Methyl Salicylate
Aroma Chemical Heart Note CAS 119-36-8
Strong, sweet wintergreen with a minty, medicinal character. Used in traces, it adds a fruity, solar nuance to tuberose and orange blossom accords.
Odor profile
| Note | Heart Note |
| Descriptor 1 | Herbal |
| Descriptor 2 | Medicinal |
| Descriptor 3 | Ylang |
| Odor Impact1 | 450 |
| Tenacity1 | 2 h |
| Tenacity2 | 8 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 | 119-36-8 |
| INCI Name | Methyl 2-hydroxybenzoate |
| Category | Aroma Chemical |
| Formula | C8H8O3 |
| Mol. Weight | 152.15 |
| IUPAC Name | methyl 2-hydroxybenzoate |
| InChIKey | OSWPMRLSEDHDFF-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
Synonyms
Methyl 2-hydroxybenzoate, Wintergreen Oil, Sweet Birch Oil, Teaberry Oil, Methyl 2-Hydroxy Benzoate, Methyl ortho hydroxybenzoate, Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, methyl ester, synthetic sweet birch oil, birch-me, 2-carbomethoxyphenol, hewedolor, 2-hydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester, o-hydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester, ortho-hydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester, linsal, 2-( methoxycarbonyl) phenol, 2-( methoxycarbonyl)phenol, methyl o-hydroxybenzoate, methyl ortho-hydroxybenzoate, methyl salicylate (+), methyl salicylate BP, methyl salicylate extra pure, methyl salicylate FCC, methyl salicylate fractions, methyl salicylate low phenol, methyl salicylate natural, methyl salicylate NF FCC, methyl salicylate NF grade, methyl salicylate synthetic, methyl salicylate synthetic NF/FCC, methyl salicylate USP, methylsalicylate, metsal liniment, rheumabal, rhodiaflor, salicylic acid methyl ester, synthetic teaberry oil, synthetic wintergreen oil
Physical and chemical data
| Boiling Point | 222.2 °C |
| Melting Point | -8.6 °C |
| Flash Point | 96.1 °C |
| Density | 1.174 |
| Refractive Index | 1.5369 |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0975 mmHg at 68 °F ; 1 mmHg at 129 °F (NTP, 1992) |
| LogP | 2.3 |
| Solubility | Sol in water: 0.74%w @ 30 °C |
| Appearance | Methyl salicylate appears as colorless yellowish or reddish liquid with odor of wintergreen. (USCG, 1999) |
Regulatory status
IFRA maximum concentrations
| Category | Use | Limit in the finished product |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | Lip products, toys | 0.20 % |
| Category 2 | Deodorants, antiperspirants | 0.012 % |
| Category 3 | Eye products | 0.0050 % |
| Category 4 | Fine fragrance | 0.035 % |
| Category 5A | Body lotion | 0.015 % |
| Category 5B | Face cream | 0.0025 % |
| Category 5C | Hand cream | 0.0050 % |
| Category 5D | Baby creams, oils | 0.00083 % |
| Category 6 | Oral care, mouthwash | 1.4 % |
| Category 7A | Rinse-off hair products | 0.0050 % |
| Category 7B | Leave-on hair products | 0.0050 % |
| Category 8 | Intimate and baby wipes | 0.00083 % |
| Category 9 | Soap, shampoo, rinse-off | 0.012 % |
| Category 10A | Household care, hand contact | 0.012 % |
| Category 10B | Aerosol air fresheners | 0.079 % |
| Category 11A | Intended skin contact | 0.00083 % |
| Category 11B | Minimal skin contact | 0.00083 % |
| Category 12 | No skin contact, candles | 1.9 % |
| IFRA Amendment | 52 |
| Restriction Type | Restriction |
| Critical Effect | Dermal Sensitization And Systemic Toxicity |
Restricted components
| Component | Share |
|---|---|
| Linalool | 0.1 % |
| Benzyl Alcohol (ba) | 0.1 % |
| Eugenol | 0.06 % |
IFRA regulated substances contained in this material. The interactive index derives the effective maximum concentration per category from them.
EU allergen declaration
| Substance | Share |
|---|---|
| Linalool | 0.1 % |
| Benzyl alcohol | 0.1 % |
| Eugenol | 0.06 % |
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.