Home › Glossary › Methyl 2-Octynoate (Violet Leaf)

Methyl 2-Octynoate (Violet Leaf)

Q: Is Methyl 2-Octynoate (Violet Leaf) natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Fully synthetic. Produced by esterification of 2-octynoic acid with methanol. No natural source. The molecule's potency means that very small production volumes meet perfumery demand..

GREENS, HERBS AND FOUGERES / green · violet · fresh

Category	GREENS, HERBS AND FOUGERES
Subcategory	green · violet · fresh
Origin
Volatility	Top Note
Botanical	N/A (synthetic molecule)
Appearance	Colorless to pale yellow liquid
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	Manufactured globally
Pyramid	Top

Intensely green-violet with a metallic, slightly waxy quality. Methyl 2-octynoate smells like a crushed violet leaf — sharply green, vegetal, with a particular violet-like freshness.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Intensely green, metallic, violet-leaf-like. Sharp and vegetal with a waxy undertone. More concentrated and metallic than violet leaf absolute, greener than galbanum, less herbaceous than cis-3-hexenol. At dilution, the metallic edge softens and a more rounded green-violet character emerges. Very potent — small quantities create strong effects.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Sharp, metallic green-violet burst. Intensely vegetal.

After a few hours

Green-violet character softens slightly. Waxy undertone. Still potent.

After a few days

Moderate fade. Green residue persists. Metallic edge diminishes.

The Full Story

CAS 111-12-6. Also known as methyl heptin carbonate. A synthetic acetylenic ester with a powerful green-violet character. Despite the 'violet leaf' descriptor in its common name, methyl 2-octynoate is entirely synthetic.

The scent is sharply green, with a particular violet-leaf quality — metallic, slightly waxy, intensely vegetal. It is a potent green materials in the perfumer's palette; even 0.1% in a composition can have a significant impact. The molecule has an almost aggressive greenness that must be used with careful restraint.

In perfumery, methyl 2-octynoate is used to recreate the violet-leaf accord and to add green freshness to floral and chypre compositions. It is one of several molecules (alongside cis-3-hexenol, galbanum, and violet leaf absolute) that collectively define the 'green' family in perfumery.

Explore all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

—

Related: Acronychia Pedunculata · Adoxal · Agave · Algae · Aloe Vera · Aromatic Notes · Asparagus · Avocado

Did You Know?

Did you know?

Methyl 2-octynoate belongs to the acetylenic ester family — molecules with a carbon-carbon triple bond. This triple bond creates the metallic, almost electric quality in the scent. The same triple bond also makes these molecules unstable in the presence of certain metals, which is why brass-capped bottles can cause acetylenic esters to degrade.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Fully synthetic. Produced by esterification of 2-octynoic acid with methanol. No natural source. The molecule's potency means that very small production volumes meet perfumery demand.

Molecular Formula	C9H14O2
CAS Number	111-12-6
Botanical Name	N/A (synthetic molecule)
IFRA Status	Restricted under IFRA 51st Amendment. Maximum use levels apply per product category. Also listed among the EU 26 declarable fragrance allergens (EC 1223/2009 Annex III). When combined with Methyl octine carbonate (CAS 111-80-8), the total must not exceed the MHC limit.
Synonyms	Methyl heptine carbonate, Folione
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Lasting Power	24 hours at 100.00%
Appearance	Colorless to pale yellow liquid
Boiling Point	217.00 to 220.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg
Flash Point	192.00 °F. TCC ( 88.89 °C. )
Specific Gravity	0.91900 to 0.92400 @ 25.00 °C.
Refractive Index	1.44600 to 1.44900 @ 20.00 °C.

In Perfumery

Top-to-heart modifier in green, chypre, and violet-leaf compositions. Methyl 2-octynoate provides intense green-violet character at trace dosages. It is central to violet-leaf reconstructions and adds green freshness to chypre and fougère compositions. Must be used with extreme restraint — overdosing creates a harsh, metallic result. Pairs with galbanum, violet leaf absolute, and floral notes. Maximum recommended usage is very low.