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Benzoic Acid

CAS
EC
Material type
synthetic aroma chemical
Canonical source
arctander
Formulation

Usage guidance

Suggested min
Suggested max
Cost
Stock
Compatibility tags
amberorientalbalsamicpowderyvanilla
How it behaves

Olfactory profile

Family
resinous
Note tendency
Middle
Descriptors
odorlessurine-likecarbylamine-like

Benzoic acid has a very faint, mildly balsamic-sweet odor with a subtle powdery-resinous character reminiscent of benzoin resin. In perfumery it functions more as a fixative and modifier than as an odorant, contributing quiet warmth and depth rather than a distinct top note.AI · claude-opus-4-7

Intensity
2 / 10
Tenacity
7 / 10
Volatility
3 / 10
Reverse-composition

Contained in

Other ingredients whose composition declares this material as a constituent. The percentage shown is the supplier-declared concentration in that parent.

Ingredient%Range
Benzoin Siam Resinoid 50% TEC
chemicals · No. 276

Arctander monograph

Perfume and Flavor Chemicals, page 124.

G.R.A.S.FEMA 2131
odorlessurine-likecarbylamine-like
MW
122.12
BP
249°C
MP
122°C
Sp.Gr.
Refractive n
Rotation
Appearance

White crystal plates or leaflets, or needles.

Solubility

0.35° soluble in water, 5° soluble in boiling water, 33°4 in alcohol. Soluble in most perfume materials.

Odor

Odorless when pure. However, the commercial product usually carries a peculiar, unpleasant 'Urine-like' or faint Carbylamine-like odor, which is hardly perceptible unless a large quantity of the acid is smelled.

Uses in perfumery

The acid finds use as a preservative (as acid or its sodium salt) in fruit juices, beverages, etc.

Uses in flavor

It is used in Chocolate, Lemon, Orange, Cherry, Fruit and Nut preserves and in Tobacco products. Concentrations amount to 250 ppm in the finished product. The same concentration is used in icings.

Production

1) from Phthalic anhydride (various methods) 2) from Toluene by oxidation.

Identity
Aliases · 4
BENZOIC ACIDBenzenecarboxylic acidDracylic acidPhenylformic acid
Compliance note. Restriction data is sourced directly from IFRA publications and preserved with its document excerpt. Perfume Foundry is a compliance-support tool — not a substitute for a qualified safety assessor (CPSR / PIF).