Coumarin
Aroma Chemical Base Note CAS 91-64-5
Sweet, warm and powdery with the smell of new mown hay and a soft tonka bean, almond character. A foundational fougere note that also adds a hay like, slightly nutty sweetness.
Odor profile
| Note | Base Note |
| Descriptor 1 | Powdery |
| Descriptor 2 | Warm |
| Descriptor 3 | Almond |
| Odor Impact1 | 120 |
| Tenacity1 | 85 h |
| Tenacity2 | 364 h |
1 Source: PerfumersWorld
2 Source: The Good Scents Company
Both tenacity figures are blotter life. The two labs use different evaluation protocols, so the numbers are not directly comparable — read them as two independent readings, not as a contradiction.
Identification
| CAS Number | 91-64-5 |
| INCI Name | Coumarin |
| Category | Aroma Chemical |
| Formula | C9H6O2 |
| Mol. Weight | 146.14 |
| IUPAC Name | chromen-2-one |
| InChIKey | ZYGHJZDHTFUPRJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
Synonyms
2H-1-Benzopyran-2-one, 1,2-Benzopyrone, ortho Hydroxycinnamic acid, lactone, Cumarin, cis ortho Cournaric acid, anhydride, 5,6-Benzo alpha pyrone, benzo-alpha-pyrone, 2H-benzo(b)pyran-2-one, 2H-benzo[b]pyran-2-one, 2-oxo-1,2-benzopyran, 2-oxo-2H-1-benzopyran, o-oxo-1,2-benzopyran, ortho-oxo-1,2-benzopyran, 1-benzopyran-2-one, 2H-benzopyran-2-one, 2H-1-benzopyran, 2-oxo-, chromen-2-one, 2H-chromen-2-one, chromenone, cis-o-coumaric acid anhydride, coumarin (ex tonka beans), coumarin crystals, coumarin natural, coumarin powder 60 mesh, chinese, japan, coumarine, coumarine ( ex china ), coumarine rhodiantal, (Z)-o-coumarinic acid lactone, (Z)-ortho-coumarinic acid lactone, coumarinic anhydride, coumarinic lactone, o-hydroxycinnamic acid delta-lactone, ortho-hydroxycinnamic acid delta-lactone, o-hydroxycinnamic acid lactone, ortho-hydroxycinnamic acid lactone, o-hydroxycinnamic lactone, ortho-hydroxycinnamic lactone, 3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propenoic d-lactone, coumarin, coumarin
Physical and chemical data
| Boiling Point | 297.8 °C |
| Melting Point | 70.0 °C |
| Flash Point | 151.1 °C |
| Density | 0.935 |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.01 mmHg at 117 °F ; 1 mmHg at 223 °F (NTP, 1992) |
| LogP | 1.4 |
| Solubility | In water, 1,900 mg/l @ 20 °C |
| Appearance | Coumarin appears as colorless crystals, flakes or colorless to white powder with a pleasant fragrant vanilla odor and a bitter aromatic burning taste. (NTP, 1992) |
Regulatory status
IFRA maximum concentrations
| Category | Use | Limit in the finished product |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | Lip products, toys | 0.089 % |
| Category 2 | Deodorants, antiperspirants | 0.080 % |
| Category 3 | Eye products | 0.089 % |
| Category 4 | Fine fragrance | 1.5 % |
| Category 5A | Body lotion | 0.38 % |
| Category 5B | Face cream | 0.11 % |
| Category 5C | Hand cream | 0.16 % |
| Category 5D | Baby creams, oils | 0.035 % |
| Category 6 | Oral care, mouthwash | 0.0024 % |
| Category 7A | Rinse-off hair products | 0.18 % |
| Category 7B | Leave-on hair products | 0.18 % |
| Category 8 | Intimate and baby wipes | 0.035 % |
| Category 9 | Soap, shampoo, rinse-off | 0.52 % |
| Category 10A | Household care, hand contact | 0.52 % |
| Category 10B | Aerosol air fresheners | 1.6 % |
| Category 11A | Intended skin contact | 0.035 % |
| Category 11B | Minimal skin contact | 0.035 % |
| Category 12 | No skin contact, candles | 33 % |
| IFRA Amendment | 49 |
| Restriction Type | Restriction |
| Critical Effect | Dermal Sensitization And Systemic Toxicity |
EU allergen declaration
| Substance | Share |
|---|---|
| Coumarin | 100 % |
Substances that must be named in the ingredient list under Annex III of Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2023/1545. Where a range was given, the upper bound is shown.
All figures on this page are guide values collected from public reference works and supplier declarations. They differ between batches, origins and qualities. The data sheet of your own supplier is always the authoritative document for the material you actually use.