Fruity

Ethyl Caproate

Note Profile

Natural

About

Ethyl Caproate, also known as ethyl hexanoate, is a fruity ester aroma chemical with a vivid pineapple character. It provides bright, sweet tropical nuances reminiscent of ripe pineapple, banana, and soft strawberry with a slightly waxy transparency. Perfumers use it primarily as a top note to add juicy, tropical-fruit lift to compositions.

Scent Profile

Ethyl Caproate has a strong, sweet, fruity odour dominated by pineapple, supported by green banana and soft red-fruit nuances. The note is bright and juicy but also has a light waxy-ethereal facet that keeps it from becoming heavy or syrupy. It presents quickly as a sparkling tropical fruit top note and then softens into a more general fruity-floral impression before fading.

Citrus 5%

Floral 10%

Fruity 80%

Green 15%

Sweet 40%

Warm 5%

Woody 0%

Earthy 0%

Animalic 0%

Fresh 25%

Origin

Ethyl Caproate is the ethyl ester of hexanoic (caproic) acid, typically produced by esterification of hexanoic acid with ethanol in an industrial setting. While small amounts occur naturally in fruits such as apples, pineapples, and other tropical or orchard fruits, the material used in perfumery is generally synthetically manufactured for consistency and purity. The older name "caproate" reflects its origin from caproic acid, historically named for its goat-like odour in the free acid form.

Usage in Perfumery

In perfumery, Ethyl Caproate is used mainly as a top-note modifier to impart bright pineapple and tropical fruit effects in fruity, exotic, and gourmand accords. It is often combined with other esters, lactones, and citrus notes to construct realistic pineapple or mixed-fruit impressions, and can also provide lift in floral compositions, particularly exotic florals and certain rose accords as noted in technical references. Due to its strength and volatility, it is typically dosed sparingly to avoid overpowering a formula while still delivering a clear, juicy-fruity impact.