Benzyl Salicylate

from €7.80

Synthetic Ingredient for Perfumery

Benzyl Salicylate, a key ingredient in fragrances, uniquely blends balsamic, floral notes with a tropical sunscreen aroma. Ideal as a floral background enhancer, it exudes a round, coconut-like scent, perfect for creating mono-frangipane and trifle floral compositions.

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Synthetic Ingredient for Perfumery

Benzyl Salicylate, a key ingredient in fragrances, uniquely blends balsamic, floral notes with a tropical sunscreen aroma. Ideal as a floral background enhancer, it exudes a round, coconut-like scent, perfect for creating mono-frangipane and trifle floral compositions.

Synthetic Ingredient for Perfumery

Benzyl Salicylate, a key ingredient in fragrances, uniquely blends balsamic, floral notes with a tropical sunscreen aroma. Ideal as a floral background enhancer, it exudes a round, coconut-like scent, perfect for creating mono-frangipane and trifle floral compositions.

Synthetic Ingredient Overview

  • πŸ”Ž Chemical name β€” Benzyl 2-hydroxybenzoate

  • πŸ§ͺ Synonyms β€” Benzyl Salicylate

  • 🧬 Chemical Formula** β€” C₁₄H₁₂O₃

  • πŸ“‚ CAS NΒ° β€” 118-58-1

  • πŸ“˜ FEMA β€” Not listed

  • βš–οΈ MW β€” 228.24 g/mol

  • πŸ”₯ Boiling Point β€” ~320Β°C

  • πŸ§ͺ Chemical Class β€” Salicylate ester

  • πŸ“ Odor type β€” Balsamic Floral

  • πŸ“ˆ Odor Strength β€” Low impact, high tenacity

  • πŸ‘ƒπŸΌ Odor Profile β€” Floral trifle, monoΓ―, frangipani, coconut sunscreen

  • βš—οΈ Uses β€” Background floral blender; tropical floral bases; long-lasting fixative for cosmetic and fine fragrance use

  • 🧴 Appearance β€” Almost colorless to pale yellow oily liquid

What is Benzyl Salicylate?

Benzyl Salicylate is a synthetic salicylate ester primarily used in fragrance formulations and personal care products. It occurs naturally in certain plants but is industrially produced to ensure consistency and cost-effectiveness. Structurally, it is the benzyl ester of salicylic acid, and it appears as a nearly odorless liquid to some, while others perceive a soft, sweet-floral and balsamic scent.

Though sometimes described as faint, perfumers note its ability to impart:

  • A rounded floral effect

  • A sunscreen-like warmth

  • A trifle or monoΓ― note useful in tropical florals

Its presence is crucial in floral background construction, especially in white flower accords (jasmine, frangipani, ylang-ylang), and it is also used as a UV absorber and product stabilizer in formulations.

Olfactory Profile and Perfumery Applications

Benzyl Salicylate exhibits:

  • Floral softness, suited for background building

  • Warm, coconut-tropical impressions, often linked to sunscreen

  • Mild muskiness, with a persistent balsamic undertone

Typical uses:

  • Tropical florals (monoΓ―, frangipani)

  • Sunscreen-type accords

  • White flower blends

  • Functional fragrance systems (e.g., soaps, haircare, lotions)

While its impact is low, its fixative performance is strong, making it ideal for binding short-lived top notes to longer-lasting heart materials.

Regulatory and Safety Overview

  • IFRA β€” Benzyl Salicylate is regulated under current IFRA standards due to its potential as a skin sensitizer

  • EU Cosmetic Regulation (Annex III) β€” Listed among the 26 regulated fragrance allergens

  • FEMA Status β€” Not registered for food or flavor use

  • ECHA Classification β€” Under investigation for potential endocrine-disrupting properties; classified as Suspected Endocrine Disruptor (2020 evaluation pending updates)

  • Natural Origin β€” Occurs naturally in various essential oils but is primarily used in synthetic form

  • Sustainability β€” Synthetic versions are widely produced and compatible with COSMOS and other organic certification schemes (under controlled concentration)

Perfumers’ Note

According to perfumer Fulvio Ciccolo, perception of Benzyl Salicylate’s scent requires a trained nose. While often dismissed as odorless, it exhibits a distinct olfactory identity, notably in its role as a structural floral enhancer. Debate exists over whether the scent arises from trace impurities or molecular interaction, but its effect in finished formulas is well-documented and olfactively meaningful.


Sources

  • PubChem Compound Summary for CID 8363 – Benzyl Salicylate

  • ECHA Substance Information – Benzyl Salicylate, CAS 118-58-1

  • IFRA Standards Documentation – 51st Amendment (Allergens)

  • EU Cosmetic Regulation – Annex III allergen list

  • INCI Beauty Ingredient Profile – Benzyl Salicylate

  • Arctander, Steffen – Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin

  • Personal communication and interpretation by Fulvio Ciccolo (Scentspiracy team)

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