geranyl hexanoate

Geranyl hexanoate is an organic ester compound known chemically as trans-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-yl hexanoate with the molecular formula C₁₆H₂₈O₂. It appears as a clear liquid with a floral and fruity aroma reminiscent of rose geranium and tropical citrus notes. This ester is also called geranyl caproate among other synonyms. It is commonly used in flavor and fragrance industries due to its sweet, green, and waxy characteristics. Geranyl hexanoate occurs naturally in various essential oils such as geranium petiole oil from India and palmarosa oil. A controlled-vocabulary link provided for additional chemical information is PubChem CID 5365992. The compound is typically prepared via esterification of geraniol with hexanoic acid or sourced from natural plant extracts containing this ester.

Geranyl hexanoate naturally occurs in several plant-derived essential oils, including geranium petiole oil and stem oil from India as well as palmarosa and fruit oils such as passion fruit. This compound is applied primarily as a flavor and fragrance agent, where it imparts floral, fruity, and green-rose nuances. Its odor qualities are utilized in perfuming agents to evoke scents related to banana, magnolia, oriental themes, rose geranium, wisteria, and ylang ylang. Relevant regulatory guidance for its use includes FEMA (US), which classifies it under flavoring agents with specific use levels. Applications span food flavorings, cosmetic perfumery, and aroma formulations where medium odor substantivity and fruity-floral balance are desired.

Geranyl hexanoate exhibits a molecular weight of approximately 252.4 g/mol and a molecular formula of C₁₆H₂₈O₂. It has a low vapor pressure at 25 °C (about 0.000138 mmHg), indicating limited volatility under ambient conditions. The compound is moderately soluble in alcohol and has a negligible solubility in water (around 0.07261 mg/L at 25 °C). Its logP is estimated at 6.23, demonstrating high lipophilicity, which influences its affinity in cosmetic and flavor formulations by enhancing solubility in lipid environments over aqueous ones. The flash point is approximately 100 °C (212 °F), contributing to safety considerations in handling and formulation. These properties affect its persistence in fragranced products and limit water-based formulation use, favoring oil or alcohol carriers.

	[(2E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienyl] hexanoate
NIST Chemistry WebBook:	Search Inchi
Canada Domestic Sub. List:	10032-02-7
Pubchem (cid):	5365992
Pubchem (sid):	134990483
Pherobase:	View

(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
HMDB (The Human Metabolome Database):	HMDB29351
FooDB:	FDB000412
Typical G.C.
VCF-Online:	VCF Volatile Compounds in Food
ChemSpider:	View

Safety information

Preferred SDS: View
European information :
Most important hazard(s):
None - None found.
S 02 - Keep out of the reach of children. S 24/25 - Avoid contact with skin and eyes.
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:
oral-rat LD50 > 5000 mg/kg (Moreno, 1975f)
Dermal Toxicity:
Not determined
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
Recommendation for geranyl hexanoate usage levels up to:
	6.0000 % in the fragrance concentrate.
Maximised Survey-derived Daily Intakes (MSDI-EU):		0.061 (μg/capita/day)
Maximised Survey-derived Daily Intakes (MSDI-USA):		0.50 (μg/capita/day)
Structure Class:		I
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:		-	2.00000
beverages(nonalcoholic):		-	1.30000
beverages(alcoholic):		-	-
breakfast cereal:		-	-
cheese:		-	-
chewing gum:		-	-
condiments / relishes:		-	-
confectionery froastings:		-	-
egg products:		-	-
fats / oils:		-	-
fish products:		-	-
frozen dairy:		-	0.90000
fruit ices:		-	0.90000
gelatins / puddings:		-	-
granulated sugar:		-	-
gravies:		-	-
hard candy:		-	3.20000
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) related to Flavouring Group Evaluation 6 (FGE.06): Straight-and branched-chain aliphatic unsatured primary alcohols, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, and esters from chemical groups 1 and 4 View page or View pdf

Flavouring Group Evaluation 6, Revision 1 (FGE.06Rev1) - Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in contact with Food (AFC) View page or View pdf

Flavouring Group Evaluation 202: 3-Alkylated aliphatic acyclic alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and precursors with or without additional double bonds from chemical subgroup 1.1.3 of FGE.19[1] View page or View pdf

EPI System: View

AIDS Citations:Search

Cancer Citations:Search

Toxicology Citations:Search

EPA Substance Registry Services (TSCA):10032-02-7

EPA ACToR:Toxicology Data

EPA Substance Registry Services (SRS):Registry

Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary :5365992

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases:Data

WGK Germany:2

[(2E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienyl] hexanoate

Chemidplus:0010032027

RTECS:RG5926000 for cas# 10032-02-7