(E,Z)-Farnesol

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  • Identifiers

    CAS number
    3879-60-5

    Molecular formula
    C15H26O

    SMILES
    CC(=CCC/C(=C\CC/C(=C/CO)/C)/C)C

    Safety labels

    Irritant
    Irritant

    Environmental Hazard
    Environmental

    Retention indicies (RI)

    • DB5: 1742.6
    • Carbowax: 2278.0

  • Odor profile

    Floral 90.45%
    Rose 65.81%
    Waxy 64.52%
    Sweet 60.12%
    Citrus 50.64%
    Green 48.91%
    Fruity 48.09%
    Fresh 47.42%
    Balsamic 46.27%
    Muguet 42.06%

    Scent© AI

  • Properties

    XLogP3-AA
    4.8

    Molecular weight
    222.37 g/mol

    Vapor pressure est.

    • hPa @ 20°C
    • hPa @ 25°C

    Evaporation rate
    Ultra slow

    Melting point expt.

    • < 25 °C

    Boiling point

    • 230 to 235 °F at 760 mmHg (NTP, 1992)
    • 111 °C at 3.50E-01 mm Hg
    • 110-113 °C
    • BP: 145-146 °C at 3 mm Hg

    Flash point est.
    136.37 ˚C

    Solubility expt.

    • Soluble in three volumes of 70% alcohol
    • SOL IN ALCOHOL: 1:3 IN 70% ALCOHOL
    • Solubility in alcohol: 1 mL in 1 mL 95% ethanol
    • Insoluble in water
    • Insoluble in water; soluble in oils
    • soluble (in ethanol)

  • Synonyms

    • (E,Z)-farnesol
    • 2-trans,6-cis-farnesol
    • (2E,6Z)-farnesol
    • trans,cis-Farnesol
    • 2E,6Z-farnesol
    • 3879-60-5
    • Farnesol, (2E,6Z)-
    • (2E,6Z)-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,6,10-trien-1-ol
    • (2-trans,6-cis)-farnesol
    • farnesol
    • UNII-413TVZ4919
    • CHEBI:35966
    • FEMA No. 2478, (2E,6Z)-
    • 2,6,10-Dodecatrien-1-ol, 3,7,11-trimethyl-, (2E,6Z)-
    • 413TVZ4919
    • 3,7,11-Trimethyldodeca-2-trans,6-cis,10-trien-1-ol
    • Farnesyl alcohol
    • 3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2E,6Z,10-trien-1-ol
    • (E,Z)-3,7,11-trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrien-1-ol
    • (2E,6Z)-3,7,11-trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrien-1-ol
    • (2-trans,6-cis)-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,6,10-trien-1-ol
    • NSC60597
    • NSC-60597
    • 4602-84-0
    • CHEMBL488357
    • SCHEMBL1301184
    • DTXSID501034821
    • LMPR0103010006
    • 3,11-Trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrienol
    • 2,10-Dodecatrien-1-ol, 3,7,11-trimethyl-
    • EN300-21042726
    • 3,7,11-trimethyl-dodeca-2trans,6cis,10-trien-1-ol
    • Q27116653
    • 2,6,10-Dodecatrien-1-ol, 3,7,11-trimethyl-, (E,Z)-

  • Applications

    (E,Z)-Farnesol (CAS 3879-60-5) is a floral sesquiterpene alcohol widely used in perfumery and cosmetics: it boosts jasmine/muguet facets, acts as a fixative and masking agent, and serves as a preservative booster and deodorant active via antibacterial/antifungal effects (useful in deodorants and acne-prone skincare); in flavors and technical fragrances it functions as an odorant and a precursor to farnesyl esters; in synthesis and biomaterials it is an isoprenoid building block to prepare farnesyl derivatives, a tool/intermediate for protein prenylation studies and for ubiquinone/dolichol/vitamin intermediates and juvenile-hormone/pheromone derivatives; in pharma–microbiology it is used as a probe of Candida signaling/quorum sensing and a biofilm inhibitor, investigated as an adjuvant that potentiates antibiotics/antifungals and for anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer potential; note that farnesol is a listed fragrance allergen under EU/IFRA and its use levels must be controlled.

  • Solubility @25˚C

    Solvent Solubility (g/L)
    ethanol 589.99
    methanol 313.58
    isopropanol 467.1
    water 0.06
    ethyl acetate 448.5
    n-propanol 466.84
    acetone 269.13
    n-butanol 567.9
    acetonitrile 148.96
    DMF 114.22
    toluene 195.66
    isobutanol 285.96
    1,4-dioxane 938.53
    methyl acetate 224.77
    THF 1268.53
    2-butanone 340.02
    n-pentanol 383.19
    sec-butanol 432.9
    n-hexane 250.19
    ethylene glycol 15.9
    NMP 118.23
    cyclohexane 311.35
    DMSO 196.82
    n-butyl acetate 441.74
    n-octanol 159.08
    chloroform 548.9
    n-propyl acetate 294.68
    acetic acid 118.8
    dichloromethane 400.61
    cyclohexanone 421.5
    propylene glycol 72.04
    isopropyl acetate 287.81
    DMAc 171.47
    2-ethoxyethanol 368.93
    isopentanol 399.66
    n-heptane 213.29
    ethyl formate 128.9
    1,2-dichloroethane 303.29
    n-hexanol 546.98
    2-methoxyethanol 418.43
    isobutyl acetate 205.39
    tetrachloromethane 110.75
    n-pentyl acetate 219.53
    transcutol 1278.27
    n-heptanol 205.26
    ethylbenzene 132.1
    MIBK 254.0
    2-propoxyethanol 525.23
    tert-butanol 595.01
    MTBE 738.93
    2-butoxyethanol 295.94
    propionic acid 109.68
    o-xylene 118.89
    formic acid 21.11
    diethyl ether 1050.92
    m-xylene 141.76
    p-xylene 140.26
    chlorobenzene 139.51
    dimethyl carbonate 34.6
    n-octane 49.25
    formamide 32.37
    cyclopentanone 296.67
    2-pentanone 390.06
    anisole 221.38
    cyclopentyl methyl ether 493.26
    gamma-butyrolactone 215.93
    1-methoxy-2-propanol 384.5
    pyridine 344.33
    3-pentanone 233.26
    furfural 185.39
    n-dodecane 21.6
    diethylene glycol 160.15
    diisopropyl ether 277.51
    tert-amyl alcohol 469.61
    acetylacetone 212.45
    n-hexadecane 25.27
    acetophenone 150.29
    methyl propionate 181.93
    isopentyl acetate 374.95
    trichloroethylene 393.38
    n-nonanol 155.52
    cyclohexanol 362.89
    benzyl alcohol 131.59
    2-ethylhexanol 342.96
    isooctanol 167.63
    dipropyl ether 773.56
    1,2-dichlorobenzene 125.47
    ethyl lactate 86.12
    propylene carbonate 147.27
    n-methylformamide 57.96
    2-pentanol 409.65
    n-pentane 204.54
    1-propoxy-2-propanol 504.44
    1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate 334.82
    2-(2-methoxypropoxy) propanol 260.73
    mesitylene 102.84
    ε-caprolactone 346.76
    p-cymene 111.42
    epichlorohydrin 408.11
    1,1,1-trichloroethane 308.37
    2-aminoethanol 80.41
    morpholine-4-carbaldehyde 257.08
    sulfolane 206.78
    2,2,4-trimethylpentane 68.42
    2-methyltetrahydrofuran 873.45
    n-hexyl acetate 281.64
    isooctane 59.09
    2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol 403.13
    sec-butyl acetate 252.5
    tert-butyl acetate 326.53
    decalin 90.93
    glycerin 68.15
    diglyme 684.96
    acrylic acid 50.69
    isopropyl myristate 121.96
    n-butyric acid 324.0
    acetyl acetate 152.1
    di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 90.23
    ethyl propionate 227.86
    nitromethane 120.91
    1,2-diethoxyethane 704.59
    benzonitrile 131.22
    trioctyl phosphate 67.61
    1-bromopropane 398.7
    gamma-valerolactone 418.03
    n-decanol 110.16
    triethyl phosphate 122.62
    4-methyl-2-pentanol 208.29
    propionitrile 190.3
    vinylene carbonate 105.72
    1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane 182.13
    DMS 113.08
    cumene 101.51
    2-octanol 130.03
    2-hexanone 329.53
    octyl acetate 136.99
    limonene 201.35
    1,2-dimethoxyethane 747.3
    ethyl orthosilicate 153.68
    tributyl phosphate 87.84
    diacetone alcohol 274.07
    N,N-dimethylaniline 145.97
    acrylonitrile 105.09
    aniline 174.25
    1,3-propanediol 187.18
    bromobenzene 149.18
    dibromomethane 353.07
    1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane 396.37
    2-methyl-cyclohexyl acetate 256.5
    tetrabutyl urea 101.64
    diisobutyl methanol 190.66
    2-phenylethanol 189.81
    styrene 135.46
    dioctyl adipate 158.13
    dimethyl sulfate 41.17
    ethyl butyrate 377.74
    methyl lactate 57.98
    butyl lactate 138.57
    diethyl carbonate 186.61
    propanediol butyl ether 186.86
    triethyl orthoformate 292.36
    p-tert-butyltoluene 115.14
    methyl 4-tert-butylbenzoate 171.51
    morpholine 1162.49
    tert-butylamine 482.36
    n-dodecanol 83.07
    dimethoxymethane 241.68
    ethylene carbonate 114.56
    cyrene 142.94
    2-ethoxyethyl acetate 274.77
    2-ethylhexyl acetate 314.31
    1,2,4-trichlorobenzene 137.74
    4-methylpyridine 305.89
    dibutyl ether 394.31
    2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanol 190.66
    DEF 270.86
    dimethyl isosorbide 381.62
    tetrachloroethylene 242.63
    eugenol 147.47
    triacetin 191.68
    span 80 249.85
    1,4-butanediol 60.75
    1,1-dichloroethane 320.45
    2-methyl-1-pentanol 297.06
    methyl formate 34.79
    2-methyl-1-butanol 339.37
    n-decane 48.76
    butyronitrile 342.76
    3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol 174.54
    1-chlorooctane 138.66
    1-chlorotetradecane 49.13
    n-nonane 52.13
    undecane 30.19
    tert-butylcyclohexane 89.39
    cyclooctane 101.28
    cyclopentanol 225.46
    tetrahydropyran 1376.34
    tert-amyl methyl ether 469.95
    2,5,8-trioxanonane 416.47
    1-hexene 496.8
    2-isopropoxyethanol 280.76
    2,2,2-trifluoroethanol 21.09
    methyl butyrate 288.3

    Scent© AI

1 4

IFRA standard 51

Recommendation
Restriction / Specification
Maximum acceptable concentrations in the finished product (%)
Category 1
Products applied to the lips
 0.21 % Category 7A
Rinse-off products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 2.4 %
Category 2
Products applied to the axillae
 0.062 % Category 7B
Leave-on products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 2.4 %
Category 3
Products applied to the face/body using fingertips
 1.2 % Category 8
Products with significant anogenital exposure
 0.12 %
Category 4
Products related to fine fragrance
 1.2 % Category 9
Products with body and hand exposure, primarily rinse off
 2.3 %
Category 5A
Body lotion products applied to the body using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 0.29 % Category 10A
Household care products with mostly hand contact
 8.1 %
Category 5B
Face moisturizer products applied to the face using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 0.29 % Category 10B
Household care products with mostly hand contact, including aerosol/spray products (with potential leave-on skin contact)
 8.1 %
Category 5C
Hand cream products applied to the hands using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 0.29 % Category 11A
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate without UV exposure
 4.5 %
Category 5D
Baby Creams, baby Oils and baby talc
 0.29 % Category 11B
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate with potential UV exposure
 4.5 %
Category 6
Products with oral and lip exposure
 0.68 % Category 12
Products not intended for direct skin contact, minimal or insignificant transfer to skin
 No restriction

Specification
Farnesol should only be used as a fragrance ingredient if it contains a minimum of 96% of farnesol isomers as determined by GLC.

Botanical

Name CAS Botanical Proportion
Palmarosa (India) 3 8014-19-5 Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) Wats, var. martini, fam. Poaceae (Gramineae) 0.04%
Rosa rugosa Rosa rugosa Thunb., var. plena Regel, fam. Rosaceae 1.75%
Jasmine sambac (China) headspace Jasminum sambac (L.) Aiton, fam. Oleaceae 0.35%
Juniperus rigida (Japan) 2 Juniperus rigida Mig., fam. Cupressaceae 0.05%
Juniperus rigida (China) Juniperus rigida Mig., fam. Cupressaceae 0.05%
Juniperus rigida (Korea) Juniperus rigida Mig., fam. Cupressaceae 0.2%
Eucalyptus tereticornis (Benin) Eucalyptus tereticornis Smith, fam. Myrtaceae 12.56%
Neroli bigarade (bitter orange flower) Spain 3 8016-38-4 Citrus aurantium L., ssp. amara Engl., fam. Rutaceae 1.15%
Neroli bigarade (bitter orange flower) Tunisia 2 8016-38-4 Citrus aurantium L., ssp. amara Engl., fam. Rutaceae 1.57%
Neroli bigarade (bitter orange flower) Morocco 8016-38-4 Citrus aurantium L., ssp. amara Engl., fam. Rutaceae 0.44%
Rose (Bulgaria) 3b 8007-01-0 Rosa damascena Mill., fam. Rosaceae 0.11%
Rosa rugosa (China) 1 Rosa rugosa Thunb. (hybrids), fam. Rosaceae 0.15%
Couroupita guianensis flower (Brazil) Couroupita guainensis Auble., fam. Lecythidaceae 1.8%
Palmarosa (India) 8 8014-19-5 Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) Wats, var. motia Burk., fam. Poaceae 2.5%
Palmarosa 2 8014-19-5 Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) Wats, var. martini, fam. Poaceae (Germacreae) 0.5%
Palmarosa (India) 10a Spikelet 8014-19-5 Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) Wats, var. motia, fam. Poaceae (Gramineae) 7.2%
Palmarosa (India) 10b Raceme 8014-19-5 Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) Wats, var. motia, fam. Poaceae (Gramineae) 2.83%
Palmarosa (India) 10c Spathe 8014-19-5 Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) Wats, var. motia, fam. Poaceae (Gramineae) 8.56%
Acacia caven flower Acacia caven (Mol.) Mol., fam. Mimosaceae (Leguminosae) 0.4%
Pepper, black (India) 4 8006-82-4 Piper nigrum L., fam. Piperaceae 3.53%
Carapa guianensis Carapa guianensis Aubl., fam. Meliaceae 0.05%
Salvia desoleana (Italy) 1a CO2-extract Salvia desoleana, fam. Lamiaceae (Labiatae) 0.05%
Salvia desoleana (Italy) 1b hydrodistilled Salvia desoleana, fam. Lamiaceae (Labiatae) 0.05%
Cymbopogon olivieri (Iran) Cymbopogon olivieri (Boiss.) Bor, fam. Poaceae (Gramineae) 0.2%