What Is Cinnamic Alcohol?
Cinnamic Alcohol is an aroma chemical prized for the warm spicy character it brings to perfumes and fragranced goods. Symrise offers a high-purity grade, yet many other flavour and fragrance houses also supply versions that meet the same industry standards so the name is not tied to one company.
The material is usually produced by reducing naturally occurring cinnamaldehyde that is found in cinnamon bark and styrax resins, though fully synthetic routes starting from petrochemical feedstocks are common too. Both paths deliver crystals that appear almost white at room temperature; when packed they often fuse into a single block that flakes easily.
Perfumers value the ingredient because it blends well with floral, woody and gourmand accords making it a staple in everything from fine fragrance to household cleaners. Its popularity means it is widely available and generally sits in the lower to mid price tier so cost rarely limits its use.
When stored in a cool dark place with the cap tightly closed the crystals keep their quality for roughly two to three years. The molecule is an unsaturated alcohol so it resists oxidation better than many aldehydes yet should still be protected from air and light to avoid gradual discoloration or loss of strength.
Cinnamic Alcohol’s Scent Description
This ingredient is grouped in the spicy family. Off a blotter it opens with a cosy cinnamon warmth that quickly reveals a sweet balsamic heart. A faintly floral hyacinth nuance adds freshness while a resinous styrax tone gives depth and a touch of old-world charm.
Perfumers talk about top middle and base notes to describe how smells unfold over time. Cinnamic Alcohol sits squarely in the middle-to-base zone. It rises a few minutes after application then anchors the composition for hours linking lighter spices and florals to heavier woods and resins.
Projection is moderate: enough to lend presence without dominating a room. Longevity is solid, with the scent still noticeable on skin or fabric six to eight hours later and often lingering even longer in wax or soap bases.
How & Where To Use Cinnamic Alcohol
Perfumers reach for Cinnamic Alcohol when they want to weave a natural‐smelling cinnamon glow through the heart of a scent without the raw bite that pure cinnamon oil can bring. It slots neatly into spicy accords, rounds off gourmand notes like tonka or vanilla and bridges floral hearts to resinous bases. In a lily or hyacinth accord a trace gives lift and realism, while in an oriental bouquet 0.5–1 % can deepen the mix and extend wear time.
Its recommended ceiling is 2 %, though many fine fragrance formulas sit closer to 0.3 %. At 0.1 % the material whispers a soft, sweet warmth. Push it past 1 % and the perfume shifts toward rich balsamic spice that can overshadow delicate top notes. Above 2 % it may smell heavy and slightly medicinal so moderation is key.
The ingredient excels in alcohol perfumes, soaps and candles because its scent holds up well to heat and alkaline pH. It also resists bleach, making it suitable for detergents and cleaners. On the downside it can crystallise in cold eau de parfum bases, so warm the concentrate or predilute before weighing. It is less successful in very fresh citrus colognes where its sweetness can feel out of place.
Before use shave or chip the fused block, then dissolve in ethanol, dipropylene glycol or triethyl citrate at 10–20 % to make weighing and blending easier. Stir until fully clear so no grains remain that could clog a pump or spray valve.
Safely Information
Certain precautions and considerations need to be taken when working with this material.
- Always dilute before smelling: prepare a 1 % solution on blotter strips rather than sniffing the neat crystals.
- Avoid direct inhalation: work in a well-ventilated space or under a fume hood to keep airborne concentration low.
- Personal protective gear: wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses to guard against accidental contact and splashes.
- Health considerations: some people may experience skin irritation or allergy. Seek medical advice before handling if pregnant or breastfeeding. Brief exposure to low levels is generally safe yet prolonged or high-level exposure can be harmful.
For ongoing safe practice consult the latest safety data sheet from your supplier and review it regularly as updates occur. Follow any IFRA usage limits that apply to your product category to ensure consumer safety and regulatory compliance.
How To Store & Dispose of Cinnamic Alcohol
Like many crystalline aroma chemicals Cinnamic Alcohol behaves best when kept cool and dry. Refrigeration is optional but helpful if you plan to keep stock longer than a year. Otherwise a cupboard or cabinet that stays below 20 °C and is shielded from direct sunlight works well.
Use amber glass with a tight polycone cap so the seal stays snug even after repeated opening. Dropper bottles let air creep in and should be avoided for anything more than short-term trials. Try to keep bottles topped up or transfer leftovers to a smaller container because less headspace means less oxygen that can slowly dull the scent.
Label every bottle clearly with the ingredient name lot number date opened and any hazard icons. Good labeling prevents mix-ups and reminds anyone who handles the product to wear gloves and eye protection.
When making dilutions stir until the crystals are fully dissolved before storing. Sediment can clog pipettes and pumps and may indicate water has entered the mix which speeds up degradation.
If you ever need to discard Cinnamic Alcohol remember it is readily biodegradable yet should still be treated as chemical waste. Small hobby-scale quantities can be mixed with cat litter or sand then sealed in a bag and placed in household trash if local rules allow. Larger volumes must go to a licensed disposal service. Never pour unused concentrate down the drain because it can irritate aquatic life and leave a lingering smell.
Summary
Cinnamic Alcohol is a spicy cinnamon-balsamic molecule that gives perfume formulas a warm middle note and a smooth link between flowers woods and gourmand accords. Affordable and easy to blend it appears in fine fragrances soaps candles and cleaners where just a fraction of a percent adds lasting comfort.
The crystals are stable for two to three years when kept cool and protected from air. They dissolve well in alcohol and solvents but can re-solidify in cold eau de parfum bases so gentle warming or a predilution helps.
Its popularity means trade houses like Symrise sell it in drum or kilo size while hobbyists can source smaller bottles from online resellers that stock generic grades of equal purity. Whether you are scaling a commercial launch or testing ideas in a home lab Cinnamic Alcohol remains a dependable tool for any perfumer who wants a soft natural cinnamon glow without the sharp edge of raw spice oils.