Farnesol
Aroma Chemical Base Note CAS 4602-84-0
Mild, soft floral with a light woody, linden character and a faint green, lily of the valley nuance. Gentle and tenacious, it rounds and fixes floral accords.
Odor profile
| Note | Base Note |
| Descriptor 1 | Floral |
| Descriptor 2 | Warm |
| Descriptor 3 | Powdery |
| Odor Impact1 | 20 |
| Impact Level | Low |
| Tenacity1 | 60 h |
| Tenacity2 | 400 h |
1 Source: PerfumersWorld
2 Source: The Good Scents Company
Both tenacity figures are blotter life. The two labs use different evaluation protocols, so the numbers are not directly comparable — read them as two independent readings, not as a contradiction.
Identification
| CAS Number | 4602-84-0 |
| INCI Name | 2,6,10-dodecatrien-1-ol, 3,7,11-trimethyl- |
| Category | Aroma Chemical |
| Formula | C15H26O |
| Mol. Weight | 222.37 |
| IUPAC Name | (2E,6E)-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,6,10-trien-1-ol |
| InChIKey | CRDAMVZIKSXKFV-YFVJMOTDSA-N |
Synonyms
11-Trimethyl-2, 10-dodecatrienol-1 3, 10-dodecatrien-1-o1, 2,6,10-Trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrien-12-ol, 2,6,10-Dodecatrien-1-ol, 3,7,11-Trimethyl, 2,6,10-dodecatrien-1-ol, 3,7,11-trimethyl-, dragosantol (Symrise), farnesol FCC, farnesol special, farnesol synthetic, farnesyl alcohol, 3,7,11-trimethyl dodeca-2,6,10-trienol, 3,7,11-trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrien-1-ol, 3,7,11-trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrienol, 3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,6,10-trien-1-ol
Physical and chemical data
| Boiling Point | 263 °C |
| Melting Point | 25.0 °C |
| Flash Point | 96.11 °C |
| Density | 0.8846 |
| Refractive Index | 1.4872 |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0000394 [mmHg] |
| LogP | 4.8 |
| Solubility | Insoluble in water |
| Appearance | Farnesol is a colorless liquid with a delicate floral odor. (NTP, 1992) |
Regulatory status
IFRA maximum concentrations
| Category | Use | Limit in the finished product |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | Lip products, toys | 0.21 % |
| Category 2 | Deodorants, antiperspirants | 0.062 % |
| Category 3 | Eye products | 1.2 % |
| Category 4 | Fine fragrance | 1.2 % |
| Category 5A | Body lotion | 0.29 % |
| Category 5B | Face cream | 0.29 % |
| Category 5C | Hand cream | 0.29 % |
| Category 5D | Baby creams, oils | 0.097 % |
| Category 6 | Oral care, mouthwash | 0.68 % |
| Category 7A | Rinse-off hair products | 1.5 % |
| Category 7B | Leave-on hair products | 1.5 % |
| Category 8 | Intimate and baby wipes | 0.097 % |
| Category 9 | Soap, shampoo, rinse-off | 2.3 % |
| Category 10A | Household care, hand contact | 0.30 % |
| Category 10B | Aerosol air fresheners | 8.1 % |
| Category 11A | Intended skin contact | 0.097 % |
| Category 11B | Minimal skin contact | 0.097 % |
| Category 12 | No skin contact, candles | Not restricted |
| IFRA Amendment | 52 |
| Restriction Type | Restriction / Specification |
| Critical Effect | Dermal Sensitization And Systemic Toxicity |
| Specification | Farnesol should only be used as a fragrance ingredient if it contains a minimum of 96% of farnesol isomers as determined by GLC. |
EU allergen declaration
| Substance | Share |
|---|---|
| Farnesol | 100 % |
Substances that must be named in the ingredient list under Annex III of Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2023/1545. Where a range was given, the upper bound is shown.
All figures on this page are guide values collected from public reference works and supplier declarations. They differ between batches, origins and qualities. The data sheet of your own supplier is always the authoritative document for the material you actually use.