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Ethyl Butyrate

Q: Is Ethyl Butyrate natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Found in pineapple, banana, and many fruits. Also synthesized from butyric acid and ethanol. Common in food flavoring..

FRUITS, VEGETABLES AND NUTS / fruity · pineapple · sweet

Ethyl Butyrate

Category	FRUITS, VEGETABLES AND NUTS
Subcategory	fruity · pineapple · sweet
Origin
Volatility	Top Note / Heart Note
Botanical	N/A — synthetic ester (occurs naturally in many fruits)
Appearance	Colorless liquid with fruity, pineapple-like odor
Producing Countries	Manufactured globally (commodity chemical)
Pyramid	Top-Heart

Fruity, pineapple-like, bright. Ethyl butyrate (CAS 105-54-4) is the defining tropical-fruit ester: pineapple and ripe banana in a single molecule.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Bright, fruity, pineapple. The simplest tropical-fruit ester. Extremely volatile: a bright flash that disappears. Chemical simplicity, olfactory impact.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Bright pineapple burst

After a few hours

Rapidly fading

After a few days

Essentially gone within 30 minutes

The Full Story

Ethyl butyrate (CAS 105-54-4) is a four-carbon ethyl ester with intensely fruity, pineapple-like scent. Extremely volatile, evaporating within 15-30 minutes.

At low concentrations: pineapple. At higher: generically fruity or slightly solvent-like.

Provides initial tropical-fruit impact but has no staying power. Must be supported by longer-lasting fruit molecules.

Explore all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

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Related: Banana · Coconut · Coconut Water · Delta Decalactone · Delta Undecalactone · Guava · Mango · Papaya

Did You Know?

Did you know?

Ethyl butyrate demonstrates the difference between flavor and fragrance: in candy, it provides lasting flavor because it is continuously released. On skin, it evaporates in minutes. Same molecule, different behavior.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Found in pineapple, banana, and many fruits. Also synthesized from butyric acid and ethanol. Common in food flavoring.

Molecular Formula	C6H12O2
CAS Number	105-54-4
Botanical Name	N/A — synthetic ester (occurs naturally in many fruits)
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	BUTYRIC ACID ETHYL ESTER · ETHYL BUTANOATE
Physical Properties
Appearance	Colorless liquid with fruity, pineapple-like odor
Boiling Point	120.00 to 121.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg
Flash Point	77.00 °F. TCC ( 25.00 °C. )
Specific Gravity	0.87000 to 0.87700 @ 25.00 °C.
Refractive Index	1.39100 to 1.39400 @ 20.00 °C.
Melting Point	-101.00 to -93.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg

In Perfumery

Top-note fruity modifier. CAS 105-54-4. Pineapple-like. Extremely volatile (gone within 30 minutes). Provides initial tropical impact. Must be supported by longer-lasting molecules.