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Alpha-Terpineol

Q: Is Alpha-Terpineol natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Found widely in nature. Commonly isolated from pine oil or synthesized from alpha-pinene..

FLOWERS / floral · piney · lilac

Alpha-Terpineol

Category	FLOWERS
Subcategory	floral · piney · lilac
Origin
Volatility	Heart Note
Botanical	Found in Melaleuca alternifolia, Pinus spp., Eucalyptus spp.
Appearance	Colorless viscous liquid to white crystalline solid
Producing Countries	China, India, United States
Pyramid	Heart

Clean, lilac-like, slightly pine-fresh. Alpha-terpineol (CAS 98-55-5) has a cool, floral character with subtle coniferous undertone. Essential in lilac reconstructions.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Cool, floral, lilac-like with subtle pine freshness. Less sweet than linalool, less rosy than geraniol. A clean, cool florality that reads as nature rather than perfume.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Cool floral-lilac freshness with pine edge

After a few hours

Clean lilac heart, transparent

After a few days

Soft cool-floral trace, moderate persistence

The Full Story

Alpha-terpineol (CAS 98-55-5) is found in over 150 plants. Floral-cool, similar to of lilac, with subtle pine-fresh undertone. Less sweet than linalool, less green than geraniol.

Essential in syringa (lilac) accords. The pine-fresh undertone connects it to coniferous compositions.

Functions as a heart modifier providing important structural support.

This note in Première Peau. Simili Mirage · Gravitas Capitale. Sample all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

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Related: Abelia · Almond Blossom · Alstroemeria · Alumroot · Amarillys · Amazon Moonflower · Amethyst Flower · Anemone

Did You Know?

Did you know?

Alpha-terpineol was one of the first terpene alcohols characterized by Otto Wallach in the 1890s, work for which he received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1910.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Found widely in nature. Commonly isolated from pine oil or synthesized from alpha-pinene.

Molecular Formula	C10H18O
CAS Number	98-55-5
Botanical Name	Found in Melaleuca alternifolia, Pinus spp., Eucalyptus spp.
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	alpha-terpineol, 2-isopropyl-5-methyl-1-cyclohexanol
Physical Properties
Lasting Power	6–12 hours
Appearance	Colorless viscous liquid to white crystalline solid
Boiling Point	214.00 to 218.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg
Flash Point	191.00 °F. TCC ( 88.33 °C. )
Specific Gravity	0.93000 to 0.93800 @ 25.00 °C.
Refractive Index	1.47400 to 1.48600 @ 20.00 °C.
Melting Point	40.00 to 41.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg

In Perfumery

Heart modifier providing cool floral-lilac character. CAS 98-55-5. Found in 150+ species. Essential in lilac reconstructions. Less featured than linalool but structurally important.