Bicyclononalactone

Synthetic Ingredient Overview

• 🏭 Manufacturer — IFF

• 🔎 Chemical name — 3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-Octahydrochromen-2-one

• 🧪 Synonyms — Bicyclononalactone, Octahydrocoumarin

• 🧬 Chemical Formula — C₉H₁₄O₂

• 📂 CAS N° — 4430-31-3

• 📘 FEMA — 3791

• ⚖️ MW — 154.21 g/mol

• 📝 Odor type — Sweet Coumarinic

• 📈 Odor Strength — Soft to moderate (fixative effect)

• 👃🏼 Odor Profile — Sweet, freshly cut hay, warm milk, soft vanilla nuance, light woody background

• ⚗️ Uses — Base note modifier in floral, woody, and gourmand compositions; background warmth in personal care and ambient scenting

• 🧴 Appearance — Pale yellow to colorless liquid or solid, depending on grade

What is Bicyclononalactone (Octahydrocoumarin)?

Bicyclononalactone is a fully hydrogenated coumarin derivative structurally classified as a lactone (cyclic ester). It is produced synthetically and features a saturated, bicyclic ring system that imparts a soft, powdery warmth. Unlike classical coumarin, which has a sharper sweet-herbal profile, this molecule offers a subtler, milky-vanilla character.

Its IUPAC name is 3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydrochromen-2-one, and it is chemically stable under typical perfumery formulation conditions. Though data on the ingredient specifically is limited, its behavior aligns with known dihydrocoumarins, often used in both flavor and fragrance systems for their comforting and sweet-lactonic qualities.

Olfactory Profile and Perfumery Applications

Bicyclononalactone is appreciated for its:

• Warm, hay-like sweetness

• Soft milky and vanilla tone

• Subtle woody backdrop

Its functional role includes:

• Base note support in floral, gourmand, woody, and musky formulas

• Acting as a rounding agent that softens sharp transitions between volatile and heavier components

• Enhancing powdery and skin-like impressions in personal care products

• Creating ambient warmth in air care and home fragrance formats (candles, sprays, diffusers)

Because of its low odor impact but high background presence, it performs best as a volume enhancer and fixativerather than a prominent note.

Industrial and Technical Use

• Fragrance applications: Eau de toilette, candles, soaps, lotions, room sprays

• Functional uses: Fixative in personal care; background note in detergent-compatible systems

• Stability: High resistance to oxidation and heat; good compatibility with surfactant-rich bases

• Flavor use: Approved under FEMA 3791, though rarely used due to weak gustatory character

Its cozy, non-intrusive profile makes it suitable for both luxury and mass-market fragrance products aiming to convey warmth and softness.

Regulatory and Safety Overview

• IFRA Restrictions — None currently specified (as of 51st Amendment)

• FEMA GRAS — Registered under FEMA 3791

• EU Cosmetic Regulation — Not listed among restricted allergens (Annex III)

• REACH Registered — Yes (CAS 4430-31-3)

• Toxicology — Considered safe at standard perfumery concentrations; low volatility and low reactivity

Related Materials and Context

As a hydrogenated coumarin derivative, Bicyclononalactone is chemically and functionally related to:

• Coumarin – more volatile and sharper; often restricted due to sensitization

• Heliotropin (Heliotropex) – used for similar warm-soft profiles but with more floral lift

Compared to materials like Coumarin or Maltol, Bicyclononalactone offers a more neutral and textural warmth, with minimal coloration or instability in formulation.

Sources

• PubChem Compound Summary for CID 23019 – Octahydrocoumarin

• ECHA Substance Information – CAS 4430-31-3

• FEMA GRAS Database – FEMA 3791

• Zeitler & Rose (2009) – Synthesis of dihydrocoumarins from hydroxycinnamaldehydes

• Huda et al. (2021) – Photochemical behavior of coumarin derivatives under solvent polarity

• IFF Ingredient Database and supplier documentation

• Arctander, Steffen – Perfume and Flavor Chemicals (Aroma Chemicals)

• Internal Scentspiracy archival references on coumarinic lactones