2-Acetylpyridine

What 2-Acetylpyridine smells like

JECFA describes 2-acetylpyridine as a colourless to yellow liquid with a tobacco-like, popcorn, heavy oily-fatty aroma. Parchem's listing gives a popcorn odour type, corn-like with a musty, nutty nuance.

Leading note

Popcorn

Clear facets

Tobacco

Supporting facets

Oily-fatty

Character

Heavy, oily

• popcorn
• tobacco
• fatty

What makes 2-Acetylpyridine distinctive

Popcorn with a tobacco and oily-fatty weight, heavier than the clean popcorn of acetylpyrazine.

How 2-Acetylpyridine is used

Used in traces in popcorn, tobacco and roasted gourmand effects.

Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).

How 2-Acetylpyridine differs from similar materials

2-Propionyl-2-thiazoline

2-Propionyl-2-thiazoline is described as meatier: nutty, cooked and brown-roasted.

Each difference compares the published descriptions of the two materials. Smell varies with grade, supplier and dilution; compare them side by side on blotters before substituting one for another.

Formulation considerations

Potent and food-like; work from dilution.

Identity and classification

Type

Aroma chemical

Origin

Occurs in nature

Odour family

Gourmand

Note position

Heart note

Physical form at room temperature

Liquid

Also known as

Methyl 2-pyridyl ketone

CAS number

1122-62-9

Molecular formula

C7H7NO

Molecular weight

121.14 g/mol

IUPAC name

1-pyridin-2-ylethanone

The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 14286, whose own record lists this CAS number; checked 24 October 2026.

Safety and compliance

Hazard classification of the neat substance, as PubChem summarises it, read 26 October 2026. Companies notifying the ECHA C&L Inventory classify it (438 reports): H315 causes skin irritation (26.9% of reports); H319 causes serious eye irritation (26.3% of reports); H335 may cause respiratory irritation (23.7% of reports). 320 of the reports find it does not meet the hazard criteria. Unless it is harmonised, this is the notifiers' own classification, not a binding one.

This page is general information, not a safety assessment or a specification. Confirm identity, composition, IFRA status and allergen content from your supplier's documents for the lot you hold.

Materials it works with

• 2-Acetylpyrazine

  Aroma chemical · Gourmand — popcorn, roasted, nutty, bready

• Tobacco Absolute

  Absolute · Leather / Gourmand — tobacco, honey, hay, leathery

• Vanillin

  Aroma chemical · Gourmand / Amber — vanilla, sweet, creamy

2-Acetylpyridine is also suggested as a partner on the pages for 2-Propionyl-2-thiazoline.

Used in formulas and accords

Used in 3 published formulas

2-Acetylpyridine is an ingredient in 1 perfume formula and 2 accords in the Formula & Accord Library.

Community formulas

• Blueberry Accord

  Community Formula · Accord · listed as “2 Acetyl Pyridine”

• Jasmine Rice Accord

  Community Formula · Accord · listed as “2-Acetyl Pyridine 10%”, at 10%

RUŌOD House Originals

Original compositions by RUŌOD House.

• Popcorn Sky

  RUŌOD House Original · listed as “2-Acetylpyridine 1% DPG”, at 1% in DPG

Further reading

• Building a Gourmand Accord: Vanilla, Caramel and Beyond

  The materials of gourmand perfume — vanillin, ethyl maltol, coumarin, lactones, roasted notes — how to keep them wearable, and color and crystal problems.

Questions about 2-Acetylpyridine

Sources

• PubChem — compound 14286, checked 24 October 2026.
• PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
• PubChem — 2-Acetylpyridine (CID 14286): JECFA organoleptic description — odour database.
• Parchem — 2-acetyl pyridine — distributor's description.
• Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 26 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.