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Cinnamyl Formate

Q: Is Cinnamyl Formate natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Produced synthetically by esterification of cinnamyl alcohol with formic acid. Simple synthesis. Also found in trace amounts in some natural balsams..

FLOWERS / balsamic · fruity · floral

Cinnamyl Formate

Category	FLOWERS
Subcategory	balsamic · fruity · floral
Origin
Volatility	Base Note
Botanical	N/A - synthetic molecule
Appearance	colorless to pale yellow clear liquid
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	Manufactured globally
Pyramid	Base

Sweet, balsamic-spicy with a warm, slightly fruity character. Cinnamyl formate is cinnamon softened to a whisper — delicate, ester-bright, with a cherry-like sweetness.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Sweet, warm, balsamic-spicy with a fruity-cherry top note. Milder than cinnamaldehyde, sweeter than cinnamyl alcohol. An ester-like brightness gives it a clean, diffusive quality. On blotter, the fruity-cherry quality fades first, leaving a warm, balsamic-sweet residue. Gentle and approachable.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Sweet fruity-cherry top note with warm balsamic spice.

After a few hours

Balsamic-warm heart. Cherry fades. Spicy sweetness persists.

After a few days

Gentle warm-balsamic fade. Moderate tenacity.

The Full Story

CAS 104-65-4. The formate ester of cinnamyl alcohol. Cinnamyl formate has a softer, more fruity-balsamic character than cinnamyl alcohol — the formate group adds a sweet, slightly cherry-like quality while retaining the warm, spicy backbone.

The scent is warm, sweet, gently balsamic, with a subtle fruity-cherry top note. It is milder than cinnamaldehyde, sweeter than cinnamyl alcohol, and has a particular ester brightness that makes it diffusive and pleasant. The material is used in balsamic-amber compositions and in certain floral accords where warm, spicy sweetness is needed.

Cinnamyl formate is one of several cinnamate esters used in perfumery — each with a slightly different character. The formate is the lightest, most volatile, and most fruity of the series.

This note in Première Peau. Nuit Elastique · Rose Monotone. Sample all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

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Did You Know?

Did you know?

The cherry-like quality of cinnamyl formate is not coincidental — wild cherry bark (Prunus serotina) naturally contains cinnamate derivatives, including traces of cinnamyl esters. This molecular overlap explains why cherry and cinnamon flavors pair so well in culinary traditions worldwide.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Produced synthetically by esterification of cinnamyl alcohol with formic acid. Simple synthesis. Also found in trace amounts in some natural balsams.

Molecular Formula	C10H10O2
CAS Number	104-65-4
Botanical Name	N/A - synthetic molecule
IFRA Status	Restricted (IFRA 51st Amendment: limited in certain product categories)
Synonyms	CINNAMYL ACETATE · CINNAMYL ALCOHOL DERIVATIVE
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Lasting Power	244 hour(s) at 100.00 %
Appearance	colorless to pale yellow clear liquid
Boiling Point	250.00 to 254.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg
Flash Point	> 230.00 °F. TCC ( > 110.00 °C. )
Specific Gravity	1.07700 to 1.08200 @ 25.00 °C.
Refractive Index	1.55000 to 1.55600 @ 20.00 °C.

In Perfumery

Heart modifier in balsamic, amber, and fruity-spicy compositions. Cinnamyl formate provides soft, spicy-balsamic warmth with a fruity edge. It works in cherry-blossom accords, warm-fruity ambers, and compositions where cinnamon character is desired without any harshness. Less sensitizing than cinnamaldehyde. Pairs with benzoin, vanillin, and fruit notes.