Woody

Guaiacol

Note Profile

Molecule

About

Guaiacol is a synthetic and naturally occurring aroma chemical known for its smoky, woody and slightly vanilla-like scent. In perfumery it is used to recreate campfire smoke, charred wood, leather and toasted nuances with a smooth phenolic warmth. It appears as a colorless to pale yellow oily liquid and functions primarily as a powerful base note modifier.

Scent Profile

Olfactorily, guaiacol leads with a **phenolic** character - creosote, antiseptic gauze, iodine, the dental clinic - carried on a strong **smoky** impression of wood fire and smoked foods. At lower dosages it reveals softer **vanillic**, resinous and slightly spicy aspects that can suggest tea-rose and balsamic warmth. At higher levels the carbolic and tarry facets dominate, producing an intense medicinal, faintly leathery impression with good tenacity.

ScentWheel

Breadthmedium

EnvelopeBase · ~24h lasting

Family Woody & Earthy

Read off the wheel, not a label applied to the note.

What this is made of

guaiacol

Names this molecule

CAS 90-05-1

The note name IS the molecule - guaiacol, CAS 90-05-1.

How the layers join

Origin

Guaiacol (2-methoxyphenol) is a catechol derivative first identified from guaiacum resin and can be obtained in small quantities by distillation of wood creosote. Today it is produced mainly by synthetic methods, often via methylation of catechol derived from petrochemical phenol, yielding a high-purity aroma chemical suitable for fragrance use. It is a clear to pale straw-colored oily liquid with CAS number 90-05-1 and INCI name GUAIACOL.

Usage in Perfumery

Perfumers use guaiacol in trace to low percentages to introduce smoky, charred and leathery nuances into woody, leather, oriental and gourmand compositions. Typical usage levels in fine fragrance range from traces up to about 0.5-2% of the concentrate, where it can support notes of leather, castoreum, blackcurrant, stone fruits and vanilla, or subtly warm floral accords like hyacinth, ylang‑ylang, narcissus and rose. It acts mainly as a base-note modifier, lending long-lasting phenolic warmth, but must be dosed carefully to avoid overpowering the composition or causing instability in alkaline products such as soap.