Eugenyl acetate

Uses in perfumery :

Eugenyl acetate is used in clove notes to deepen a floral character, or in white floral notes such as jasmine to affirm its spicy facet. Very good for jasmine tea notes.

Year of discovery :

Data not available.

Natural availability :

Eugenyl acetate is present in a relatively small amount in Ceylon Cinnamon EO (and other origins), Cinnamon Leaf EO, Clove Bud EO, Clove Leaf EO, in Bay St-Thomas EO and Laurel Bay EO among others. It can be extracted in its natural state from all these essential oils.

Isomerism :

Aldehyde C-16 and Aldehyde C-20 are constitutional isomers of Eugenyl acetate. However, their smell is quite different, as they are fruity rather than spicy.

Synthesis precursor :

Eugenyl acetate is not a precursor to the synthesis of another compound of olfactory interest.

Synthesis route :

Eugenyl acetate is synthesized by an esterification reaction between acetic acid and Eugenol. The reaction is catalysed by the presence of a strong acid in a small quantity, such as concentrated sulfuric acid. For a better yield, the reaction may be done with acetic anhydride or chloroacetic acid instead of acetic acid.

Stability :

acetates may form acetic acid through time
Most of the time, the occurrence of a benzenic cycle in a molecule causes a coloration of this molecule through time

Other comments :

Comparing it with Eugenol, Eugenyl acetate has a more floral-jasmine facet and a smell closer to tobacco.

Allergens :

This ingredient is classified as an allergen under European Regulation 2023/1545, dated August 26, 2023.
Its presence must therefore be declared on product labels when it exceeds 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.

Signal word :

Warning

Hazard pictograms :

Precautionary statements :

IFRA 51^th :

This ingredient is not restricted for the 51th amendment