Linolenic Acid

Overview IFRA Botanical Request a quote

  • Identifiers

    CAS number
    463-40-1

    Molecular formula
    C18H30O2

    SMILES
    CC/C=C\C/C=C\C/C=C\CCCCCCCC(=O)O

    Safety labels

    Irritant
    Irritant

    Retention indicies (RI)

    • Carbowax: 3191.0

  • Odor profile

    Fatty 83.46%
    Oily 59.08%
    Waxy 41.13%
    Green 29.93%
    Fruity 27.34%
    Fishy 26.99%
    Dairy 26.06%
    Citrus 23.6%
    Buttery 21.01%
    Herbal 20.94%

    Scent© AI

  • Properties

    XLogP3-AA
    5.9

    Molecular weight
    278.4 g/mol

    Vapor pressure est.

    • hPa @ 20°C
    • hPa @ 25°C

    Evaporation rate
    Ultra slow

    Melting point expt.

    • 11.7 °F (NTP, 1992)
    • -16.5 °C

    Boiling point

    • 446 °F at 17 mmHg (NTP, 1992)
    • 231 °C at 1.70E+01 mm Hg

    Flash point est.
    216.25 ˚C

    Flash point expt.

    • greater than 235 °F (NTP, 1992)

    Solubility expt.

    • less than 1 mg/mL at 72 °F (NTP, 1992)
    • 0.000124 mg/mL at 25 °C

  • Synonyms

    • linolenic acid
    • alpha-Linolenic acid
    • 463-40-1
    • linolenate
    • (9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acid
    • a-Linolenic acid
    • cis,cis,cis-9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid
    • all-cis-9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid
    • (Z,Z,Z)-9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid
    • 9-cis,12-cis,15-cis-Octadecatrienoic acid
    • alpha-Lnn
    • alpha-LA
    • (9,12,15)-linolenic acid
    • (9Z,12Z,15Z)-Octadecatrienoic acid
    • 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid, (Z,Z,Z)-
    • alpha Linolenic Acid
    • Linolenic acid, crude
    • CCRIS 656
    • .alpha.-Linolenic acid
    • 9Z,12Z,15Z-Octadecatrienoic acid
    • Industrene 120
    • UNII-0RBV727H71
    • cis-delta9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid
    • DTXSID7025506
    • CHEBI:27432
    • Prifrac 2942
    • AI3-23986
    • cis-Delta(9,12,15)-octadecatrienoic acid
    • (Z,Z,Z)-Octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acid
    • 0RBV727H71
    • NSC 2042
    • NSC-2042
    • EINECS 207-334-8
    • FA 18:3
    • CHEMBL8739
    • 9,12,15-all-cis-Octadecatrienoic acid
    • DTXCID905506
    • cis-9,cis-12,cis-15-Octadecatrienoic acid
    • C18:3
    • NSC2042
    • cis-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid
    • 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid, (9Z,12Z,15Z)-
    • MFCD00065720
    • LINOLENIC ACID (18:3 n-3)
    • NCGC00091058-04
    • Linolenic acid 10 microg/mL in Methanol
    • FEMA NO. 3380, LINOLENIC ACID-
    • ALPHA-LINOLENIC ACID (C18:3 N3)
    • C18:3 (N-3)
    • cis-9, cis-12, cis-15-octadecatrienoic acid
    • Linolenic Acid (~90%)
    • VITAMIN F COMPONENT ALPHA LINOLENIC ACID
    • 18:3(N-3)
    • LINOLENIC ACID (MART.)
    • LINOLENIC ACID [MART.]
    • C18H30O2
    • 29857-63-4
    • CAS-463-40-1
    • SMR000857336
    • (9Z,12Z,15Z)-Octadecatrienoate
    • Linolenic acid (8CI)
    • cis,cis,cis-9,12,15-octadecatrienoate
    • alpha-Linolenic acid; ALA; cis-alpha-Linolenic acid
    • Linolensaeure
    • a-Linolenate
    • Linolenic acid?
    • cis,cis-9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid
    • (9Z,12Z,15Z)-9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid
    • LNL
    • alpha-linolenic-acid
    • Octadeca-9Z,12Z,15Z-trienoic acid
    • alpha -linolenic acid
    • Linolenic acid - 70%
    • Linolenic acid - 85%
    • Linolenic acid - 98%
    • Linolenic acid, >=99%
    • Linolenic acid, 98.5%
    • Linolenic acid, tech grade
    • alpha-Linolenic Acid tech.
    • LINOLENIC ACID [MI]
    • (9Z,12Z,15Z)octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acid
    • SCHEMBL15282
    • 806 - Fish oil supplement
    • 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoate
    • BSPBio_001376
    • MLS001336029
    • MLS001336030
    • MLS002454413
    • LINOLENIC ACID [VANDF]
    • BML3-B05
    • GTPL1049
    • Linolenic acid, ~70% (GC)
    • LINOLENIC ACID [WHO-DD]
    • CHEBI:25048
    • cid_5280934
    • cis-9,12,15-octadecatrienoate
    • LINOLENIC ACID AND ISOMERS
    • MSK1776
    • FA005
    • HMS1361E18
    • HMS1791E18
    • HMS1989E18
    • HMS2233C13
    • HMS3402E18
    • HMS3649H05
    • Linolenic acid, analytical standard
    • CMC_7371
    • HY-N0728
    • all-cis-9,15-Octadecatrienoic acid
    • Tox21_111071
    • Tox21_201727
    • Tox21_303322
    • all-cis-9,12,15-Octadecatrienoate
    • BDBM50240347
    • LMFA01030152
    • AKOS016008598
    • DB00132
    • FL24896
    • FL45873
    • FL72463
    • (Z,Z,Z)-9,12,15-Octadecatrienoate
    • 9-cis,12-cis,15-cis-octadecatrienoate
    • Fatty Acid cis, cis, cis 18:3 n-3
    • IDI1_033846
    • NCGC00091058-01
    • NCGC00091058-02
    • NCGC00091058-05
    • NCGC00091058-06

  • Applications

    Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA; CAS 463-40-1) sees broad use: in nutrition as an omega-3 source for dietary supplements and fortified foods (oils, powders, softgels) to support cardiovascular and neural health and modulate inflammatory responses, with only partial endogenous conversion to EPA/DHA; in pharma and research as an oily excipient for softgels, an analytical standard for lipidomics/GC-MS, a membrane-model lipid, and a precursor to ethyl esters, triglycerides, phospholipids, and oxylipins; in cosmetics/personal care as an emollient and barrier-repair lipid that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and helps dry/sensitive/acne-prone or eczematous skin, requiring antioxidants and protective packaging due to high oxidation susceptibility; in chemical/materials industries as a feedstock for epoxidation and autoxidative cross-linking to make alkyd resins, oil-based paints, inks, biosurfactants, biolubricants, and bio-plasticizers; in agriculture and animal nutrition as an omega-3 fortifier; with stability and handling notes: store under inert gas, protect from light/heat, add tocopherols or suitable antioxidants, and use amber/inerted packaging to minimize rancidity.

  • Solubility @25˚C

    Solvent Solubility (g/L)
    ethanol 207.16
    methanol 179.32
    isopropanol 161.39
    water 0.01
    ethyl acetate 137.79
    n-propanol 155.74
    acetone 170.72
    n-butanol 164.72
    acetonitrile 33.4
    DMF 250.46
    toluene 53.09
    isobutanol 113.41
    1,4-dioxane 210.51
    methyl acetate 76.23
    THF 692.56
    2-butanone 169.17
    n-pentanol 149.91
    sec-butanol 140.19
    n-hexane 33.42
    ethylene glycol 7.67
    NMP 287.83
    cyclohexane 43.25
    DMSO 553.67
    n-butyl acetate 187.64
    n-octanol 65.71
    chloroform 204.21
    n-propyl acetate 179.87
    acetic acid 60.66
    dichloromethane 221.01
    cyclohexanone 322.48
    propylene glycol 32.51
    isopropyl acetate 140.39
    DMAc 369.86
    2-ethoxyethanol 230.98
    isopentanol 171.49
    n-heptane 18.07
    ethyl formate 55.57
    1,2-dichloroethane 220.54
    n-hexanol 133.4
    2-methoxyethanol 256.89
    isobutyl acetate 134.77
    tetrachloromethane 37.54
    n-pentyl acetate 148.89
    transcutol 985.93
    n-heptanol 71.93
    ethylbenzene 52.15
    MIBK 191.94
    2-propoxyethanol 248.1
    tert-butanol 213.03
    MTBE 229.2
    2-butoxyethanol 170.05
    propionic acid 63.2
    o-xylene 51.28
    formic acid 15.84
    diethyl ether 192.77
    m-xylene 54.5
    p-xylene 57.55
    chlorobenzene 68.24
    dimethyl carbonate 31.42
    n-octane 8.05
    formamide 30.36
    cyclopentanone 324.39
    2-pentanone 211.8
    anisole 115.33
    cyclopentyl methyl ether 282.27
    gamma-butyrolactone 244.77
    1-methoxy-2-propanol 271.17
    pyridine 139.87
    3-pentanone 121.64
    furfural 177.04
    n-dodecane 5.67
    diethylene glycol 103.37
    diisopropyl ether 73.3
    tert-amyl alcohol 181.26
    acetylacetone 201.37
    n-hexadecane 6.58
    acetophenone 127.08
    methyl propionate 102.53
    isopentyl acetate 190.84
    trichloroethylene 275.1
    n-nonanol 66.15
    cyclohexanol 153.69
    benzyl alcohol 85.45
    2-ethylhexanol 99.75
    isooctanol 74.32
    dipropyl ether 157.54
    1,2-dichlorobenzene 77.73
    ethyl lactate 70.34
    propylene carbonate 128.49
    n-methylformamide 68.56
    2-pentanol 126.21
    n-pentane 17.6
    1-propoxy-2-propanol 225.01
    1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate 199.55
    2-(2-methoxypropoxy) propanol 166.21
    mesitylene 44.54
    ε-caprolactone 256.32
    p-cymene 39.51
    epichlorohydrin 347.64
    1,1,1-trichloroethane 143.35
    2-aminoethanol 45.92
    morpholine-4-carbaldehyde 263.78
    sulfolane 439.84
    2,2,4-trimethylpentane 16.61
    2-methyltetrahydrofuran 393.15
    n-hexyl acetate 174.63
    isooctane 13.49
    2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol 258.54
    sec-butyl acetate 142.33
    tert-butyl acetate 207.18
    decalin 28.19
    glycerin 44.95
    diglyme 458.67
    acrylic acid 33.92
    isopropyl myristate 67.52
    n-butyric acid 162.51
    acetyl acetate 63.77
    di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 57.61
    ethyl propionate 128.09
    nitromethane 102.37
    1,2-diethoxyethane 315.47
    benzonitrile 73.1
    trioctyl phosphate 45.27
    1-bromopropane 147.55
    gamma-valerolactone 392.88
    n-decanol 47.01
    triethyl phosphate 71.13
    4-methyl-2-pentanol 89.01
    propionitrile 52.04
    vinylene carbonate 83.43
    1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane 208.21
    DMS 83.43
    cumene 45.08
    2-octanol 52.57
    2-hexanone 210.33
    octyl acetate 78.15
    limonene 72.11
    1,2-dimethoxyethane 378.67
    ethyl orthosilicate 81.26
    tributyl phosphate 57.97
    diacetone alcohol 239.87
    N,N-dimethylaniline 100.45
    acrylonitrile 44.0
    aniline 70.09
    1,3-propanediol 99.12
    bromobenzene 74.42
    dibromomethane 165.01
    1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane 296.19
    2-methyl-cyclohexyl acetate 145.04
    tetrabutyl urea 89.21
    diisobutyl methanol 66.99
    2-phenylethanol 93.26
    styrene 57.33
    dioctyl adipate 109.94
    dimethyl sulfate 73.71
    ethyl butyrate 144.96
    methyl lactate 63.1
    butyl lactate 119.4
    diethyl carbonate 72.69
    propanediol butyl ether 148.43
    triethyl orthoformate 121.67
    p-tert-butyltoluene 40.15
    methyl 4-tert-butylbenzoate 132.3
    morpholine 369.1
    tert-butylamine 130.23
    n-dodecanol 34.05
    dimethoxymethane 212.25
    ethylene carbonate 79.19
    cyrene 145.24
    2-ethoxyethyl acetate 184.91
    2-ethylhexyl acetate 148.26
    1,2,4-trichlorobenzene 94.38
    4-methylpyridine 148.99
    dibutyl ether 145.62
    2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanol 66.99
    DEF 219.71
    dimethyl isosorbide 310.63
    tetrachloroethylene 170.89
    eugenol 119.52
    triacetin 155.09
    span 80 152.92
    1,4-butanediol 37.65
    1,1-dichloroethane 148.57
    2-methyl-1-pentanol 150.18
    methyl formate 33.21
    2-methyl-1-butanol 139.29
    n-decane 11.35
    butyronitrile 94.03
    3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol 81.51
    1-chlorooctane 53.24
    1-chlorotetradecane 18.85
    n-nonane 10.7
    undecane 7.62
    tert-butylcyclohexane 24.44
    cyclooctane 13.66
    cyclopentanol 141.51
    tetrahydropyran 369.84
    tert-amyl methyl ether 177.5
    2,5,8-trioxanonane 296.51
    1-hexene 106.23
    2-isopropoxyethanol 189.33
    2,2,2-trifluoroethanol 15.4
    methyl butyrate 185.28

    Scent© AI

1 4

IFRA standard 51

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

Botanical

Name CAS Botanical Proportion
Genet absolute 1 8023-80-1 Spartium junceum L., fam. Leguminosae (Papilionaceae) 9.0%
Osmanthus absolute 68917-05-5 Osmanthus fragrans (Thunb.) Lour., fam. Oleaceae 17.4%
Parsley absolute (Egypt) 8000-68-8 Petroselinum crispum (Miller) A.W. Hill (P. sativum Hoffm.), fam. Apiaceae 8.43%
Saffron 1 8022-19-3 Crocus sativus L., fam. Iridaceae 0.1%
Orris butter 8002-73-1 Iris florentina L., fam. Iridaceae 0.01%
Genet absolute 2 8023-80-1 Spartium junceum L., fam. Leguminosae (Papilionaceae) 26.0%
Averrhoa bilimbi fruit (Malaysia) Averrhoa bilimbi L., fam. Oxalidaceae 6.2%
Tamarind 3 fruit Tamarindus indica L., fam. Leguminosae 5.8%
Anthoxanthum odoratum (Italy) 1b hay Anthoxanthum odoratum L., fam. Poaceae (Gramineae) 3.0%
Rocket leaf 1 Eruca sativa L., fam. Brassicaceae 0.02%
Cassie absolute 1a extract 8023-82-3 Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd., fam. Mimosaceae (Leguminosae) 8.9%
Guarea macrophylla ssp. tuberculata stem bark Guerea macrophylla Vahl. ssp. tuberculata Vellozo, fam. Meilaceae 1.9%
Neolitsea australiensis leaf (Australia) Neolitsea australiensis Kosterm., fam. Lauraceae 4.2%
Neolitsea brassii leaf (Australia) Neolitsea brassii Allen, fam. Lauraceae 3.6%