What Is Cinnamyl Acetate?
Cinnamyl acetate is an aroma chemical classed as an ester. Symrise lists it as part of its standard palette yet many other suppliers offer the same molecule without any branding. No matter who bottles it the substance itself is identical, meeting industry purity levels of around 98 percent.
The material is typically made by combining cinnamyl alcohol with acetic acid in a controlled reaction known as esterification. This gives a stable liquid that appears clear to softly yellow and pours with ease at room temperature.
Perfumers reach for cinnamyl acetate far more than most people would guess. It slips into fine fragrance, personal care products and even candles thanks to its forgiving flash point and good biodegradability. Handled and stored well it can stay in specification for roughly two to three years before its scent starts to thin out.
On the cost scale it sits in the affordable bracket which is why it pops up in both prestige blends and day-to-day cleaners. Its versatility and price make it a quiet workhorse in many fragrance labs.
Cinnamyl Acetate’s Scent Description
This ingredient is most often placed in the spicy family. Off a blotter the first impression is a gentle cinnamon warmth backed by a soft floral touch that hints at hyacinth and ylang ylang. As it settles a faint balsamic sweetness joins in, rounding off any sharp edges and leaving a powdery veil that feels smooth rather than dry.
In the classic pyramid of top, middle and base notes cinnamyl acetate lives squarely in the heart. It appears after brighter notes fade yet before the heavier woods and musks take center stage. Because of this it is key for shaping the middle of floral spicy accords.
Projection is moderate; it throws its scent enough to be noticed without taking over a room. Longevity hovers around four to six hours on skin or blotter, placing it in the reliable middle ground and allowing other ingredients to extend or shorten its presence as needed.
How & Where To Use Cinnamyl Acetate
Perfumers reach for cinnamyl acetate when they want to inject a soft cinnamon glow without leaning on the heavier, more aggressive cinnamic aldehyde. It fills the gap between spicy and floral facets, making it a go-to for building heart-note accords that link rose, ylang ylang or hyacinth with darker balsamics or woods. A few drops can warm up a white floral bouquet, smooth a sharp clove note or add depth to a gourmand without turning it into full-blown bakery spice.
Concentration shapes its personality. In trace amounts it simply rounds edges and lends a creamy sweetness. Around 0.3-0.5 % the floral cinnamon quality blooms and becomes clearly perceptible. Push it toward the recommended upper limit of 2 % and the material dominates, reading as powdery cinnamon that can overshadow delicate top notes. Anything above this risks a flat, soapy effect and can clash with bright citruses.
Cinnamyl acetate excels in fine fragrance, conditioners, softeners and candles because its flash point sits comfortably above 100 °C. It also holds up in soaps and detergents although high pH can shave a little off its longevity. In very fresh colognes or light mists it may feel too weighty, making other cinnamon-adjacent molecules like ethyl cinnamate a better pick.
Before weighing, most labs dilute it to 10 % in ethanol or dipropylene glycol to improve accuracy and avoid nose fatigue. The liquid stays pourable at room temperature but chilling can cause viscosity to rise, so a gentle warm-water bath or room rest is wise if the bottle has been stored cold.
When blending, add it early so it fully integrates with the heart of the formula. Pairing with vanillin, benzyl acetate or sandalwood boosts its creamy side, while small amounts of pink pepper or cardamom sharpen the spice profile. Always keep a blotter handy because its moderate tenacity can sneak up during long formulation sessions.
Safely Information
Certain precautions and considerations need to be taken when working with this material.
- Dilute before evaluation: Always create a 10 % or weaker solution prior to smelling to avoid overwhelming the nose and to reveal the true character of the ingredient
- Avoid bottle sniffing: Never smell directly from the container as the concentrated vapors can irritate nasal passages and distort perception
- Ventilation: Work in a well-ventilated area or under a fume hood to limit inhalation of airborne particles during weighing and pouring
- Personal protective equipment: Wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses to keep liquid away from skin and eyes and promptly wash any accidental contact with plenty of water
- Health considerations: Some aroma chemicals can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions, brief exposure to low concentrations is generally safe yet prolonged or high-level contact may be harmful, and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult a medical professional before use
Always review the latest safety data sheet supplied with your batch, keep an eye on any revisions and follow current IFRA guidelines for maximum usage to ensure responsible handling and formula compliance.
How To Store & Dispose of Cinnamyl Acetate
Keep your bottle in a cool dark spot such as a cabinet or storage drawer away from heaters and direct sunlight. Refrigeration is not required yet it can stretch the shelf life by slowing any gradual oxidation. If you do refrigerate let the bottle return to room temperature before opening to avoid moisture condensing inside.
Choose containers that seal tightly. Polycone caps work best for both neat material and dilutions because the cone liner hugs the neck of the bottle and limits air seepage. Dropper tops often leak vapors and let oxygen sneak in so give those a miss. Try to top up containers when possible because a smaller air space means slower scent drift.
Label every bottle with the full name, concentration if diluted and any safety notes like flammable liquid or skin irritant. Clear labels save headaches later and help anyone else in your workspace understand what is inside at a glance.
For short term bench work pump your 10 percent dilution into a small working vial and leave the main stock closed. Wipe threads before recapping so no residue gums up the seal. Store different aroma chemicals on separate shelves or bins to avoid cross spills that can spoil an entire batch.
Cinnamyl acetate is readily biodegradable yet you should still handle disposal with care. Rinse measuring tools with a small amount of warm soapy water and pour the rinse down the drain while water is running. For larger volumes or outdated stock absorb the liquid onto an inert material like cat litter then place the solid waste in a sealed bag and hand it over to a local hazardous waste center. Never tip big quantities straight into sinks or outdoor soil.
Summary
Cinnamyl acetate is a budget friendly ester that delivers a gentle cinnamon glow laced with soft hyacinth and ylang ylang tones. Sitting in the heart of a formula it bridges spicy and floral themes without the harsh edge of stronger cinnamon notes.
Its moderate power, easy blending nature and high flash point keep it popular in fine fragrance, soaps, shampoos and candles. Stability is good for two to three years when stored well and its low cost lets both large houses and hobbyists experiment without breaking the bank.
You can buy it in bulk straight from Symrise or other large suppliers and smaller bottles often appear at specialist perfume material shops and online resellers. Whether you need a dash to warm a white floral or a larger batch for a household cleaner this versatile workhorse is simple to source and even easier to love.