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Guaiyl Acetate

Q: Is Guaiyl Acetate natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Produced by acetylation of guaiol, which is isolated from guaiac wood oil by fractional distillation or crystallization. The synthesis is straightforward. Can also be prepared from synthetic guaiol..

WOODS AND MOSSES / woody · balsamic · warm

Guaiyl Acetate

Category	WOODS AND MOSSES
Subcategory	woody · balsamic · warm
Origin
Volatility	Base Note
Botanical	N/A - synthetic molecule
Appearance	yellow viscous liquid to solid
Producing Countries	Manufactured globally (derived from guaiacwood of South American origin)
Pyramid	Base

Soft, woody-rosy with a smoky, tea-like undertone. Guaiyl acetate extends guaiac wood's creamy character into a smoother, more floral direction.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Soft woody-smoky opening, less aggressive than guaiac wood oil. A creamy-rosy quality emerges — delicate, slightly tea-like. Smoother than guaiol, more floral than guaiac oil, less sharp than cedarwood. The ester quality gives it a rounded, approachable character. Quiet, persistent dry-down.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Soft woody-smoky opening with gentle floral edge.

After a few hours

Creamy-rosy heart develops. Tea-like quality. Smoky character remains subtle.

After a few days

Quiet woody base. Persistent, smooth, clean fade.

The Full Story

The acetate ester of guaiol, derived from guaiac wood oil (Bulnesia sarmientoi). Guaiyl acetate inherits the smoky-woody character of guaiac but softens it with an ester-like smoothness and a subtle floral-rosy quality.

The scent is woody, gently smoky, with a creamy-rosy quality that is softer and more diffusive than the parent guaiac wood oil. The ester modification rounds the raw smokiness and adds a floral dimension. It functions as a heart-to-base material with good tenacity.

In perfumery, guaiyl acetate provides a more clean, easier-to-blend version of the guaiac wood character. It is particularly useful where smokiness is desired but must remain restrained rather than aggressive.

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Did You Know?

Did you know?

Guaiol is one of the few sesquiterpene alcohols that is solid at room temperature — it crystallizes into white needles, making guaiac wood oil semi-solid in cool conditions. Acetylation lowers the melting point, making guaiyl acetate easier to handle in formulation.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Produced by acetylation of guaiol, which is isolated from guaiac wood oil by fractional distillation or crystallization. The synthesis is straightforward. Can also be prepared from synthetic guaiol.

Molecular Formula	C₁₇H₂₈O₂
CAS Number	134-28-1
Botanical Name	N/A - synthetic molecule
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	GUAIACOL ACETATE · GUAIYL ACETATE
Physical Properties
Appearance	yellow viscous liquid to solid
Boiling Point	268.00 to 270.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg
Flash Point	> 212.00 °F. TCC ( > 100.00 °C. )
Specific Gravity	0.97500 to 0.98700 @ 25.00 °C.
Refractive Index	1.48900 to 1.49500 @ 20.00 °C.

In Perfumery

Heart-to-base modifier in woody, smoky-floral, and rose-wood compositions. Guaiyl acetate provides clean smoky-woody character with a floral edge. It bridges woody bases and floral hearts more smooth than raw guaiac oil. Used in woody-rose accords, smoky-floral blends, and as a smoother alternative to guaiac wood oil in compositions where the raw material would be too dominant.