What Is Methyl Anthranilate Extra?
Methyl Anthranilate Extra is an aroma chemical first isolated in the late 19th century when chemists were exploring the fragrant molecules responsible for orange blossom’s characteristic scent. Commercial production ramped up around 1905 after synthetic routes became reliable and economical.
Today the material is manufactured mainly by esterifying anthranilic acid with methanol under controlled conditions. This streamlined process means the ingredient is classed as synthetic, even though the same molecule can be found naturally in citrus flowers and certain grapes.
At room temperature the substance appears as a clear to very pale yellow liquid that stays fluid even in a cool laboratory. It is easy to handle, dissolves well in alcohol and most perfume bases and blends without leaving visible residue.
Perfumers reach for Methyl Anthranilate Extra frequently because it broadens floral accords and fills gaps other ingredients leave behind. Thanks to steady supply chains and efficient synthesis it sits in the mid-range of perfume raw-material costs, neither a luxury item nor a budget filler.
You will encounter it in everything from fine fragrance to functional products like soaps and air fresheners. Its adaptability and performance under varied pH and temperature conditions have made it a modern staple.
What Does Methyl Anthranilate Extra Smell Like?
This molecule is generally grouped into the floral olfactory family.
Off a blotter it opens with an immediately recognizable neroli nuance that feels soft and luminous. Within seconds a gentle honeyed sweetness emerges, bringing a comforting warmth rather than sharp sugary edges. As the minutes pass a rounded orange-blossom character settles in, enriched by a faint grape-like undertone that keeps the profile playful yet refined. The overall impression is smooth, sweet and warm without tipping into cloying territory.
In the traditional fragrance pyramid it performs squarely as a middle note. You may perceive a brief sparkle at the top but its main contribution unfolds after the initial citrus or green top notes fade, lending body to the heart of the perfume and linking seamlessly to any jasmine, tuberose or gardenia facets that follow.
Projection is moderate: it radiates enough for others to notice but will not dominate a composition. Longevity sits at roughly 24 hours on a blotter which translates to solid staying power on skin when properly fixed by complementary base notes.
How & Where To Use Methyl Anthranilate Extra
First things first, this is a genuinely pleasant material to handle. It pours easily, behaves well in most solvents and does not have the sharp solvent bite that can make bench work a chore.
In a formula it shines whenever you need to add creamy orange blossom warmth without bringing in the full weight of natural neroli or an expensive absolute. Perfumers lean on it to round out gardenia, tuberose and jasmine hearts, or to soften a too-green petitgrain opening. It slips neatly between citrus top notes and richer white-floral bases, stitching them together so the transition feels seamless.
The typical inclusion level ranges from a trace in light colognes up to around 5 percent in heady florals. At 0.1 percent you will barely notice more than a sweet lift. Push toward 2 percent and the neroli facet starts to glow. Above 4 percent the grape-like sweetness becomes obvious and can dominate unless balanced with woods, musks or bright citruses.
In functional products it earns its keep in soaps and shampoos thanks to an excellent bloom in lather and good stability down to pH 3. It also survives high-pH cleaning bases better than many florals, though expect some loss of delicacy in bleach systems.
Drawbacks are minor but worth noting. On a blotter it plateaus after about a day, so extended drydown depth must come from supporting notes. It can also clash with very dry herbal materials, making accords feel muddled if dosed too high.
No special prep work is needed beyond the usual: weigh it accurately, dilute to 10 percent in ethanol for easy pipetting, cap tightly after use and store away from direct light.
Safely Information
Working with Methyl Anthranilate Extra is straightforward, yet a few common-sense precautions keep the lab both safe and pleasant.
- Always dilute before smelling: prepare a 10 percent alcohol solution or use a scent strip rather than inhaling the neat aroma.
- Avoid headspace sniffing from the bottle: concentrated vapors can overwhelm the senses and irritate nasal passages.
- Ventilation: blend or evaluate in a well-ventilated area to minimize buildup of airborne droplets.
- Personal protective equipment: wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses to prevent accidental skin or eye contact.
- Health considerations: some individuals may experience skin irritation or sensitization. Pregnant or breastfeeding persons should consult a healthcare professional before routine exposure. Brief contact at low levels is generally safe but prolonged or high-level exposure can be harmful.
For complete peace of mind always review the most recent Safety Data Sheet supplied with your batch and follow any updated recommendations. Adhere to current IFRA guidelines regarding maximum usage levels in each product category to ensure your creations remain both beautiful and safe.
Storage And Disposal
When kept in ideal conditions Methyl Anthranilate Extra remains in good shape for roughly three to four years before the aroma starts to dull. A faint change in colour or a drop in brightness is usually the first sign it is past its prime.
Refrigeration is not vital but it can add extra months to the shelf life, especially in hot climates. Otherwise store the bottle in a cool dark cupboard that never sees direct sunlight or sits near a heat source.
Air is the main enemy so choose tight sealing polycone caps for both neat material and dilutions. Avoid dropper bottles since the rubber bulb lets oxygen creep in. Keep containers as full as possible by transferring leftovers to smaller bottles, reducing the empty headspace that encourages oxidation.
Label every container clearly with the name lot number date opened and any hazard icons so nothing is left to guesswork later.
Small amounts of waste solution can be flushed with plenty of running water if local rules allow. Larger volumes should go to a licensed chemical disposal facility or be collected by a waste contractor. The molecule is readily biodegradable in low concentrations but never pour bulk quantities into drains or soil.
Summary
Methyl Anthranilate Extra is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring orange blossom note that smells sweet warm and unmistakably floral with a friendly neroli twist.
It slips into countless accords from fresh colognes to lush white floral bouquets adding body and a gentle grape like lift without breaking the budget. Stability is solid across most product bases and at up to five percent it rarely misbehaves, though it can lose punch after a day on skin so pair it with longer lasting partners.
Cost sits in the middle range making it an easy add to experimental blends. Keep an eye on air exposure store it smartly and this versatile ingredient will stay fun to work with for years to come.