hydroxycitronellol

Hydroxycitronellol is a type of aliphatic diol with the molecular formula C₁₀H₂₂O₂. It appears as a colorless liquid known for its low-intensity floral odor that resembles lily, hyacinth, and rose notes. Included under synonyms such as 3,7-dimethyloctane-1,7-diol and citronellol hydrate, this compound has a mild, sweet, powdery flavor profile used mainly in odor and flavor applications. It is naturally present in fruits like blueberry and oils such as grape oil. More chemical details and structural data for hydroxycitronellol can be accessed through the PubChem database. Production often involves chemical synthesis routes starting from citronellol derivatives, with high relevance in the flavor and fragrance industries.

Hydroxycitronellol occurs naturally in botanical sources including blueberry fruit and grape oil. Its olfactory qualities lend it to application as a fragrance agent in perfumery and personal care products. The compound imparts floral characteristics such as hyacinth, lily, lily of the valley, and rose tones in scent compositions. It is also used as a flavoring agent in food products, complying with various standards such as FEMA (US), which designates it under FEMA number 2586. Regulatory frameworks like IFRA (Global) provide guidelines on safe usage levels, reflecting its widespread acceptance and versatility in multiple consumer applications from cosmetics to flavor formulations.

Hydroxycitronellol is a moderately hydrophobic diol with a molecular weight of approximately 174.28 g/mol. It exhibits a specific gravity close to 0.93 at 20 to 25 °C and a refractive index between 1.457 and 1.461 at 20 °C, indicating consistency in physical properties suitable for formulation stability. The compound has a relatively low vapor pressure of 0.001 mmHg at 25 °C and a boiling point range of 124 to 125 °C at reduced pressure (1 mm Hg), reflecting low volatility under ambient conditions. Its log P value around 1.55 denotes moderate lipophilicity, facilitating solubility in alcohols and oils while being sparingly soluble in water (~394 mg/L at 25 °C). Hydroxycitronellol maintains stability in various product matrices including alcoholic lotions, shampoos, detergents, and fabric softeners, with a typical shelf life exceeding 24 months when stored protected from heat and light.

(IUPAC):	Atomic Weights of the Elements 2011 (pdf)
Videos:	The Periodic Table of Videos
tgsc:	Atomic Weights use for this web site
(IUPAC):	Periodic Table of the Elements
FDA Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS):	View
CHEMBL:	View
HMDB (The Human Metabolome Database):	Search
FooDB:	FDB001344
Export Tariff Code:	2905.39.0000
VCF-Online:	VCF Volatile Compounds in Food
ChemSpider:	View
FAO:	Hydroxycitronellol

Safety information

European information :
Most important hazard(s):
Xi - Irritant
R 36/38 - Irritating to skin and eyes. S 02 - Keep out of the reach of children. S 24/25 - Avoid contact with skin and eyes. S 26 - In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice. S 36 - Wear suitable protective clothing.
Hazards identification
Classification of the substance or mixture
GHS Classification in accordance with 29 CFR 1910 (OSHA HCS)
None found.
GHS Label elements, including precautionary statements
Pictogram
Hazard statement(s)
None found.
Precautionary statement(s)
None found.
Human Experience:
6 % solution: no irritation or sensitization.
Oral/Parenteral Toxicity:
gavage-rat LD50 [sex: M,F] > 5000 mg/kg (Levenstein, 1973b) oral-rat LD50 > 5000 mg/kg Food and Cosmetics Toxicology. Vol. 12, Pg. 923, 1974.
Dermal Toxicity:
skin-rabbit LD50 > 5000 mg/kg Food and Cosmetics Toxicology. Vol. 12, Pg. 923, 1974.
Inhalation Toxicity:
Not determined

Safety in use information

Category:
flavor and fragrance agents
RIFM Fragrance Material Safety Assessment: Search
IFRA Code of Practice Notification of the 49th Amendment to the IFRA Code of Practice
maximum skin levels for fine fragrances:
	2.6900 % and are based on the assumption that the fragrance mixture is used at 20% in a consumer product (IFRA Use Level Survey).(IFRA, 2003)
Recommendation for hydroxycitronellol usage levels up to:
	20.0000 % in the fragrance concentrate.
use level in formulae for use in cosmetics:
	6.6500 %
Dermal Systemic Exposure in Cosmetic Products:
	0.17 mg/kg/day (IFRA, 2003)
Maximised Survey-derived Daily Intakes (MSDI-EU):		9.70 (μg/capita/day)
Use levels for FEMA GRAS flavoring substances on which the FEMA Expert Panel based its judgments that the substances are generally recognized as safe (GRAS).
The Expert Panel also publishes separate extensive reviews of scientific information on all FEMA GRAS flavoring substances and can be found at FEMA Flavor Ingredient Library
publication number: 3
Click here to view publication 3
		average usual ppm	average maximum ppm
baked goods:		-	3.50000
beverages(nonalcoholic):		-	2.00000
beverages(alcoholic):		-	-
breakfast cereal:		-	-
cheese:		-	-
chewing gum:		-	0.30000
condiments / relishes:		-	-
confectionery froastings:		-	-
egg products:		-	-
fats / oils:		-	-
fish products:		-	-
frozen dairy:		-	1.60000
fruit ices:		-	1.60000
gelatins / puddings:		-	0.30000
granulated sugar:		-	-
gravies:		-	-
hard candy:		-	3.60000
imitation dairy:		-	-
instant coffee / tea:		-	-
jams / jellies:		-	-
meat products:		-	-
milk products:		-	-
nut products:		-	-
other grains:		-	-
poultry:		-	-
processed fruits:		-	-
processed vegetables:		-	-
reconstituted vegetables:		-	-
seasonings / flavors:		-	-
snack foods:		-	-
soft candy:		-	-
soups:		-	-
sugar substitutes:		-	-
sweet sauces:		-	-

Safety references

European Food Safety Athority(EFSA):Flavor usage levels; Subacute, Subchronic, Chronic and Carcinogenicity Studies; Developmental / Reproductive Toxicity Studies; Genotoxicity Studies...

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reference(s):

Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in contact with Food (AFC) on a request from the Commission related to - Flavouring Group Evaluation 10: Aliphatic primary and secondary saturated and unsaturated alcohols, aldehydes, acetals, carboxylic acids and esters containing an additional oxygenated functional group and lactones from chemical groups 9, 13 and 30 - (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1565/2000 of 18 July 2000) View page or View pdf

Flavouring Group Evaluation 10, Revision 1 (FGE10 Rev1)[1] - Aliphatic primary and secondary saturated and unsaturated alcohols, aldehydes, acetals, carboxylic acids and esters containing an additional oxygenated functional group and lactones from chemical groups 9, 13 and 30 - Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food (AFC) View page or View pdf

Flavouring Group Evaluation 64 (FGE.64): Consideration of aliphatic acyclic diols, triols, and related substances evaluated by JECFA (57th meeting) structurally related to aliphatic primary and secondary saturated and unsaturated alcohols, aldehydes, acetals, carboxylic acids and esters containing an additional oxygenated functional group and lactones from chemical groups 9, 13 and 30 evaluated by EFSA in FGE.10Rev1 (EFSA, 2008ab) View page or View pdf

Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 92 (FGE.92): Consideration of aliphatic acyclic diols, triols, and related substances evaluated by JECFA (68th meeting) structurally related to aliphatic primary and secondary saturated and unsaturated alcohols, aldehydes, acetals, carboxylic acids and esters containing an additional oxygenated functional group and lactones evaluated by EFSA in FGE.10Rev1 (2009) View page or View pdf

Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 10, Revision 2 (FGE.10Rev2): Aliphatic primary and secondary saturated and unsaturated alcohols, aldehydes, acetals, carboxylic acids and esters containing an additional oxygenated functional group and lactones from chemical groups 9, 13 and 30 View page or View pdf

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EPA Substance Registry Services (TSCA):107-74-4

EPA ACToR:Toxicology Data

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Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary :249494

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases:Data

WGK Germany:1

3,7-dimethyloctane-1,7-diol

Chemidplus:0000107744