulol?
Patchouli alcohol, also known by the trivial name patchoulol, is a naturally occurring sesquiterpene alcohol primarily extracted from patchouli oil. It features a woody, earthy scent with camphoraceous and powdery notes. Both names refer to the same chemical compound (C15H26O), which acts as a significant aroma component in several essential oils. The compound's systematic name details its complex tricyclic structure.
Where is patchouli alcohol found and what are its typical uses?
Patchouli alcohol is predominantly found in patchouli oil, comprising roughly 30–34% depending on the oil's origin, and appears in smaller amounts in ginger rhizome, lemon balm, orange peel, and spikenard oils. It is widely used in the fragrance industry as a perfuming agent, valued for its woody, amber, and herbal scent profiles. It functions as a fixative in perfumes and personal care products to enhance scent longevity and complexity.
What are the regulatory guidelines and safety considerations for using patchouli alcohol in products?
The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) governs the use of patchouli alcohol in consumer fragrances, recommending maximum usage levels in fragrance concentrates up to 40% and skin application levels typically at or below 0.02%. Patchouli alcohol is not approved for flavor use. Safety assessments have not identified significant hazard classifications or required labeling under OSHA's Globally Harmonized System. Compliance with IFRA standards ensures its safe inclusion in cosmetic formulations.
US / EU / FDA / JECFA / FEMA / Scholar / Patents
| Google Scholar | Start search |
| Google Books | Start search |
| Google Patents | Start search |
| Perfumer & Flavorists | Start search |
| EU Patents | Start search |
| PubMeb | Start search |
| NCBI | Start search |
Literature & References
| Leffingwell: | Chirality or Article |
| 2,2,6,8-tetramethyltricyclo[5.3.1.03,8]undecan-3-ol | |
| NIST Chemistry WebBook: | Search Inchi |
| Canada Domestic Sub. List: | 5986-55-0 |
| Pubchem (cid): | 521903 |
| Pubchem (sid): | 3881601 |
Other Information
| (IUPAC): | Atomic Weights of the Elements 2011 (pdf) |
| Videos: | The Periodic Table of Videos |
| tgsc: | Atomic Weights use for this web site |
| (IUPAC): | Periodic Table of the Elements |
| KEGG (GenomeNet): | C09705 |
| HMDB (The Human Metabolome Database): | Search |
| FooDB: | FDB007819 |
| Typical G.C. | |
| VCF-Online: | VCF Volatile Compounds in Food |
| ChemSpider: | View |
| Wikipedia: | View |
General Material Information
| Preferred name | patchouli alcohol |
| Trivial Name | patchoulol |
| Short Description | 1,6-methanonaphthalen-1(2H)-ol, octahydro-4,8a,9 |
| Formula | C15 H26 O |
| CAS Number | 5986-55-0 |
| Deleted CAS Number | 1366-08-1 |
| ECHA Number | 227-807-2 |
| FDA UNII | HHH8CPR1M2 |
| Beilstein Number | 2553847 |
| MDL | MFCD00209526 |
| xLogP3-AA | 4.10 (est) |
| NMR Predictor | External link |
| Synonyms |
|
Suppliers
PhysChem Properties
| Material listed in food chemical codex | No |
| Molecular weight | 222.37141418457 |
| Melting Point | 58.4 to 58.4°C @ 760 mm HG |
| Boiling Point | 287 to 288°C @ 760 mm HG |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.000278 mm HG @ 25 °C |
| Flash Point TCC Value | 101.67 °C TCC |
| logP (o/w) | 4.484 est |
| Solubility | |
| alcohol | Yes |
| water | No |
| water, 12.9 mg/L @ 25 °C (est) | Yes |
Organoleptic Properties
| Odor Type: Woody | |
| patchouli, earthy, camphoreous, powdery | |
| Odor strength | low |
| General comment | At 100.00 %. patchouli earthy camphor powdery |
Occurrences
| (data available) |
Potential Uses
| Applications | |
| Odor purposes | Amber , Balsam , Floral , Herbal , Moss , Patchouli , Woody |
| Cosmetic purposes | Perfuming agents |
Safety Information
Safety information
| Hazards identification | |
| Classification of the substance or mixture | |
| GHS Classification in accordance with 29 CFR 1910 (OSHA HCS) | |
| None found. | |
| GHS Label elements, including precautionary statements | |
| Pictogram | |
| Hazard statement(s) | |
| None found. | |
| Precautionary statement(s) | |
| None found. | |
| Oral/Parenteral Toxicity: | |
| Not determined | |
| Dermal Toxicity: | |
| Not determined | |
| Inhalation Toxicity: | |
| Not determined | |
Safety in use information
| Category: | |||
| fragrance agents | |||
| RIFM Fragrance Material Safety Assessment: Search | |||
| IFRA Code of Practice Notification of the 49th Amendment to the IFRA Code of Practice | |||
| maximum skin levels for fine fragrances: | |||
| 0.0200 % and are based on the assumption that the fragrance mixture is used at 20% in a consumer product (IFRA Use Level Survey).(IFRA, 2004) | |||
| Recommendation for patchouli alcohol usage levels up to: | |||
| 40.0000 % in the fragrance concentrate. | |||
| use level in formulae for use in cosmetics: | |||
| 0.1100 % | |||
| Dermal Systemic Exposure in Cosmetic Products: | |||
| 0.0028 mg/kg/day (IFRA, 2004) | |||
| Recommendation for patchouli alcohol flavor usage levels up to: | |||
| not for flavor use. | |||
Safety references
| EPI System: View |
| AIDS Citations:Search |
| Cancer Citations:Search |
| Toxicology Citations:Search |
| EPA Substance Registry Services (TSCA):5986-55-0 |
| EPA ACToR:Toxicology Data |
| EPA Substance Registry Services (SRS):Registry |
| Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary :521903 |
| National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases:Data |
| 2,2,6,8-tetramethyltricyclo[5.3.1.03,8]undecan-3-ol |
| Chemidplus:0005986550 |