Farnesol, with the CAS number 4602-84-0, is a naturally occurring acyclic sesquiterpene alcohol found in various essential oils, including those of rose, jasmine, and orange. In perfumery, it is valued for its floral and slightly sweet scent profile, which can enhance the complexity of fragrances. Farnesol is often used in floral compositions and can also contribute to the freshness of citrus blends. It typically sits in the middle to top notes of a formula, providing a delicate balance to heavier base notes. While it is a versatile ingredient, it is important to note that Farnesol is classified as a potential allergen and is subject to regulatory scrutiny. It is included in the IFRA standards, which may impose restrictions on its usage levels in cosmetic formulations to ensure consumer safety. Perfumers should be mindful of these regulations when incorporating Farnesol into their creations, particularly in products intended for leave-on applications. — AI-generated summary, 2026-09-02.
Soft, delicate floral with a waxy-green character reminiscent of lily-of-the-valley and linden blossom. Mild sweetness with a subtle oily-fatty undertone; quite tenacious and works as a natural muguet-note fixative.AI · claude-opus-4-7
Composition, IFRA restriction figures, allergen concentrations and where this material is bought are part of Perfume Foundry’s curated library and need an account. Create one or sign in.
Other ingredients whose composition declares this material as a constituent. The percentage shown is the supplier-declared concentration in that parent.
| Ingredient | % | Range |
|---|---|---|
| CANANGA (YLANG) | — | 1–5% |
| AMBRETTE SEED OIL | 3% | — |
| ORANGE FLOWER OIL, BITTER (NEROLI AND NEROLI BIGARADE) | 2.002% | — |
| TUBEROSE “SIGNATURE” ABSOLUTE | 2% | — |
| AMBRETTE SEED | 1.6669% | — |
| ORANGE FLOWER WATER ABSOLUTE | 1% | — |
| OUD FIRBEST | — | 0.5–1% |
| PRUNOL SP | — | 0.1–1% |
| YLANG YLANG OIL-COMPLETE 10% | — | 0.1–1% |
| CANANGA OIL | 0.9361% | — |
| ROSE ABSOLUTE CENTIFOLIA | 0.5% | — |
| PINK CARNATION, NATURAL | 0.07% | — |
| DAVANA OIL | 0.04% | — |
| WHISKY CO2 | 0.04% | — |
| FLEUR DE TABAC | 0.03% | — |
| OEILLET 208 | 0.03% | — |
| TUBEROSE ABSOLUTE 3% DILUTION | 0.0297% | — |
| MAGNOLIA FLOWER OIL | 0.029% | — |
| ORRISODORE | 0.0272% | — |
| PINE NEEDLE OIL, SYLVESTRIS | 0.025% | — |
| STAR ANISE OIL | 0.02% | — |
| BLACK AGAR GIVCO 215/2 | 0.019% | — |
| LEATHER OUD | 0.0069% | — |
| BLACK PEPPER OIL | 0.002% | — |
| GIVCO CASTOREUM SYNTHETIC | 0.002% | — |
| OMBRE D'IRIS | 0.0012% | — |
| POIVRE FORT | 0.0004% | — |
Perfume and Flavor Chemicals, page 566.
Colorless oily liquid.
Insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol, perfume and flavor oils and in propylene glycol.
Very mild and delicate, sweet oily odor, slowly developing a floral fresh green note, reminiscent of certain notes from Muguet.
Its flavor is hardly enjoyed unless the material is incorporated in a flavor formulation. It will lend richness and stability and soft background to many fruit types, such as apricot, banana, berry, cherry, citrus, gooseberry, melon, peach, raspberry, strawberry.
Farnesol forms an excellent background note and blender in the delicate floral such as Muguet, Lilac, etc. or in the balsamic types, Oriental fragrances, Chypres etc. It combines the softest woody notes of Orris with the sweet and balsamic floral notes of Muguet, Rose, Magnolia, Acacia, etc. It blends excellently with Ylang Ylang, Cassie, Rose, Violet, Neroli, Cyclamen, etc. and it is an almost necessary ingredient in the so-called 'Lindenblossom' type fragrance.
Produced from (synthetic) : from Acetylene via Methylbutynol - Methylheptenone - Dehydrolinalool - Linalool - Geranyl acetone - Dehydronerolidol - Nerolidol - Farnesol. Or from natural Nerolidol from Cabreuva oil: by treatment with Acetic anhydride to Farnesyl acetate. Saponification yields Farnesol.
Natural complex substances (NCSs) in which this material typically occurs.
| NCS | Botanical | Typical % |
|---|---|---|
| SANDALWOOD OIL, AUSTRALIAN | Santalum spicata (R.Br.) A.DC. | 11% |
| ORANGE FLOWER OIL, BITTER (NEROLI AND NEROLI BIGARADE) | Citrus aurantium L. spp. Amara Link | 8% |
| AMBRETTE SEED ABSOLUTE | Hibiscus abelmoschus L. | 5% |
| YLANG, YLANG OIL, TERPENE-FREE | Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook. f. &Thomson oil (forma genuine Steenis) | 2.5% |
| CANANGA OIL | Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook. f. & Thomson (forma macrophylla Steenis) | 2% |
| ARNICA ABSOLUTE | Arnica montana L. | 1.2% |
| ROSE OIL | Rosa x damascena Mill. | 1% |
| PALMAROSA OIL | Cymbopogon martinii (Roxb.) Wats | 1% |
| SANDALWOOD OIL | Santalum album L. | 0.7% |
| SANDALWOOD OIL, NEW CALEDONIAN | Santalum austrocaledonicum Vieill | 0.7% |
| JASMINE SAMBAC ABSOLUTE | Jasminum sambac (L.) Aiton | 0.6% |
| CALAMUS OIL | Acorus calamus L. | 0.5% |
| TUBEROSE ABSOLUTE | Poliantes tuberosa L. | 0.3% |
| BACCHARIS DRACUNCULIFOLIA OIL | Baccharis dracunculifolia | 0.2% |
| CINNAMON BARK EXTRACT | Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume | 0.12% |
| ARTEMISIA ARBORESCENS EXTRACT | Artemisia arborescens L. | 0.1% |
| CABREUVA OIL | Myrocarpus frondosus Fr. Allem | 0.1% |
| GARDENIA TAHITENSIS OIL | Gardenia tahitensis DC. | 0.1% |
| YARROW OIL | Achillea millefolium L. | 0.1% |
| CINNAMON BARK OIL, LAOS | Cinnamomum loureiroi Nees | 0.01% |