Fragrance allergen

Hexyl cinnamal

Hexyl cinnamal is a pale yellow liquid used in perfume for a mild, sweet, jasmine-like floral note. It is reported in chamomile oil and is also manufactured industrially from benzaldehyde and octanal. Perfumers use it mainly in jasmine and other white floral accords.

Formula
C15H20O
Molar mass
216.32 g/mol
CAS
101-86-0

Where it comes from

Hexyl cinnamal is reported to occur naturally in the essential oil of chamomile. It is also manufactured industrially from benzaldehyde and octanal. Traditionally the two are reacted with an alkali metal hydroxide as catalyst. An Indian research institute describes a different route that uses a solid base catalyst, hydrotalcite.

Smell and use

Mild, sweet and slightly oily, with a fresh, jasmine-like floral character. Good Scents lists it as fresh, floral, green, jasmin, herbal and waxy, with medium odour strength.

Its main role is in jasmine reconstructions, where it provides a soft, oily-floral backdrop. It adds roundness, warmth and staying power to white floral accords. Good Scents lists its lasting power as 400 hours for the undiluted material. It is also listed as a flavouring agent.

On the label

Named on 24% of the 6,851 perfume ingredient lists we hold (1,661 perfumes).

EU
Annex III, entry 87. Must be named above 0.001% in leave-on products (0.01% rinse-off).
Great Britain
Required, same thresholds. GB Annex III
Patch tests
In Fragrance Mix II, a standard skin-clinic panel.

Hexyl cinnamal is one of the fragrance allergens EU cosmetics rules require to be named, above 0.001% in leave-on or 0.01% in rinse-off products. SCCS/1459/11 lists it among established contact allergens in humans. Company notifications to ECHA give H317, may cause an allergic skin reaction. PubChem lists IFRA Standard 040 for it.

A list that does not name it does not prove it is absent: brands only have to name it above the threshold.

Frequency by concentration

  • Eau de parfum 24% of 4,889
  • Eau de toilette 26% of 1,227
  • Extrait 19% of 341
  • Parfum 19% of 194
  • Cologne 30% of 114
  • Body spray 10% of 42
  • Other 7% of 27

Share of the perfumes we hold a list for, in each concentration.

Named alongside

Share of the lists naming Hexyl cinnamal that also name each of these.

Notes whose materials include it

Perfumes whose box names it

Common questions

What does hexyl cinnamal smell like?

It smells mild, sweet and floral, like jasmine, with green, herbal and slightly waxy or oily facets. Good Scents rates its odour strength as medium, and Arctander calls it mild and sweet.

Is hexyl cinnamal natural or synthetic?

It is reported in chamomile essential oil. It is also manufactured industrially. The traditional method reacts benzaldehyde with octanal in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide catalyst.

Why is hexyl cinnamal on my perfume label?

It is one of the fragrance allergens EU cosmetics rules require to be named individually, above 0.001% in leave-on or 0.01% in rinse-off products. Otherwise perfume is declared collectively as parfum.