In the world of fragrance materials, some secrets are hidden in plain sight. Phenethyl Alcohol, or PEA, is one such secret: it is the soul of the rose note, yet it is often absent from the place one would most expect to find it. Interestingly, although it is widely found in nature and is a major constituent of rose, hyacinth, and jasmine, PEA has very high solubility in water. This creates a paradox: during distillation, most of the PEA dissolves into rosewater rather than remaining in the costly “pure” essential oil.
Because of this paradox-and because demand is enormous-PEA today is produced mainly by synthetic methods. Its successful synthesis in the 19th century helped perfumery reduce its dependence on extremely expensive natural rose oil, opening a new era in which a rose scent could be accessible to the wider public. Behind its appearance as a colorless liquid lies a gentle rose aroma: a sweet whisper with honeyed facets and a touch of green herbaceousness. Precisely because of this refined, foundational beauty, it has become a core ingredient for building all kinds of rose accords and a widely used base in countless other floral fragrances.
Description
Phenethyl Alcohol is the tender heart of the mid-notes: a soft, graceful floral note. It is not a bold statement, but rather a subtle modifier-an unseen architect of harmony.
Its scent embodies a classic, velvety rose, lightly powdery, with the sweetness of honey. It is not as sharp as Rose Oxide; instead, it has a rounding, filling quality that creates cohesion across an entire olfactory “symphony.” Its strength lies in balance: both intensity and diffusion are moderate, with persistence lasting around 24 hours on a blotter.
In formulas, PEA is a foundational building block for rose, peony, and carnation accords. It acts as a highly skilled connector, linking other floral components together while adding body and a natural sweetness to the composition. Its classic pairing with Citronellol and Geraniol forms the basic trio for a standard rose profile, while with ionones it can weave violet-like or romantic powdery nuances. Technically, PEA is often used neat, because it is not only easy to handle as a liquid but also helps solubilize other solid materials in a formula.
Applications
The gentleness and versatility of Phenethyl Alcohol make it a familiar component in nearly every aspect of daily life. From luxury perfumes to mass-market products-especially floral lines-its presence is hard to replace. It lends fragrance to lotions, shower gels, shampoos, and even supports preservation systems thanks to its mild antibacterial properties. In soap, it is valued for being very stable and non-discoloring; and in food, it contributes to honey-like sweetness or strawberry nuances.
From a safety perspective, PEA is a dependable material. Its usage level in perfume concentrates can be quite high-sometimes up to 25% of the total formula-and overall it is not overly restricted. While it may cause mild eye irritation in its neat form, it is not phototoxic and is not on the list of allergens that must be mandatorily declared on labels.
Nearly every rose-noted perfume on the market, from YSL’s Paris to Chloé Eau de Parfum, carries the spirit of PEA. Steffen Arctander stated that Phenethyl Alcohol is one of the most widely used fragrance chemicals-almost indispensable for creating a rose scent. He praised its outstanding blending power: one of the few materials that can be used in large amounts without damaging a fragrance structure, and instead helps smooth and bind other components together.
All orders will be processed within 1-2 business days from the time the order is confirmed.
Free shipping is available for orders valued at $200 or more.
Delivery time is 1-3 business days for local areas, 3-7 days for suburban and nationwide deliveries, and 1-4 weeks for international orders.
You have 30 days from the date of receipt to initiate the return process.
