Benzyl Benzoate

SyntheticAROMA CHEMICALSbalsamic · sweet · faint

BasePyramid

2/5Strength

—Tenacity

1Origins

Specimen

Benzyl Benzoate perfume ingredient — Base

Definition

Benzyl benzoate is the ester of benzyl alcohol and benzoic acid. It has a faint, sweet, balsamic odour.

SWEET BALSAMIC

Benzoic acid benzyl ester, Ascabin, Ascabiol, Phenylmethyl benzoate, Benzyl benzenecarboxylate

Type: Ingredient
Olfactive family: Resinous
Subfamily: Sweet balsams
Cluster: Classic resins
Source: Produced industrially; also present in Balsam of Peru, Tolu balsam and a number of flowers
Chemical class: ester (benzoate)

Instruments

Pyramid

TTop

HHeart

BBase

2/5Strength

Low

odour strength

Producing countries

United States

Scent

Benzyl benzoate has a weak, sweet-balsamic odor. Its aroma is described as mildly sweet, balsamic, oily, herbal, floral, and fruity. Another description gives a light, balsamic odor reminiscent of almond. A faint, pleasant, aromatic odor is also reported.

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The Full Story

Chemistry

Its condensed formula is C₆H₅COOCH₂C₆H₅, and it is classed as both a benzoate ester and a benzyl ester. It forms either a colorless viscous liquid or white solid flakes. Benzyl benzoate is insoluble in water but miscible with alcohol, chloroform, ether and oils. It congeals at temperatures not below 18 °C and supercools easily. It has low acute toxicity in laboratory animals and is rapidly hydrolyzed to benzoic acid and benzyl alcohol.

Occurrence

Benzyl benzoate occurs in a number of blossoms, for example tuberose and hyacinth, and is a component of Balsam of Peru and Tolu balsam. Balsam of Peru contains 25 or so different substances, including cinnamein, cinnamic acid, cinnamyl cinnamate, benzyl benzoate, benzoic acid, and vanillin. The bulk of Peru balsam oil consists of a mixture of the benzyl esters of cinnamic and benzoic acids. Benzyl benzoate has been isolated from plant species of the genus Polyalthia.

Production volume

United States production in 2023 was in the range of 10,000,000 to under 25,000,000 pounds.

Uses beyond perfumery

Benzyl benzoate is used as a medication and insect repellent. As a medication it is used to treat scabies and lice. It is also used as a dye carrier, a solvent for cellulose derivatives and a plasticizer. A moist powder of wetted cellulose and benzyl benzoate is used on carpets as an acaricide.

Explore all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

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Related: Amberwood · Andiroba · Bakhoor · Balsamic Notes · Benzoin Resinoid · Benzyl Salicylate · Birch Tar · Blue Amber

Did You Know?

Benzyl benzoate is lethal to Sarcoptes scabiei, the mite that causes scabies. The World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines includes it as a 25% topical lotion.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

Benzyl benzoate is produced industrially by the reaction of sodium benzoate with benzyl chloride in the presence of a base, or by transesterification of methyl benzoate and benzyl alcohol. Benzyl benzoate is a byproduct of benzoic acid synthesis by toluene oxidation. It can also be synthesized by the Tishchenko reaction, using benzaldehyde with sodium benzyloxide as catalyst.

Formula: C₁₄H₁₂O₂
CAS: 120-51-4
Appearance: Colorless oily liquid or white solid
Odour strength: Weak
Synonyms: Benzoic acid benzyl ester, Ascabin, Ascabiol, Phenylmethyl benzoate, Benzyl benzenecarboxylate

IFRA status

Restricted

Restricted — IFRA Standard « Benzyl benzoate » (Amendment 49)

Physical properties

Boiling point: 323-324 °C
Melting point: 21 °C
Flash point: 316 °F (158 °C), closed cup
Specific gravity: 1.116-1.120 at 25 °C/25 °C
Refractive index: 1.5680 at 20 °C

In Perfumery

Benzyl benzoate is used as a fixative in the perfume industry. It is a fragrance allergen that must be declared on the label of a cosmetic product when present above 0.001% in leave-on products or above 0.01% in rinse-off products.

Role in the formula

01fixative

02blender

Available as

natural extract synthetic