Phenyl Ethyl Tiglate: The Complete Guide To This Aroma Chemical

Curious about this ingredient? In this article we're explaining everything you need to know.
Updated on: August 15, 2025
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We verify all information on this page using publicly available standards from The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) and documentation provided directly by ingredient manufacturers. Our analysis is based on technical data from these sources to ensure accuracy and reliability.

What Is Phenyl Ethyl Tiglate?

Phenyl Ethyl Tiglate is an aroma chemical first documented by fragrance chemists in 1978. It belongs to the broad group of materials known as esters and is created by reacting phenethyl alcohol with tiglic acid under controlled conditions. This acid-catalyzed esterification is carried out on an industrial scale, giving perfumers a reliable and consistent supply.

Because both starting materials can be sourced from natural feedstocks yet the final reaction is performed in a lab, the ingredient is classed as synthetic. It arrives at compounding houses as a clear to faintly yellow liquid that pours easily, making it simple to dose during formula work.

Phenyl Ethyl Tiglate is neither rare nor prohibitively priced, which encourages its inclusion in a wide variety of consumer products. Its stability in everything from fine fragrance to household cleaners has helped it gain steady popularity, though it is still considered a specialty material rather than a commodity bulk ingredient.

What Does Phenyl Ethyl Tiglate Smell Like?

This material sits firmly in the floral family. On a smelling strip it opens with a full rose character that feels sweet, dewy and slightly oily, reminiscent of fresh petals just after they are crushed. A faint hint of green spice keeps the profile from becoming cloying and adds a natural nuance often lacking in simple rose compounds.

In the classical perfume pyramid the note lives in the heart of a composition. It appears a few minutes after application once the most volatile top notes lift away, then anchors the bouquet for hours before eventually fading into the base accord.

Projection is moderate, meaning it radiates enough to be noticed without dominating an entire room. Longevity is impressive; even a small dose can still be detected on a blotter well beyond the first week, which makes it a dependable workhorse for perfumes that need sustained floral impact.

How & Where To Use Phenyl Ethyl Tiglate

Perfumers generally consider Phenyl Ethyl Tiglate a pleasure to work with. It pours easily, mixes without fuss and behaves predictably in most bases which keeps lab trials smooth instead of stressful.

The material shines when you need a weighty rose heart that feels natural yet still projects. A few drops reinforce traditional rose accords in modern florals, chypres or soft orientals. It also pairs beautifully with hyacinth notes where its oily sweetness rounds out the green sharpness of that flower giving a convincing garden nuance.

Reach for it over Phenyl Ethyl Alcohol or Rose Oxide when you want extra depth and staying power rather than sheer brightness. Its longer tenacity lets you lower the dosage of costly natural rose absolutes while keeping a full petal impression on skin for hours.

Usage levels typically fall anywhere from a trace up to 5 percent of the total concentrate. At around 0.1 percent it simply polishes an existing floral bouquet. Move toward 2 percent and the rose character becomes unmistakable and slightly honeyed. Above 4 percent it can feel heavy and oily so balance it with fresh greens citrus or soft musks to stop it from smelling old fashioned.

The ingredient tolerates soaps detergents and even bleach cleaners without breaking apart or discoloring, although very alkaline bases may dull its rosy nuance. Candles also benefit from its heat stability and diffusion.

No special prep is needed beyond the usual practice of making a 10 percent solution in ethanol or DPG before weighing small amounts. This improves dosing accuracy and helps the material blend smoothly with other oils.

Safely Information

Working with Phenyl Ethyl Tiglate calls for the same sensible precautions you would apply to any concentrated aroma chemical.

  • Dilute before evaluation: Prepare a 1 percent or 10 percent solution so you can smell it safely and judge its character accurately.
  • Avoid direct sniffing: Never inhale straight from the bottle as the high concentration can overwhelm your senses and irritate mucous membranes.
  • Ensure good ventilation: Blend and evaluate in a fume hood or well ventilated space to minimise airborne vapours.
  • Personal protective equipment: Wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses to keep the liquid off your skin and out of your eyes.
  • Health considerations: Some people may experience skin irritation or allergic reactions. Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals should consult a medical professional before handling. Brief contact with low concentrations is usually safe but extended exposure to stronger levels can be harmful.

Always review the most recent safety data sheet supplied by your vendor and recheck it regularly as updates are common. Follow any applicable IFRA guidelines to ensure the finished product meets current safety standards.

Storage And Disposal

When sealed in its original container and kept under ideal conditions Phenyl Ethyl Tiglate remains in prime shape for roughly two years. Once you open the bottle and create a working dilution aim to use it within 12 to 18 months for peak olfactive freshness.

Refrigeration is not compulsory but a shelf in the back of a household fridge can add extra months of life. If refrigeration is not practical a cool cupboard away from sunlight heaters or hot pipes is perfectly acceptable. Light and heat speed up oxidation so darkness and moderate temperatures are your friends.

Always cap bottles tightly. Polycone lined caps give a snug vapor-proof seal that keeps oxygen out and aroma in. Avoid glass dropper tops or pipette caps because they leak air and the rubber bulbs can absorb fragrance. Try to store liquids in the smallest bottle that will hold them so the headspace stays minimal.

Label every container with the material name batch date dilution strength and standard hazard icons. A clear label saves time and helps prevent mix-ups during hectic lab sessions.

When a batch finally passes its best before date evaluate it on a blotter. If the odor has flattened or taken on an off note retire it. Small leftover amounts can usually be flushed with plenty of running water and detergent because the ester breaks down fairly readily in municipal treatment systems. Larger volumes should go to a licensed chemical disposal service. Never pour concentrates straight into soil storm drains or open waterways.

Summary

Phenyl Ethyl Tiglate is a synthetic ester that gives perfumers an easy route to a plush rose heart without the price tag of natural absolutes. It smells like fresh crushed petals with a sweet oily undertone and enough lift to feel realistic rather than syrupy.

Because it is stable affordable and highly diffusive you will find it in everything from fine fragrances to candles and laundry liquids. Use it to deepen floral accords add bloom to hyacinth blends or extend the life of fragile natural rose notes. Just watch the dosage because too much can turn the bouquet heavy.

In the crowded catalogue of floral aroma chemicals this one earns steady popularity by hitting a sweet spot of cost performance and versatility. It is fun to play with layers effortlessly and behaves well in most bases so keep a bottle on hand and let your creativity run.

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