What Is Benzyl Tiglate?
Benzyl Tiglate is an aroma ingredient first documented in the late 1970s when flavor and fragrance chemists were exploring new esters of tiglic acid. It is produced by reacting naturally occurring tiglic acid with benzyl alcohol in a controlled esterification process, followed by purification to remove any catalyst residues. The result is a clear to faintly yellow liquid with a thin, easy to handle consistency.
The material is classified as synthetic because the final molecule does not occur in nature in any appreciable quantity. Even so, both starting materials can be sourced from plant derivatives, so manufacturers often describe the product as nature-identical.
Benzyl Tiglate sees regular use in commercial fragrance compounding, though it is not considered a high-volume workhorse like some of the classic esters. Perfumers value it for its unique character, yet its demand stays moderate, keeping prices comfortably in the mid-range rather than at the luxury end of the spectrum.
Because it remains stable in a wide range of product bases and holds up well under moderate heat, it is stocked by most fragrance houses and is readily available to both niche and mainstream perfumers.
What Does Benzyl Tiglate Smell Like?
This ingredient sits firmly in the green family. Off a blotter it opens with a vivid garden-fresh vibe that instantly suggests snapped stems and crushed leaves. Within seconds an earthy facet comes through, evoking damp soil and the soft underside of mushrooms on a forest floor. A mild, almost nutty nuance can appear in the background, rounding off any sharp edges and lending a subtle warmth.
In the traditional fragrance pyramid Benzyl Tiglate behaves as a middle note. It does not flash off quickly like citrus top notes yet it also lacks the weight of heavy fixatives found in the base. Instead it anchors the heart of a composition, bridging brighter materials up top with woodier or musky notes below.
Projection is moderate: it will radiate a few inches from skin or fabric without overwhelming the wearer. Longevity is much more impressive, persisting well past twenty-four hours on a blotter and offering noticeable presence in finished products long after application.
How & Where To Use Benzyl Tiglate
Formulators generally find Benzyl Tiglate a pleasure to handle. It pours easily, blends without fuss and does not overpower the room while you work. That cooperative attitude alone makes it a welcome tool on the bench.
Perfumers reach for this ester when they need to inject a living green nuance that feels more soil-bound than leafy. A few drops will reinforce crushed-stem accords, mushroom facets in forest notes or the humus element beneath gardenia, rose or grape. It plays particularly well with benzyl salicylate, cis-3-hexenol or violet leaf absolute, knitting them together and adding depth.
Use levels typically sit between traces and 5 percent of the concentrate. At 0.1 percent it merely whispers damp earth, smoothing out sharper greens. Around 1 percent the vegetative character steps forward and the mushroom aspect becomes noticeable. Push toward 5 percent and the note dominates, edging into raw potting soil territory. Test at several dilutions to find the right balance.
The material shows excellent stability in soaps, shampoos and household cleaners, surviving both alkaline and surfactant-rich bases. It also holds its own in hot-pour candles, though the earthy facet can feel heavier when warmed. In fine fragrance the tenacity is a bonus but be mindful that excessive dosage can mute brighter florals. It is less useful in high-flash citrus splashes where its persistence can outstay the composition.
No special prep is required beyond the usual practice of diluting to 10 percent in ethanol or dipropylene glycol for easier measuring and safer evaluation. Store the neat material in glass or fluorinated HDPE to avoid loss of freshness over time.
Safety Information
Working with Benzyl Tiglate, like any aroma chemical, calls for a few sensible precautions to keep the creative process both enjoyable and safe.
- Dilute before evaluation: always prepare a reduced strength solution before smelling to prevent overwhelming the nose and avoid accidental splashes of concentrated material.
- Avoid direct sniffing from the bottle: headspace above the liquid can contain high vapor concentrations that may irritate mucous membranes.
- Ensure good ventilation: blend and evaluate in a space with adequate airflow so any vapors disperse quickly.
- Wear gloves and safety glasses: protective gear shields skin and eyes from potential irritation caused by accidental contact.
- Health considerations: some individuals may experience skin irritation or sensitization. Consult a healthcare professional before handling if pregnant or breastfeeding. Short, low-level exposure is generally considered safe but prolonged or high-level exposure can pose health risks.
The above guidance is only a starting point. Always review the most recent Safety Data Sheet supplied by your vendor and recheck it periodically for updates. Follow any relevant IFRA standards on maximum dosage to ensure your finished product remains both compliant and consumer friendly.
Storage And Disposal
When stored with care Benzyl Tiglate remains in good shape for around two to three years before its aroma starts to flatten. Some perfumers keep well-sealed samples even longer without trouble but a fresh bottle every couple of years avoids surprises.
Refrigeration is optional yet helpful. A steady temperature just above freezing slows oxidation and keeps color changes at bay. If fridge space is tight a cool dark cupboard away from radiators or sunny windows is usually enough.
Always cap both neat material and dilutions with polycone-lined lids. The soft insert forms a tight seal that stops slow evaporation and keeps oxygen out. Glass dropper bottles look handy but the rubber bulb breathes air back in after each use so steer clear of them for anything you plan to keep.
Try to store liquids in containers that are filled as high as practical. A small headspace of air is unavoidable yet the less contact the liquid has with oxygen the longer it will stay bright and true.
Label every vessel in plain language. Include the material name, date received, any allergen codes and the word flammable if you keep it in ethanol solution. Clear labels save time and prevent mix-ups when you revisit the shelf months later.
For disposal, tiny bench-scale leftovers can usually be flushed with plenty of running water as Benzyl Tiglate is an ester that hydrolyzes and is readily biodegradable. Check local regulations first and never pour concentrated material into a septic system. Larger volumes should go to a licensed chemical waste handler who can incinerate or recycle the solvent safely.
Summary
Benzyl Tiglate is a synthetic green note that smells like snapped stems draped over damp earth with a quiet hint of mushroom. It bridges bright florals to woody bases and adds a lifelike garden nuance to perfumes, soaps, candles and even household cleaners.
The ester is fun to experiment with because a tiny trace can gently enrich a bouquet while a stronger dose pushes a composition into fresh potting soil territory. It is moderately priced, stays stable in most bases and lasts more than a day on blotter so it earns a regular spot in many organ trays.
Keep an eye on its specificity since the earthy angle can overshadow delicate top notes if overused, and remember that good storage habits will keep the bottle smelling just as lively as the day it arrived.