What Is Cis-3-Hexenyl Acetate?
Cis-3-Hexenyl acetate is an ester first isolated and characterized by flavor scientists in the early 1950s while they were studying the aroma of freshly cut leaves. It soon drew the attention of perfumers because of its ability to recreate the impression of just-crushed greenery.
Commercial material is almost always produced synthetically by reacting cis-3-hexenol with acetic acid or acetic anhydride under controlled conditions. The resulting liquid is then carefully distilled to achieve a purity that exceeds 97 percent in the cis form, ensuring consistency from batch to batch.
At room temperature the ingredient appears as a clear, mobile liquid that ranges from colorless to a very pale yellow. It is lighter than water and shows a refractive index typical of small esters, which helps perfumers gauge its concentration when blending.
The material is widely used in fine fragrance and in many household scented products because it delivers an immediate natural freshness at an affordable price point. Supply chains for the synthetic route are well established, so availability is steady and the cost sits in the lower to mid range compared with specialty naturals.
Although the compound occurs naturally in many plants, the quantities found in leaves are tiny, making large-scale extraction impractical. The synthetic grade therefore dominates the market, yet it is chemically identical to the molecule found in nature.
What Does Cis-3-Hexenyl Acetate Smell Like?
Perfumers place Cis-3-Hexenyl acetate in the green family because its scent immediately recalls plants that have just been cut or crushed.
On a smelling blotter it opens with the vivid snap of freshly mown grass. Within seconds a gentle sweetness emerges, bringing to mind banana skin followed by crisp apple and juicy pear. These fruity facets soften the greenery so the overall effect feels lively rather than harsh.
The molecule behaves as a top note. It evaporates quickly, so its brightest phase appears within the first few minutes of application. After roughly ten to fifteen minutes the intensity subsides, leaving a faint leafy nuance that can linger for up to an hour depending on the formula.
Projection is strong at first, making it ideal for giving a fragrance an immediate natural lift. Longevity is moderate to short because of its volatility, which is why perfumers often anchor it with longer lasting green materials or wrap it in musks to keep the leafy impression going.
How & Where To Use Cis-3-Hexenyl Acetate
This is a friendly material to work with. It pours easily, behaves predictably in most bases and delivers an instant hit of realism the moment it touches a blend.
Perfumers reach for it when they want to recreate the sensation of crushed leaves or to brighten a fruit accord without adding candy sweetness. One or two drops can make an apple note read fresh from the orchard rather than from a jar. In a floral bouquet it livens up lily of the valley, hyacinth or magnolia, allowing those flowers to feel dewy instead of powdery.
Cis-3-Hexenyl acetate competes with cis-3-hexenol, galbanum resinoid and violet leaf absolute. It wins the slot when budget, color or tenacity are concerns because it is cheaper, clear and less tenacious than the naturals yet more stable than the alcohol. A trace can also clean up a herbal accord that leans too earthy by steering it toward leafy freshness.
Typical usage sits between 0.05 % and 3 % of the total concentrate. At trace levels you get a soft background greenery. Around 1 % the banana and pear facets appear, adding a playful fruitiness. Pushing it toward 5 % gives a loud grass clipping effect that can dominate a top note and may feel harsh if unsupported, so most perfumers stay below that threshold.
The material is versatile across product types. It survives the heat of candle burn and the alkaline environment of bar soap, though the fruit nuance may dull in very high pH. In detergent and softener bases it provides a clean fresh-cut quality that pairs well with floral heart notes.
No special prep work is needed beyond standard dilution. It blends smoothly in ethanol, dipropylene glycol or most perfumer’s alcohol bases. Because it is insoluble in water you may need a solubilizer for high-water systems.
Safely Information
Certain precautions and considerations need to be taken when working with this material.
- Always dilute before evaluation: prepare a 10 % or weaker solution in ethanol or a suitable solvent before smelling
- Avoid direct bottle sniffing: undiluted vapors can overwhelm the nose and lead to inaccurate assessment
- Maintain ventilation: work in a fume hood or well-aerated room to keep airborne concentration low
- Personal protective equipment: wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses to keep the liquid off skin and out of eyes
- Health considerations: some users may experience skin irritation or sensitization; seek medical advice if pregnant or breastfeeding; brief exposure to low levels is generally regarded as safe but prolonged or high-level exposure should be avoided
Always consult the latest Material Safety Data Sheet supplied with your batch and revisit it regularly because classifications can change. Follow current IFRA guidelines for maximum use levels in each product category to ensure your formula remains safe for end users.
Storage And Disposal
When stored in the right conditions Cis-3-Hexenyl acetate keeps its full character for roughly two years from the fill date. Many users see little change even after thirty months if the bottle stays tightly closed and out of heat and light. Refrigeration is not essential but putting the material in a dedicated fragrance fridge set around 4 °C can stretch shelf life by several extra months.
A standard cool dark cupboard works for day-to-day use as long as the temperature stays below about 20 °C. Keep the bottle away from windows radiators and hot production equipment because repeated temperature swings speed up oxidation and dull the fresh green top note.
Choose bottles fitted with polycone caps for both neat material and dilutions. The pliable insert forms a tight seal that keeps oxygen from creeping in. Dropper tops and rubber bulbs breathe with every squeeze which lets air exchange and will shorten longevity. Top up partially used bottles with inert gas or transfer them into smaller vessels so the headspace stays minimal.
Label every container clearly with the full chemical name concentration date of filling and any hazard pictograms required by your local regulations. Good labeling prevents mix-ups and reminds future users of safety measures at a glance.
Small leftover amounts can usually go into regular solvent waste destined for incineration. If local rules permit you may flush a very diluted solution with plenty of running water since the molecule is readily biodegradable and not expected to bio-accumulate. Large volumes or spill clean-up pads should be handed over to a licensed hazardous waste contractor. Avoid pouring concentrated material directly into drains or onto soil.
Summary
Cis-3-Hexenyl acetate is a snappy green ester that smells like grass clippings sweet banana skin and a bite of fresh apple and pear. It is a top-note booster that gives instant realism to leafy florals crisp fruits or clean household blends and it plays happily in everything from fine fragrance to candles and detergent.
The ingredient is popular because it costs little delivers high impact and stays stable in most bases yet it does burn off quickly so perfumers often pair it with longer lasting greens. Keep bottles cool full and tightly capped and you will get months of bright vibrant scent ready to liven up almost any accord you dream up.