N/A — synthetic molecule (also occurs naturally in some essential oils)
Appearance
Colourless liquid with a sweet anisic-herbaceous odour
Odor Strength
High
Producing Countries
N/A — synthetic molecule
Pyramid
Heart
Sweet, herbaceous-anisic with a faint lavender quality. 4-Methylanisole smells like an old-fashioned herbalist's shop — dried lavender, anise seeds, and a hint of dusty wood.
Mild, sweet, herbaceous-anisic. Gentler than anethole, more herbal than anisaldehyde. A faint lavender-like quality overlays a dusty, slightly woody base. The scent is unassertive — a background modifier rather than a character note. On blotter, it fades quickly into a clean, faintly sweet residue.
CAS 104-93-8. Also known as para-cresyl methyl ether or methyl p-cresol. A simple aromatic ether with a sweet, herbal-anisic scent. Found naturally in various essential oils and as a metabolite in certain biological processes.
The scent is mild, sweet-herbaceous, with anisic and faintly lavender-like qualities. It is gentler and less purely anisic than anethole, with a broader herbal character that includes dusty, slightly woody undertones. At low concentrations, it functions as a mild sweetener and herbal modifier.
In perfumery, 4-methylanisole is used as a secondary modifier rather than a primary note. It adds subtle sweet-herbal depth to lavender accords, aromatic compositions, and herbaceous blends. The molecule's simplicity — a toluene ring with one methoxy group — belies its usefulness as a blending tool. It smooths harsh herbal notes and adds a quiet anisic sweetness without dominating.
4-Methylanisole is the chemical bridge between anisole (the parent anise-smelling molecule) and cresol (a phenolic with a sharp, medicinal odor). Adding a single methyl group to anisole produces a molecule that retains anisic sweetness while adding herbal complexity — a demonstration of how small structural changes create large olfactory shifts.
Extraction & Chemistry
Extraction method: Produced synthetically by methylation of para-cresol. Simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Also occurs naturally in trace amounts in various essential oils, but not isolated from natural sources commercially.
Molecular Formula
C8H10O
CAS Number
104-93-8
Botanical Name
N/A — synthetic molecule (also occurs naturally in some essential oils)
Colourless liquid with a sweet anisic-herbaceous odour
Boiling Point
174.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg
Flash Point
128.00 °F. TCC ( 53.33 °C. )
Specific Gravity
0.96700 to 0.96900 @ 25.00 °C.
Refractive Index
1.51200 to 1.51400 @ 20.00 °C.
Melting Point
-32.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg
In Perfumery
Background modifier in aromatic, herbal, and lavender compositions. 4-Methylanisole adds quiet anisic-herbal sweetness at low concentrations. It can smooth rough edges in herbal accords, supports lavender bases, and provide a subtle sweet undertone in aromatic fougères. Not a standalone note — it functions as part of larger herbal constructions. Usage is typically at trace levels.
