N/A — found in fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and pine oils
Appearance
white crystalline solid with camphoraceous odor
Producing Countries
China, Europe, India
Pyramid
Base
Dry, earthy-camphoraceous with a subtle, pine-like warmth. Fenchyl alcohol smells like old wooden furniture in a mountain cabin — dry, resinous, slightly medicinal.
Dry, earthy, faintly camphoraceous. Less aggressive than camphor, more woody than fenchone, subtler than borneol. A musty, aged-wood quality gives it character. Slight herbal warmth underneath. Low-impact — works as a background modifier rather than a perceptible note.
Evolution over time
Immediately
Immediately
Dry, earthy-camphoraceous opening. Subtle and quiet.
After a few hours
After a few hours
Woody-herbal character stabilizes. Musty undertone.
After a few days
After a few days
Quick, clean fade. Low tenacity.
The Full Story
CAS 1632-73-1. A bicyclic monoterpene alcohol found in fennel oil, basil, and various other essential oils. Fenchyl alcohol has a dry, earthy, camphoraceous character that is less aggressive than camphor itself and less piney than borneol.
The scent is dry, woody-earthy, with camphoraceous and slightly musty undertones. It reads as 'aged wood' rather than 'fresh pine.' There is a subtle warmth and a faint sweet-herbal quality. The molecule is used sparingly in perfumery — it functions as a modifier rather than a primary note, adding dry-woody depth to compositions.
Fenchyl alcohol is one of many monoterpenoid alcohols that collectively build the backbone of herbal and woody essential oils. Its character is subtle, supporting rather than leading.
Fenchyl alcohol's name derives from fennel (Foeniculum) — but the molecule contributes almost nothing to fennel's characteristic sweet-anise scent. That is entirely due to anethole. Fenchyl alcohol is the silent structural component, providing the earthy-woody backbone that you only notice when it is absent.
Extraction & Chemistry
Extraction method: Isolated from fennel essential oil by fractional distillation, or produced synthetically from alpha-pinene via fenchone reduction. Both routes are commercially viable. The molecule is also obtained as a byproduct of camphor production.
Molecular Formula
C10H18O
CAS Number
1632-73-1
Botanical Name
N/A — found in fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and pine oils
IFRA Status
No known restrictions
Synonyms
Fenchyl alcohol, fenchylol
Physical Properties
Appearance
white crystalline solid with camphoraceous odor
Boiling Point
201.00 to 202.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg
Flash Point
165.00 °F. TCC ( 73.89 °C. )
Melting Point
35.00 to 40.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg
In Perfumery
Background modifier in woody, herbal, and camphoraceous compositions. Fenchyl alcohol adds dry, earthy-woody depth at low concentrations. It appears naturally in many essential oils (fennel, basil, pine) and contributes to their woody-herbal backbone. Rarely used as an isolate in fine perfumery. More common in functional fragrance and as a component of essential oil blends.
