Vinyl Guaiacol

Note Profile

Molecule

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About

Vinyl guaiacol is 4-vinylguaiacol, a phenol that smells of clove with a smoky, tarry edge. One trade glossary places it between guaiacol and eugenol: less medicinal than the first, less sweet than the second. It is not the published Vinyl note, which is plastic.

Scent Profile

Vinyl Guaiacol smells strongly of clove, warm and spiced, with a phenolic, slightly tarry edge. Smoke runs under the clove. A sweet, balsamic vanilla warmth and a powdery carnation facet round it out, with a dry wood note behind.

ScentWheel

Breadthbroad

EnvelopeHeart · ~8h lasting

Family Spicy, Woody & Earthy

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

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Materials That Can Make This Note

Perfumers can use this material directly to make Vinyl Guaiacol.

Vinyl Guaiacol 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol smoky · spicy · peppery

Smell words come from published sources.

A given perfume with this note may use this material, or something else.

Origin

4-vinylguaiacol is guaiacol with a vinyl group at the 4-position, where eugenol carries an allyl group. It is made from vanillin in three steps. It also forms from ferulic acid during fermentation. Yeast makes it this way in German wheat beer, where it gives the clove taste.

Usage in Perfumery

2 Fragrantica placements, none on Parfumo. It is used far more in flavours than in perfume: whisky, rum, tobacco, coffee, vanilla and smoke flavours. Its high cost limits perfume use, and cheaper vanillin, creosol and eugenol derivatives can give the same effect. In perfume it suits balsamic, spicy, woody and leather accords, often with guaiac wood oil.