What Is Frutinat?
Frutinat is an aroma chemical created by Symrise, one of the larger suppliers in the fragrance world. While Symrise owns the trade name, similar plum-like esters are available from other labs under generic labels, so perfumers are not limited to a single source.
Chemically, Frutinat belongs to the ester family. It is produced through a straightforward reaction that joins an acid and an alcohol, then purified until the finished material is more than 98 percent pure. No extra stabilizer is needed because the molecule is quite stable on its own.
At room temperature the material pours as a clear liquid that can show a slight yellow tint if it has been on the shelf for a while. It is low in viscosity, so it dispenses easily from a dropper or pipette.
Because it is biodegradable and has a flash point above most room temperatures, Frutinat finds its way into many finished goods. Perfumers reach for it in fine fragrance, while product formulators use it in shampoos, soaps, detergents, softeners and even scented candles.
The ingredient is not rare, yet it is not the cheapest item on the shelf either. Most creators would call it moderately priced. When stored in a cool dark place with the cap tightly closed, it keeps its character for roughly two to three years before starting to lose freshness.
Frutinat’s Scent Description
Frutinat falls squarely into the fruity family. On a blotter it opens with a bright burst of fresh apple that quickly deepens into juicy plum. A hint of star fruit adds a crisp watery edge, preventing the profile from becoming too syrupy.
The note development follows a classic perfume structure. In the top it gives a quick sparkling fruit accent that grabs attention. As minutes pass it settles into the heart of the composition where its round plum facet adds body to florals or green notes. There is little in the way of a heavy drydown, so once the middle fades it leaves the stage to woods, musks or whatever base notes are present.
Projection is moderate: enough to lift a blend without overpowering nearby notes. Longevity on skin or fabric sits in the four to six hour range, longer in products like candles or softeners where it can anchor itself to waxes or fibers.
How & Where To Use Frutinat
Perfumers pull Frutinat into a blend whenever they need a clear juicy fruit accent that feels natural rather than candylike. It shines in apple, pear or plum accords and is especially handy for modern green fruity top notes that need more dimension. A few drops can also round off sharp aldehydic openings, smoothing edges without muting sparkle.
The material shows its best side in the heart of a composition where it links bright apple facets to richer floral or woody notes. It partners well with rose, jasmine, muguet and leafy aromachemicals such as cis-3-Hexenol. When a formula already relies on heavier lactones for peach or coconut, Frutinat adds a contrasting freshness that keeps the fruit feeling ripe rather than overripe.
Recommended dosage is 0.1-5 percent of the total concentrate. At trace levels the note reads as a gentle lift, almost like biting into a crisp apple. Around 1-2 percent it becomes recognisably plum-like and brings satisfying weight. Above 3 percent the apple aspect pushes forward and can dominate, sometimes veering into bubblegum territory if supporting green notes are weak. Exceeding 5 percent rarely improves the scent and can create an unpleasant waxy tail in candles or laundry products.
The ingredient dissolves easily in alcohol, DPG or TEC so most perfumers prepare a 10 percent stock solution for accurate weighing. In non-alcoholic bases such as shower gel or detergent, add the neat material into the fragrance oil phase then mix thoroughly to avoid streaking. It has good stability in soaps but the fresh fruit nuance may fade faster under high pH, so reinforcing with a trace of ionones or damascones can help.
Over-use risks include clashing with citrus terpenes, making the opening smell foggy, and suppressing delicate florals. A quick iterative trial at different doses keeps those pitfalls in check. As always, jot down the exact percentage used and give the blend 24 hours to settle before final evaluation.
Safely Information
Working with Frutinat is straightforward yet it still calls for standard fragrance lab precautions.
- Always dilute before evaluation: create a solution in alcohol or dipropylene glycol and smell on a blotter rather than from the bottle
- Avoid direct inhalation: use a well-ventilated workspace or fume hood to limit exposure to concentrated vapours
- Protect skin and eyes: wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses every time you handle the neat material or high-strength solutions
- Health considerations: some aroma chemicals can provoke irritation or allergic reactions so keep contact time short, seek medical advice if pregnant or breastfeeding and remember that prolonged exposure to high levels can be harmful even if short low-level encounters are normally safe
Consult the latest Safety Data Sheet from your supplier before each new project and check back for updates since classifications can change. Follow current IFRA guidelines to confirm the allowed concentration for your product category and formulation style then document compliance for every batch you produce.
How To Store & Dispose of Frutinat
Frutinat stays fresh when it lives in a cool dark spot, tightly closed and out of direct sunlight. A dedicated fragrance fridge set to around 4 °C adds an extra layer of protection but is not mandatory if room temperature never climbs too high.
Choose bottles with polycone caps or other positive sealing systems so air cannot creep in. Skip eye droppers for long-term storage because rubber bulbs breathe and let oxygen leak through. Each time you decant, top up the parent bottle with glass marbles or transfer the remainder to a smaller container. A full bottle means less headspace and slower oxidation.
Label every vessel clearly with the name Frutinat, the date opened, and any hazard icons from the Safety Data Sheet. Keep the label facing outward so you can confirm contents at a glance and avoid mix-ups.
Store away from heat sources since the flash point sits around 72 °C. Good practice places fruity esters on a shelf below shoulder height behind a closing door. Keep acids, bases and bleach in a separate cabinet to stop fumes from cross-contaminating.
When a batch has aged past its best or you simply need to discard rinse water, remember that Frutinat is readily biodegradable. Small laboratory volumes can be flushed with plenty of running water if local rules permit. For larger quantities absorb the liquid onto dry sand or vermiculite then send it to a chemical waste handler. Never pour concentrated material into drains, soil or regular trash.
Wipe funnels and pipettes with paper towels before washing so residual scent does not linger in shared sinks. Seal used towels in a plastic bag and throw them out with solvent waste.
Summary
Frutinat is a Symrise ester that delivers a crisp apple top wrapped around juicy plum and a hint of star fruit. It lends lift, volume and a natural fruit glow to green floral or modern gourmand accords and performs well in everything from fine fragrance to household cleaners.
Its moderate price, ready biodegradability and stable nature keep it popular among both professional perfumers and hobby mixers. The note is specific though, so overdosing can push a blend toward bubblegum and high pH bases may shorten its sparkle.
Most creators treat it as a workhorse at 0.1-2 percent with occasional pushes to 5 percent when a bold fruit statement is needed. It blends fast, dissolves easily and holds up for two or three years when stored with minimal air and away from heat.
Commercial houses source Frutinat directly from Symrise in kilogram drums while smaller labs often pick up decants from aroma resellers or opt for generic equivalents from other suppliers. However it reaches your bench it remains a go-to tool whenever a composition needs fresh realistic fruit that will not break the bank or the formula.