Phenyl Propyl Alcohol: Aroma Uses, Odour and Storage

Phenyl propyl alcohol, also called 3-phenyl-1-propanol or hydrocinnamyl alcohol, is a close relative of phenyl ethyl alcohol, the rose note. It has one more carbon in its chain, which gives it a softer, sweeter and more balsamic floral smell.

• Formula: C9H12O, molar mass 136.19 g/mol
• CAS number: 122-97-4
• Appearance: clear, colourless, slightly oily liquid
• Boiling point: about 235 °C
• Solubility: slightly soluble in water; mixes with ethanol and perfumery solvents

It is a liquid at room temperature and doesn't crystallise in winter the way some aroma solids do, so it is easy to weigh and pour. Like most aroma alcohols, it can slowly react with aldehydes and acids in a concentrate over time, which is why finished blends are usually left to rest and settle before use.

Azlok lists Phenyl Propyl Alcohol in its aromatic raw materials range for perfume, soap and candle work. The name doesn't give a pack size, so check the product page. See today's price per kg.

• Floral accords: hyacinth, lilac, mignonette and soft rose blends
• Blender and modifier: rounds off sharper floral and green notes
• Soaps and toiletries: stable, mild floral note
• Candles and room fragrances: gentle sweet-floral body in a blend

On its own the smell is quiet, so new perfumers sometimes underrate it. Its value shows in a blend: it softens harsh edges, adds a sweet floral warmth and helps tie together top and heart notes. It is relatively stable, which makes it practical in soap and other alkaline bases where some floral materials change colour or smell.

Phenyl propyl alcohol is a liquid, so you can weigh it straight into a blend. For smelling and learning the material, make a 10% dilution in perfumer's alcohol or DPG: 1 g in 9 g solvent. Dip a blotter and smell it at the start, after an hour and the next day.

It sits mainly in the heart of a perfume. Pair it with phenyl ethyl alcohol, hydroxycitronellal-type muguet notes, benzyl acetate or soft musks. For skin products, check current IFRA standards for this material before finalising the formula.

Wear gloves and goggles when handling the neat liquid, and avoid eye contact. Work in a ventilated space.

• Not for eating or flavouring food.
• Store tightly closed in glass or a suitable fragrance-grade container, away from heat and sunlight.
• Keep away from open flames and children.
• Soak up spills with paper or sand and dispose of them with household waste.
• Label every dilution with the material name, strength and date, since several clear floral alcohols look identical in the bottle.

A small pack is enough for home perfumers and for testing in a new accord. Soap and candle makers using it weekly can buy larger packs. For production, ask for a certificate of analysis and odour sample. For 25 kg and above, send a bulk inquiry.